My book review

An interesting book, this one is. It's the story of Peter and John Ministries, which was formed by Peter and John Bisset, two preachers originally from Scotland, who came to Baltimore and set up a radio ministry that led to their owning a radio station, and now that includes an FM station, and AM station, and an HD outlet - 95.1 Shine FM, WRBS 1230 AM, and Bright FM, respectively.

Their ministry also includes River Valley Ranch, a campground in Carroll County where young people get back to the earth with a healthy dose of preachin', and they used to operate a bookstore.

It was always a pleasure, during the days when I was involved in radio both as a broadcaster and as an instructor of the noble art of sitting in a room, playing records and talking about them, to come in contact with people from WRBS. I don't know anything about the music they play, and their format is not my choice of tea, but they have always been kind and wholesome people in my experience, and Tom Bisset - nephew of Peter and son of John - was no exception to that. Even though I didn't always get along well with radio station management, I always found him to be a gentleman of his word, and I liked his book.  And whether the station you run plays rock and roll, country, talk shows, sports talk, or Latvian folk ballads, running a radio station involves dealing with the same problems all over. It's a business like few others.

One anecdote from the book that I found notable is represented by the cover of the book. Back in the day, when Peter and John were considering whether to launch a daily program on WBMD radio, they stood outside of the station trying to make up their minds, when a delivery truck from Baugher's Orchards (a huge apple operation near here that's almost as big as Apple with the computers!) passed by. The driver recognized the two preachers from their ministerial appearances, and he came around the block again to present the two men with a basket of apples.

They took that as a sign to hold to the admonition about hard work bearing fruit under divine guidance, and so they went into WBMD, happily munching on some delicious Red Delicious apples, and started a radio ministry that continues now, many years later.

So I recommend reading "A Risky Obedience: The Story of Peter and John Ministries" by Tom Bisset, even if you aren't necessarily into religious broadcasting. Taken overall, it has a lot to do with life itself.

Just like religion!