Who am I?
My name is James Branum. I am the host of Mennonite Radio but also serve as the Minister of Peace & Justice of Joy Mennonite Church in Oklahoma City and also the legal director of the Center for Conscience in Action.
Why Mennonite Radio?
Mennonite Radio was created to provide an alternative on the shortwave radio dial for
open-minded/non-dogmatic religious programming.
We come to the discussion from an Anabaptist/Mennonite
perspective, so we tend to emphasize the following themes:
1. The nonviolent teachings of Jesus
2. A christocentric view of scripture, meaning we interpret the Bible through the primary lens of Jesus’ teachings.
3. Earthly focus – We believe that Jesus’ teachings are meant to be lived right here and now, and that creation itself is fundamentally good.
4. Simplicity – We believe that we should “live simply so that others may simply live.” We often do not live up this ideal but this is what we strive for.
5. Solidarity with the oppressed – including people of other races, religions, ethnicities, socio-economic classes, as well as LGBT people.
6. Non-identification with Empire (aka the complex of forces that drives the military-industrial-corporate complex of power)
7. Orthopraxy – We believe that right living (orthopraxy) is more important than right belief (orthodoxy).
Our program will feature sermons and other presentations on scripture as well as other writings and thoughts, as well as good music, occasional news and discussion of issues of concern from a Mennonite/Anabaptist perspective.
Why is alternative religious programming needed on Shortwave radio?
This excerpt from a story in The Mennonite ("Oklahoma Mennonites Launch Radio Program") answers this question...
James Branum, host of Mennonite Radio, is an avid listener of shortwave radio programming. Shortwave technology is built for broadcasting at a distance, and Branum found himself drawn in by diverse international programming from the British Broadcasting Network to Radio Havana Cuba and Radio New Zealand International. However, Branum found content from the United States lacking.
“Overseas listeners would understandably assume … that many Americans tend to be paranoid and mennoradiosquareafraid of the outside world, and especially people of other faiths and religions,” said Branum in an Oct. 9 email exchange. “To me it’s tragic that at this moment in history, with so much tension in the world, international listeners (particularly the many people in the third world who have no access to outside media beyond shortwave radio reception) are hearing such hostile programming from the USA.”
Why am I raising funds?
My congregation is allowing me to use some of my paid
ministerial staff time in working on this project but due to other
ministry commitments is unable to pay for air time. Because I believe
in the importance of this project I have been paying for air time out
of my own pocket but I will not be able to continue to cover all of
this cost by myself. My hope is that supporters who believe in the
message of this program might be willing to help me meet this need.
How much money is needed?
I have prepared two potential budgets for air time, the first that would cover a continuation of our current broadcast schedule (one hour per week on WBCQ's 5110 khz transmitter), with the second being a more expansive budget which would cover two hour per week on WBCQ (with the second hour being for broader peace and social justice programming of a secular nature), as well as one half-hour of air time on a higher power station, WWRB, which would expand potential reception into the Caribbean, South America, Europe and beyond, and finally a monthly package to broadcast via online streaming audio at LIve365.com.
-
Budget #1: Continue current operations in 2016 -
$1300 Total
- One hour per week at WBCQ - 52 weeks x $25 = $1300
-
Budget #2: Expand Operations in 2016 -
$5408 total
- Two hours per week at WBCQ - 52 weeks x $50 = $2600
- One-half hour per week at WWRB - 52 weeks x $45 = $2340
- 12 months of webcasting on Live365.com - 12 months x $39 = $468
Details on how to make donations:
Donations made online will go directly to me (James Branum), and I will then use all funds (after paying any processing fees from the payment processors) to buy air time. --- Please note that donations made in this way are NOT tax-deductible.
Donations can also be made by check, sent to:
Joy Mennonite Church
504 NE 16th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73104
Please include a note with the check that says that the donation is earmarked for the radio project. Donations sent by check ARE tax-deductible under US law.
How can I get more information on this project?
- MennoniteRadio.org
- Our facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/MennoniteRadio/
- Email us at mennoniteradio (at) gmail (dot) com
- The Mennonite: "Oklahoma Mennonites Launch Mennonite Radio Program"
Perks
- 0 claimed
$25 buys us 60 minutes of airtime, so 20% ($5) will buy us 12 minutes. In return you'll get the happiness of knowing you made a difference as well as a thank you on the air on a future episode of Mennonite Radio.
- 0 claimed
- 102 remaining
Since, $25 pays for one hour of air time on 5110 khz on international shortwave radio station WBCQ, anyone who donates $25 will be listed as a sponsor over the air at least two times during the one hour of airtime purchased, as well as on the archived audio file which can be downloaded via our website but also may be replayed as a rerun at a later point in time. * Please note - We reserve the right to decline sponsorships from groups that we consider to be contrary to our values (i.e. groups promoting racism, homophobia, militarism, etc.).
- 0 claimed
Since, $45 pays for one-half hour of air time on 3215 khz on international shortwave radio station WWRB, anyone who donates $45 will be listed as a sponsor over the air at least two times during the one-half hour of airtime purchased, as well as on the archived audio file which can be downloaded via our website but also may be replayed as a rerun at a later point in time. * Please note - We reserve the right to decline sponsorships from groups that we consider to be contrary to our values (i.e. groups promoting racism, homophobia, militarism, etc.).
- 0 claimed
By donating $250, your church, business or organization will be listed on the front page of our website (www.mennoniteradio.org) as a sponsor as well as be mentioned several times each month on programming throughout 2016. * Please note - We reserve the right to decline sponsorships from groups that we consider to be contrary to our values (i.e. groups promoting racism, homophobia, militarism, etc.).
- 0 claimed
$25 buys us 60 minutes of airtime, so 20% ($5) will buy us 12 minutes. In return you'll get the happiness of knowing you made a difference as well as a thank you on the air on a future episode of Mennonite Radio.
- 0 claimed
- 102 remaining
Since, $25 pays for one hour of air time on 5110 khz on international shortwave radio station WBCQ, anyone who donates $25 will be listed as a sponsor over the air at least two times during the one hour of airtime purchased, as well as on the archived audio file which can be downloaded via our website but also may be replayed as a rerun at a later point in time. * Please note - We reserve the right to decline sponsorships from groups that we consider to be contrary to our values (i.e. groups promoting racism, homophobia, militarism, etc.).
- 0 claimed
Since, $45 pays for one-half hour of air time on 3215 khz on international shortwave radio station WWRB, anyone who donates $45 will be listed as a sponsor over the air at least two times during the one-half hour of airtime purchased, as well as on the archived audio file which can be downloaded via our website but also may be replayed as a rerun at a later point in time. * Please note - We reserve the right to decline sponsorships from groups that we consider to be contrary to our values (i.e. groups promoting racism, homophobia, militarism, etc.).
- 0 claimed
By donating $250, your church, business or organization will be listed on the front page of our website (www.mennoniteradio.org) as a sponsor as well as be mentioned several times each month on programming throughout 2016. * Please note - We reserve the right to decline sponsorships from groups that we consider to be contrary to our values (i.e. groups promoting racism, homophobia, militarism, etc.).