Turn Your Radio On

 

One morning I got a special note from a friend who listened to my Tuesday morning Moody Radio broadcast.

 

Good morning Brother Bobby,

It made my day to hear your voice this morning!! You are always so happy and cheerful, your laugh makes me laugh! We love you and your family and pray you will have a Happy Valentine’s Day! Blessings to you!!! 

Hugs to the Hoppers,

It is always good and encouraging to get notes.  In fact, this morning I sent several text messages to some special friends that are enduring some difficulties and I remember how important an encouraging word can be when your world is tumbling downhill.  Sometimes you just need to hear a voice.

People tell me I have a great radio voice and that I should consider going into radio.  I think that they say that because they can cut me off when they do not want to hear me.  I often tell people that I have a great radio face to go with the voice.

I will never forget the first time I was on the radio.  I did not know it.  Here’s how I found out about it.

I had surrendered to the ministry and I had opportunity to do supply preaching.  I had been asked to supply at the Liberty Hill Baptist Church in Clanton on a Sunday night.  Back then, I knew very little about hermeneutics or exegesis.  Hermeneutics is a fancy word, or should I say a technical or Greek word, for the science of Biblical interpretation.  For example, Paul writes in Second Timothy 2:15 “rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Exegesis is the Greek word meaning “narrative” or explanation.”  Paul and Barnabas exegeted to the Jerusalem council the wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles (Acts 15:14).  Back then, my fathers in the ministry gave me sermon outlines.  They said here is the skeleton.  It is left up to you to put the meat on the bones.  My sermon that night at Liberty Hill was JESUS.  J, Jesus Justified us.  E, Jesus gives Eternal life.  S, Jesus is the only way for Salvation.  U, Jesus provides Unity for His people. S, Jesus Supplies our every need.  It was a simple sermon by a simple-minded beginner.

The following Sunday morning I headed to the Chilton County jail.  No, I was not arrested for disturbing the peace or preaching a bad sermon even though I probably should have been.  I was going there to pick up a trustee who was a product of our jailhouse ministry.  On the way, I listened to WKLF radio in Clanton.  A well-known preacher from central Alabama, Hyman Atcheson was preaching.  Reverend Atcheson is the father of Randy, a renowned concert pianist at Carnie Hall, and Wayne, author of Faith of the Crimson Tide and other books of faith.

I had visions of what it would be like to preach on the radio.  I thought that I would never have the opportunity to preach on the radio.

I picked up the trustee and headed back to my home church.  When I went into the sanctuary, Mrs. Georgia Crumpton greeted me.  She said I enjoyed your message last Sunday night.  I replied with thank you.  I told her that I did not see her and I hate that I missed her.  She said that she was not there and that she heard me on the radio.  Earlier I wondered how it would be to preach on the radio and now I find out that I had been on the radio.  Since that night, I have been on the radio, television, and the internet.

People all over West Alabama tell me how much they enjoy listening to the Tuesday morning announcements on Moody Radio out of Dixons Mills and Tuscaloosa, Alabama.  Traveling the around the state, people say, “I am so glad to put a face with that radio voice.”  There are times when we meet radio personalities, their voices do not match how we imagine them to be.  One lady told me that my voice sounded much younger than I looked.  With all the assorted compliments, I remind them that I do have a great radio face.  People recognize me by my voice, my laugh.  They say, “I knew that had to be Bobby Hopper.  I could tell by your laugh, your voice.”   It is wonderful to be heard and recognized. 

People ask me have you heard the voice of God.  I say I recognize His voice just as if I would if mom or dad spoke to me, saying, “Bobby. . .”

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty (Psalm 29:4 KJV).

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me (John 10:27 KJV).