News & Views

October 30



Topics this week:

American caught in Nazi Dutch Occupation

November Gardening

Maranatha International Leadership Interview

Reformation Day 2025



(Note: Program schedules are subject to change.)

Marian Takens reviewing dad's keepsakes

Photo credit: Long Road Home

American in the Nazi Occupation

Strong Tower Radio will air an interview with an American who experienced the Dutch Nazi Occupation on our Feature program Sunday at 3:30 pm, Monday at 4 pm, Wednesday at 9 pm, and Thursday at 1 pm, available only on STR stations, STR apps, or STR.fm.

Experience the incredible true story of the Takens family from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who were trapped in the Netherlands during WWII. They became heroes in the Dutch Resistance. As Veteran’s Day approaches, their journey is a powerful reminder of what our freedoms cost.

In a world grappling with division and threats to democracy, the Takens family's bravery teaches us that freedom requires our voice, our action, and our commitment to justice.

The Long Way Home tells the story of a family that risked everything for others. Join us in remembering and honoring their legacy. Let's learn from the past and ensure a future where courage, compassion, and democracy prevail. This documentary will air on the Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo PBS stations on Veterans Day, November 11 at 11 pm and again on Sunday, November 16 at 1 pm. This documentary will be available on-line for those not in the broadcast area.

Supporter sign painted on U.P. Brimley area barn

Photo credit: Amy Fox

Biggest STR Yard Sign!

How big is your Strong Tower Radio yard sign? What are you do doing to promote listenership?

The largest Strong Tower Radio sign is on a barn in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. In the tradition of See Rock City (and others), an STR supporter used the barn he had, and paid for the Strong Tower Radio name, logo, and local station frequency to be painted on it.

If you want to see this barn sign, it is located on highway M-28 25 miles west of Sault Ste. Marie and 8 miles south near Brimley, Michigan.

Strong Tower Radio also has yard signs available for many of the stations. If you would like to post these in your area, contact Strong Tower Radio at 231.468.2087 or Info@StrongTowerRadio.org.

Maranatha International legacy logo

Photo credit: Maranatha International

Kingdom Infrastructure Building

Maranatha International

(Note: Strong Tower Radio's interview with the Maranatha Volunteers International Strong Tower Radio Kingdom Infrastructure Building recording will air this Friday, October 31 at 1 p.m. and Saturday, November 1 at 5 p.m. only on STR stations, STR apps, or STR.fm.)

Maranatha is a non-profit, responsive organization that works in conjunction with the Seventh-day Adventist Church to provide strong, dignified structures for worship and education. Around the world, there are thousands of congregations praying for a proper church to call their own while meeting in sheds or under trees. Children are going to school in dilapidated buildings, causing their quality of education to suffer. To fill this urgent need, Maranatha constructs churches and schools—facilities that later become centers of outreach for a community. History has shown that the construction of churches and schools is a catalyst for membership growth in a region.

To broaden the impact of the work, Maranatha organizes short-term mission trips. Averaging about 10-14 days, these mission projects mobilize volunteers who are willing to fund their own travel and lodging for a life-changing service experience. Once there, volunteers not only work on the construction site, but also organize service activities such as medical clinics and educational programs for children. The mission experience can have a transformative effect on a volunteer. From exposure to a new culture and society to a deep spiritual growth, people return changed and ready to positively impact their own communities at home.

Each year, Maranatha organizes more than two dozen Open Team Projects, which are coordinated by Maranatha staff. Anyone is invited to join. Additionally, Maranatha helps teams to create their own projects, called Group Projects, to build Maranatha structures.

As of this year, Maranatha has worked in 88 countries since 1969. Maranatha employs 28 people at their headquarters in California, not including international staff. Private donors fund all Maranatha projects. They do not receive government or church funding, and Maranatha relies on private individuals to fund projects through donations.

Maranatha is a Seventh-day Adventist organization, partnering with Adventist organizations on most of their projects. They do not receive funding from the Adventist World Church.

Maranatha has inexpensive church program called One-Day Churches. The standard costs for the One-Day program is $7,500-$9,500 plus shipping. Since launching the program in 2008, Maranatha has constructed 6,359 One-Day Churches and 702 One-Day School classrooms.

What else does Maranatha build besides the One-Day Churches? Complete churches ($30,000-$75,000) and large school buildings ($20,000-$800,000). The design and cost of the churches or schools depends on the country. In the past, Maranatha has also constructed orphanages and clinics.

Maranatha also has a water well program (starting at $10,000 for full sponsorship), which includes drilling new wells and repairing existing ones. In the United States, Maranatha coordinates volunteer labor for new construction and renovations for various Christian organizations, including churches, schools, and camps. Maranatha has drilled more than 3,500 water wells. They are currently drilling in Brazil, Dominican Republic, India, Kenya, and Zambia. They are actively fundraising for water wells. If you are interested in donating to a well, please contact Maranatha Volunteers International 990 Reserve Drive, Suite 100 Roseville, CA 95678 916.774.7700 or Maranatha.org.

Autumn leaf

Photo credit: Pixabay.com

November Preview

Ron Price introduces his lead STR Ministry News & Views article Speaking Like a Child, and Michigan Life March November 6 at the Lansing capitol. Listen to the preview of November Strong Tower Radio (STR) interview program topics as well as the Veterans Day and Thanksgiving specials air this Sunday at 5 pm, Monday at 10 am, and Wednesday at midnight,  available only on STR stations, STR apps, or STR.fm.

STR's Reformation Month's Finale

Photo credit:  Strong Tower Radio file

Reformation Finale Week

Here is the Reformation Finale Week schedule:

Jay Gallimore: Reformation's Five Foundations

October 30 at 6 am

Dr. Ray Holmes: Classic Reformation interview, October 30 at 6 pm

Max McLean: Reformation Day

October 31 at 6 am and 6 pm

Airing on STR stations, STR apps, or STR.fm.

Kam Ferguson at South Haven Station dedication

Graphic credit: Strong Tower Radio file

STR Events Calendar



Be a part of Strong Tower Radio by joining us in person at one or more of the following events:

11/01 11:00 am Kam @ Alpena SDA Church

11/02 11:00 am STR Advisory Committee @ STR Cadillac

11/08 11:00 am David @ Marion SDA Church

11/08 11:00 am Tom @ Delton SDA Church

11/15 09:15 am Kam @ Mio SDA Church

12/13 09:15 am Kam @ Big Rapids SDA Church

12/13 03:00 pm Kam @ Reed City SDA Church

12/27 10:40 am Kam @ Charlotte SDA Church

"David" is David Bolduc - Founder and President

"Jilane" is Jilane Fenner - PR and Board Member

"Kam" is Kam Ferguson - Development Director

"Tom" is Tom Mejeur - Production & Marketing Director

"CAS" is the abbreviation for Camp Au Sable

"SDA" is the abbreviation for Seventh-day Adventist

"STR" is the abbreviation for Strong Tower Radio

Pastor Steve Conway's sermon is

featured on STR's Fresh Manna

Photo source: Strong Tower Radio file photo



Sermons on STR



STR airs Fresh Manna sermons, streaming at StrongTowerRadio.org, STR.fm, and STR's local stations, Monday through Friday, at 2 am and 11 am.

This Week's Sermons:

10/30 Garhett Morgan - Sola Christus

10/31 Garhett Morgan - Sola Deo Gloria

Next Week's Sermon Schedule:

11/3 Jermaine Gayle - These Three Men

11/4 Moise Ratsara - Freedom, Part 1

11/5 Steven Conway - Hope in the Storm

11/6 Mike Lambert - Elijah the Tishbite Part 7

11/7 Ariel Roldan - Testimony Power

STR Sabbath Sermons: Saturdays at 11 am

11/01 Chris Holland - Lest We Forget

11/08 Malcolm Douglas - Joseph Rent in Pieces

11/15 Malcom Douglas - The Lord Was With Joseph

Relationship

Photo credit- Eric Ward via Unsplash

Divorce Papers

We need to divorce ourselves from the ideals of the world. We might not be attending the theater, but what is on our TV? I do not want to be a Pharisee because they are not fair, you see!

Do we choose the society of sinners only when there is an opportunity to bring them to Jesus? When do we mingle with the people of the world? Idols must be torn down. The Bible says to flee idolatry.

Examine yourself! What do you love to think about? What do you love to talk about? Many young men are bound by digital addictions. How many of us are bound by sports?

Are we more interested in how much people like us? We must understand the value of real leadership. Can we stand the displeasure of the crowd? If you follow the convictions of God, you will encounter challenges. Following Jesus will get you just what He got. All His disciples forsook Him and fled!

This is what the mission is all about, getting ready for heaven! We are streaming Strong Tower Radio's programs. This is exciting! I want to have a part in giving the gospel to the world! We need to ask God to lay on our hearts what He would have us to do.

The COVID-19 virus will have been a waste if we stay the same as we were before it happened.

Listen, dear people, if we do not have faith, there will not be any miracles.

Statistically more was given during the GREAT DEPRESSION than what is being given now.

As you read my appeal, we stand on the brink of the precipice. A moment, as it were, remains.

Do we have the faith of Abraham? Sometimes God takes us right to the edge, but He said, “I will never leave you nor will I forsake you.” You can take that to the bank.

Thanks for what you have done, are doing and will do. God bless you, our friends.

George Dronen,

Past Director of Development

Thank you for listening to, supporting, and praying for Strong Tower Radio, "Where God's Character IS Proclaimed!"

Photo Credit: Adventist Giving

Ways to Support STR

You can donate to Strong Tower Radio in several ways, each with its own impact.

The fastest and most effective ways to donate include giving directly via a mailed check, calling in a donation, or donating on our website at StrongTowerRadio.org. These allow you to designate a specific station.

Another way is to give a gift to the Michigan Radio Ministry Fund via a tithe envelope or your church's Adventist Giving online  https://adventistgiving.org/donate/ANFFFF

STR now accepts PayPal.

Photo Credit: PayPal

PayPal:

Another Way to Give



PayPal is an easy and popular way to make payments, transfer money, and give to Strong Tower Radio. We have now arranged to accept PayPal for donations.

Go to:

1) STR.fm,

2) StrongTowerRadio.org/donate,

3) https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=HUSEG6XLACE2E,

4) or your PayPal account. Designate West Central Michigan Media Ministries (our legal name for doing business as Strong Tower Radio).

You may give, as with other methods, one time, or give automatically. You choose. Thank you for your prayers and your financial support of Strong Tower Radio.

Strong Tower Radio giving QR code

Graphic Credit: Jennifer Brooks  

STR Giving



You can give to Strong Tower Radio by accessing the giving page with your smartphone. Point, click, and give!