Radio Broadcast
Just over 50 years ago, God’s spirit was at work at Trinity Lutheran Church in Beloit, Wisconsin. Pastor Tom Hinz was our young new Pastor at that time. His former church in Michigan had been using radio to reach out to God’s children since 1926. Throughout the years, radio has proven to be a tremendous tool which our Lord has given to His church. In 1956, Trinity had approximately 500 souls and almost 344 communicant members. Together with many of those church members including Elmer Kind, Wally Forbes, and Marv Hahn, Pastor Hinz worked with Joe Moen and Jerry Dunbar of WBEL radio in Beloit to set up the area’s first weekly running Church Radio Mission. The cost was set at $25 per week for one hour so the whole service was broadcast. This all took place in the old church on Henry Avenue. After we moved to our present church on Cranston Avenue, a radio antenna was set up on the church roof from which the Good news was broadcast live for the full hour. Elmer became the first announcer and each Sunday the broadcast would begin and end with a song similar to what can be heard on the 50th anniversary video clip. Over the years, a lot has changed. For instance, when WBEL changed their format the decision was made to switch to WGEZ 1490. No longer having the ability to broadcast live, the programs were taped. Each Sunday Elmer, Marv, or Wally would tape the early service and then drive it downtown to the radio station where it was broadcast along with the Lutheran Hour. Later the congregation made the decision to broadcast only the sermon portion for a half hour preceded by the Lutheran Hour for the first half hour. Recently we have decided to convert to a state of the art digital recording system. We will now record the full service with the capability of inserting a mark to indicate the start of the portion that is to be broadcast for the benefit of the radio station. Marv and Wally are still at the controls where they have faithfully served for over 50 years. Pastor Tom Hinz has long since left Trinity but returns from time to time, most recently for the 50th anniversary of the radio mission celebration. Several other Pastors have also come and gone but one thing has remained the same, through the Trinity Radio Mission, the Good News according to the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is still heard each and every Sunday morning. Today, Reverend Edward May can be heard delivering the Message at 11 am on WGEZ 1490 AM.