The Stand Expands

American Family Association has expanded the reach of the digital and print versions of The Stand magazine through a new radio program and podcast called The Stand Radio. The program first aired at the beginning of September on American Family Radio (AFR). This concept follows the goal set by AFA founder Don Wildmon from the very beginning – to harness all forms of media to inform, inspire, and activate individuals to effect gospel-influenced change in our society.

Host of the show

Hosted by Jeff Chamblee, The Stand Radio follows many of the same feature articles covered in The Stand magazine each month and draws on its staff writers, guest authors, and newsmakers in a half-hour interview format.

“I love doing interviews,” Chamblee said. “It takes me back to my earlier days at American Family Radio when we would produce radio documentaries and hour-long Christmas and Easter specials with various Christian recording artists.”

Chamblee began working with AFA in 1998 when he first served as a radio producer, then production director, and later as director of American Family Studios, where he led an award-winning team of writers and producers.

As a graduate of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, he is motivated by a high view of Scripture and its power to transform lives.

Chamblee has also served as a worship leader in Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, and most recently, in Mississippi. He and his wife, Anita, have been married for 40 years and have seven children and 17 grandchildren. His oldest son Jordan is also a staff writer for The Stand and co-host of the AFR program Share Truth, Apply Scripture.

Heart of the program

According to AFA Vice President Walker Wildmon, “The Stand magazine has been a central part of our ministry since the 1980s and remains our flagship print publication. Adding a radio aspect to The Stand was the next logical step in our efforts to inform families about the issues of our day from a biblical perspective. The Stand Radio is now being aired on 179 AFR stations as well as online.”

One of the big motivators for developing The Stand Radio was the number of people who listen at afr.net. Many of these live in areas where there is no direct radio signal. In the month of August alone, there were over 580,000 internet connections to AFR’s original programs. This demonstrates the enormous potential for The Stand magazine to reach these individuals with information they are not currently receiving in print.

Rebecca Davis, editor of The Stand magazine, is very excited about the new venture.

“We see The Stand Radio program as a creative way to expand our audience, reach new potential subscribers, and double the impact of our monthly magazine.”

She continued, “Whether it’s an online blog, a printed magazine article, or a radio show, the goal is the same – to equip more people to live out their faith in Christ and give a powerful witness for the gospel.”