Bz. City church opens radio station
If you believe that Belize’s radio dial is already too crowded with stations that sound too much alike, you may want to give a listen to the latest entry in the broadcasting free for all. Patrick Jones has more.
Patrick Jones, Reporting
It is the newest sound on the airwaves, and Integrity Radio promises to inject a positive message in a neighbourhood that has seen its share of bad news.
Ensford Maskall, Senior Elder, Zoe Ministries
“I think the difference basically is our focus and our approach. And also, we believe our society is facing problems and we will seek to give a different solution to the problems they are facing, which will be strictly bible based.”
Errol Robateau Jr., Manager, Integrity Radio
“So everything that we air has a message to it, has a positive message to it, and also the type of format that we have, which is pretty contemporary, pretty catchy…If you tune in to Integrity 97.1 FM, you’re definitely more than likely going to hear something that you can move your feet to. And that’s kind of different from a lot of Christian radio stations, and also a lot of other stations out there in terms of having a positive message attached to it.”
With the Bible as its foundation, Integrity is the first radio station to go on air in Belize that is directly owned and operated by a single church. But although it is under the umbrella of the Zoe Ministries Outreach Centre, Senior Elder Ensford Maskall says Integrity Radio will serve the entire Christian community.
Ensford Maskall
“I feel that we are stewards of the station, but not necessarily owner of the station. The station belongs to the Christian community. And so if you notice carefully that we do not even put Zoe Ministries as being the owner of the station because we do not see ourselves as owners. We see ourselves as stewards and we see the station as being your station.”
And therein lies the key to Integrity’s hopes for survival in a dog-eat-dog media environment where so many radio stations are already struggling to stay on the air.
Errol Robateau Jr.
“Integrity Radio is a non-for-profit radio station and so we rely on donations and contributions from our listeners. So people, we’re very willing to accept donations form people who listen to 97.1 FM and also corporate sponsors.”
Ensford Maskall
“I feel like if you have what people want and what they need, they will support it. And I believe that we do have what people need. And the greater assurance we have is because the Lord told us to build this station and so he will provide for it.”
Errol Robateau Jr.
“We are catering to young people, but when I say young people there is a wide range of people that we consider young people; not that other people outside that age group will not listen to Integrity Radio. We have programming that really will effect change and will effect a message for basically all cross-section and all age groups. So although we have a more contemporary feel, we feel that everybody can benefit from listening to 97.1.”
And in case you were wondering, that message is not going to come from a lot of preaching.
Errol Robateau Jr.
“Most of the programming that we do is primary music, contemporary music, music from the Caribbean, music from Belize, we highlight our Belizean artists and we do music from the United States also. In addition to music, we also do shows on family, shows on different issues that affect the society on a whole. So we try to cater to what’s happening in Belize and provide solutions to the community of Belize City.”
Patrick Jones, for News 5.
The station, which officially opened on Saturday, also plans to will begin a daily news broadcast. That programme will offer a look at events in Belize from a Christian point of view.
