He's Been Faithful to Me - Christian Working Woman

W1530

My friend, Damaris Carbaugh, sings a wonderful song by Carol Cymbala, one of my favorites, entitled “He’s Been Faithful to Me,” and that really is my testimony as I look back over thirty years this month since this radio ministry began. Some of the lyrics to that song are:

In my heart I have questioned,

Even failed to believe,

Yet He’s been faithful, faithful to me.

And that would describe me. In spite of my doubts, my fears, my lack of trust at times, God has never failed me. As Paul wrote to Timothy: “If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself” (2 Tim. 2:13).

I just want to briefly tell you how this ministry began because that is another story of God’s miraculous faithfulness. And the reason I do this is to encourage you to see how God can take anybody and use them for his glory. We learn from other people’s experiences and I’m just praying that my story and the story of this radio ministry will inspire some others to go forward with the passion that God has put on their hearts.

In the early 1980’s there was a major turning point in my life, when I finally came to the end of my own rope, recognized that I was not living the life Jesus intended for me to live, and relinquished total control of my life to God. After ten long years of doing my own thing and running my life into the ground, I was at last ready for God to take over.

Then I began a Bible study in my home for some friends, and God put a passion in my heart to teach. As I was listening to Christian radio, I noticed that most of the programs didn’t seem to speak to my lifestyle as a Christian working woman. Knowing that there were lots of women—and men—like me who went into the secular marketplace every day, I felt there was a real need for a program addressing our needs and challenging us to live out our faith on our jobs. So, I just began praying about it.

It seemed like a very foolish prayer because I had no experience in radio, no connections with anyone in Christian radio, and no knowledge whatsoever of how to begin a radio program. But the passion would not go away, so after about eighteen months of praying about it—and not even telling anyone because it seemed so far-fetched—I decided it was time to find out how to begin a radio program. On my way to work one day I said to myself, “You’ve prayed about this long enough; now it’s time to do something.”

And when I arrived at my office that very day, on my desk was a local newspaper announcing that a certain radio station in Chicago had just been purchased and would now become a Christian station. “Hmm,” I thought, “maybe I could be on that station. I’ll call them.” But before I could call them, that very day someone from the station called me and asked me to be a part of a panel discussion the next Saturday. Why they asked me, where they got my name, I do not know. I had not written a book or done anything except be involved at my church. So, I didn’t think this was a coincidence.

That Saturday after being on the panel, I told the woman in charge that I had an idea for a radio program, and shared my thoughts with her. She said, “That’s a great idea; I’m sure we would put it on our station.” So, in the next days and weeks I got in touch with the station, found out what it would cost and how it could be done, and started the process of forming a non-profit organization, and in three months’ time, our first program was broadcast on that one station. It was a Saturday 15 minute program, and I was grateful for that opportunity.

That was in August of 1984 and I truly never thought it would be more than a weekly program on one station in Chicago! But God had other plans and a few months later, a dear friend who was in Christian radio work encouraged me to expand to other stations and gave me some ideas on how to make that happen. So by the end of that first year, we were on seven or eight stations in different states. Then God sent me a woman to work with me, Orva Koenigsberg, now with Jesus, who had worked in Christian radio for many years and built many relationships there. She contacted people she knew and the program expanded to more stations.

Then she came up with the idea of creating a short three-minute program to be aired Monday through Friday. We were one of the first programmers to use that now-popular short format, and it was very successful. In a very short time we were
on one-hundred stations and it has continued to grow through these thirty years. Along with that have come the books I’ve written and the Bible studies, and we began our weekend getaway, which for 26 years has ministered to many women, as well as many other events in other cities.

God has been so faithful to me, and as we celebrate this thirtieth anniversary, we do it with a heart full of gratitude and humility, knowing full well that God has built this house—this ministry—not us, not me, and it is his.

As you can imagine, it hasn’t always been easy. The financial responsibilities are heavy at times; having to write for the programs is a deadline always hanging over my head. At this date I have written and recorded 1,532 of these weekly programs and 7,130 daily programs. My first concern is to make sure what I’m saying is solidly based on the truth of God’s Word, and to continue to give relevant and practical messages for those who listen. It is a responsibility I take very seriously.

I’m often reminded of the verse in James that says “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). So with the privilege comes the responsibility of living what I teach, walking my talk, and I don’t always do that like I should.

If you asked me what has kept me going through these thirty years, these things have made a difference:

Good work habits and character built into me by my parents. If you were born into the family of George and Irene Stiles, you learned that you don’t start jobs without finishing them. I can’t even begin to evaluate the impact of my parents’ role modeling and value system and character to my life. It is, without doubt, one of the key influences of my life. I say that to encourage all of you who are parents.

A great support team. So many people have come alongside and made this ministry possible. My daughter and son-in-law, who are very involved and helpful. Women at my church who have stuck with me from day one. My wonderful staff who carry the water in the office and make things happen. And the many listeners who support us financially. I’m still absolutely amazed at how God has sent us donors for many years, people I’ve never personally met, who believe in our mission and have faithfully supported us.

Our listeners. The feedback we’ve received through these thirty years has affirmed and confirmed to me that God is using our ministry to help others live out their faith in practical ways where they are. I can’t tell you how meaningful it is to me to hear from you and know that you are encouraged and helped by what we do.

Someone remarked to me recently that a thirty year track record is unusual and asked why I think God has kept us going and growing all these years. I’m not the best person to assess or answer that question because obviously I don’t have a totally objective viewpoint. But I believe it is simply God honoring his promises and his Word. It is simply God’s faithfulness.

First Corinthians 4:2 says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” I was given a trust, along with others, for this ministry. To whom much is given, much is required. I feel that responsibility very strongly. It’s not an option, it is required that I be faithful to the trust that has been given me.

In our day and age we don’t see a lot of faithfulness—in our work worlds, our private worlds, and our ministry worlds. People start but they don’t finish. People stay with you until it gets hard or the excitement runs out or something better comes along. Sticking in there counts for a lot. Just hanging in through the hard and easy times.

And then Psalm 18:25 says: “To the faithful you show yourself faithful.” He always matches our faithfulness with his, and of course, his is a lot better than ours.

The good news is, as we read in first Corinthians: “God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.” And in first Thessalonians: “The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.”

God has been faithful to me—and the incredible thing about God is, when he calls you, if you will be faithful, he will do it!

As is always true, there have been ups and downs through these thirty years. There have been dry spells when I didn’t feel like being faithful. There have been times when I felt sorry for myself and many failures in my life during these thirty years. But God has been faithful even when I was faithless, and he has proven that he will remain faithful even when I am not.

When Jesus told the parable of the talents, his commendation to the faithful stewards was: “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt 25:21)

I want to hear that word of commendation someday, don’t you? And I want to share my master’s happiness. How can I do less—how can we do less than be faithful, when he’s been so faithful to us?

____________________________________________

As a special celebration of our 30^th Anniversary, we are offering 30% off all items in our bookstore during the month of August.

God has been faithful to me—and the incredible thing about God is, when he calls you, if you will be faithful, he will do it!

________________________________________

As a special celebration of our 30^th Anniversary, we are offering 30% off all items in our bookstore during the month of August.

Save The Date: April 17-19, 2015. The 27^th Annual Weekend Getaway for The Christian Working Woman will be in the Chicago area.

For updates and more information, visit our website at: www.christianworkingwoman.org

or give our office a call 630-462-0552.

Save The Date: The 27^th Annual Weekend Getaway for The Christian Working Woman will be in the Chicago area on April 17-19, 2015.

For updates and more information, visit our website at: www.christianworkingwoman.org

or give our office a call 630-462-0552.