ARNOLD—Many items can be used as a courtesy gift, but a gallon of ice cream isn’t usually at the top of the list. Even so, Ron Lowry, director of Connect Ministry at First Baptist Church, Arnold, and JOY 99.1 FM board member, shared a gallon of ice cream 15 years ago with the morning hosts at the Christian radio station, WCBW (the predecessor of JOY FM).
“I was driving along and I heard Greg and Sandi talking about ice cream,” Lowry said. “I felt like I should drop in on them at the station and take some ice cream. When I got there, the doors were locked with no answer.”
However, Lowry was discovered and invited in to join the hosts.
“They put me on the air,” he said. “I was surprised and I got to share what God was doing at Arnold.”
That impromptu ice cream visit was the beginning of a rewarding relationship between Lowry and the radio station.
“I got involved with several of the activities that they were doing,” Lowry said. “In fact, a few positions became available which I was interested in having, but God protected me. I didn’t give up the job I had then and when WCBW made the change to JOY FM, I was put in a position to help them.”
As a board member, Lowry has some regular functions in addition to quarterly meetings which are directly helpful to the station.
“I attend some of their events to hand out information or marketing pieces to those in attendance. Also, one or two days of the year, I take a turn on the air to help them raise funds for the station. They are listener supported, and board members sit in with the hosts to talk about our mission.”
Lowry sees these activities as a part of God’s plan.
“I love being behind the scenes and helping the radio station work through a business model to minister to so many people.”
Lowry became a Christian in 1994.
“I was living without God and I knew if I died I would be without hope. As I drove by First Arnold, God compelled me to stop in and talk to them in the office. The pastor at the time, Gerald Davidson, invited me to bring my family here.”
The Lowrys did begin attending.
“It was Easter ’94 when my wife and I went forward to give our hearts to the Lord. We knew we needed the Lord and our lives have not been the same since.”
VICKI STAMPS/contributing writer