The station is community-supported, so profit is not its aim. Its message and music try to convey a Christian message to its listeners.
Now, what makes it “Ontario’s Christian Superstation”?
“We were originally Simcoe Country’s Christian radio station, but we added a repeater station in Owen Sound, then Peterborough, so with the expanded signal footprint, we became more Central Ontario-focused, not just Barrie and Orillia," says LIFE 100.3 FM Christian's manager Scott Jackson. "I thought ‘superstation’ helped convey that mindset. Then we added a Huntsville repeater, (for) amazing coverage. You can travel from Sauble Beach to Norwood and never lose LIFE.”
LIFE has been on-air and pumping out gospel music and the Christian message from its facilities on Bell Farm Road in Barrie since August 1999. The station is totally listener-supported and a registered charity. “We have a fundraiser every March called Sharathon, where we share the vision and take donations,” says Jackson.
In addition to music, LIFE 100.3 also features talk shows that contain basic preaching, including regular messages from Billy Graham.
“We don’t replace the church — we are the hop during the week between Sundays. By being simple, not religious, the station is pleasing to non-Christians who may be curious about what we believe.”
LIFE and its on-air staff made more than 200 appearances in the community last year to take their message to the streets.
“Half of the events are non-Christian events, like winter carnivals and summer festivals and theme parks. In doing that, we introduce people to LIFE and when they listen to LIFE they hear about Christ.”
There is a bumper sticker that reads: “Spiritual people inspire me — Religious people frighten me.” Scott Jackson says he is a born-again Christian, but not “religious” — a word he calls negative.
“It suggests rules, an angry God’s wrath, [and] condemnation for not being perfect. As a born-again Christian, I have put God first in my life. Everything I do, see (or) talk about, the friends I choose, the music I listen to — has to honour God," he says. "If it doesn’t, then I’m a hypocrite or a compromiser. It doesn’t mean I’m not a Christian — it just means I’m not doing what I said I would do.”
FInd out more about Scott here.
