Air1 Radio News

Kevin Ellers D. Min, stood in sacred silence alongside firefighters and chaplains at Ground Zero when human remains were found in the rubble of what recovery workers called ‘The Pile.’ His experience revealed the awful truth that most first responders are not properly trained to process their own very normal human emotions in the face of tragedy. He then dedicated his life to trauma care, eventually designing curriculum with titles like Spiritual First Aid, now used to train first responders internationally. Air1’s Marya Morgan reports. Closer Look weblink may be shared or posted to social media and/or organization website, but audio may not be duplicated, altered or re-broadcast without prior approval. May not be used for organizational fundraising purposes. (Educational Media Foundation - All Rights Reserved 2021)

By Richard Hunt Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives as four airliners were hijacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Pastor Mickey Stonier explains, “9/11 drew us together as a nation 20 years ago. People of faith and even different faiths united together for the sake of loving one another.” He also notes America is not that way these days. In our podcast, Pastor Mickey offers advice to cope with these unusual times of pandemic and social stress – and recommends we all show appreciation for law enforcement and other first-responders who continue to risk their lives to serve others.

By Richard Hunt “We’re glad and we’re proud and we’re honored to do it…but our ultimate hope – and our only hope – is in our risen Savior. And that’s what we want to offer people for healing,” declares Pastor Scott Brown of Waverly (Tenn.) First Baptist Church. In the time since the dramatic flood roared through town taking more than 20 lives, the church has served as a shelter, then developed into a feeding station, and also a base for disaster relief teams from the Tennessee Baptist Convention, the Red Cross, and Samaritan’s Purse.

By Richard Hunt “Crime doesn’t stop just because it’s 3 in the morning, so I have to be ready to be able to go 24/7.” And Molly knows, too. Perhaps, like never before, law enforcement members need encouragement. They often deal with the dark side of humanity and see and experience things that can only be compartmentalized for so long. One man and one dog are doing their part to make a difference. Chaplain Ron Leonard and therapy dog, Molly.

By Richard Hunt Was pilot Joel Boyers fearful? No. “Something just told me that, like, ‘it was going to be okay.’ That God was going to be with me.” Joel plucked 17 people from rooftops and other uncomfortable places. One flood survivor he helped told him about a girl clinging to a tree, with a dog. They found her, still holding that dog she had rescued, and got both to safety. It wouldn’t be fully known until some days later, but 22 lives were lost in the dramatic flood that floated cars and wrecked homes. In our podcast, Joel shares how his faith has grown as God has directly answered prayers. He also tells us how people he rescued responded, including one fellow who simply said, ‘Thanks for the ride, man.”

By Richard Hunt Would this be a particularly good time to talk with children about God? “Absolutely. I think if we can help them to see that – even in the midst of the most crazy times – we have help, we have strength from God, then we’re setting them up for success – we can model that for them, too.” The thoughts of pastor and author Levi Lusko. “I am gravely concerned about my own mental health, and especially kids, too. These last couple of years have been tough, but all of life is hard. And I know for a fact that kids read their parents and all of us seem to be on edge…”

Hope is to teach their own 2 children with Down Syndrome basic life skills while raising awareness for special needs. Listen to Air1's Rafael Sierra's report.

Doctors say your disease can be treated, but it cannot be cured. Your life becomes a swirl of appointments and pills. Finances suffer. Even your faith takes a hit. You feel alone, as loved ones can often be the last to accept the diagnosis. But there's hope for living well with chronic illness. Air1's Billie Braham talks with licensed clinical social worker Susan Rodriguez and Pamela Piquette, founder of Chronic Joy Ministry. Closer Look weblink may be shared or posted to social media and/or organization website, but audio may not be duplicated, altered or re-broadcast without prior approval. May not be used for organizational fundraising purposes. (Educational Media Foundation - All Rights Reserved 2021)

By Richard Hunt When Jennifer saw the text from the recruiter asking if her son, Peyton, would be interested in a military career, “I laughed, actually. I laughed out loud for half-a-second, then it just hit me with a little bit of sadness.” You see, Jennifer’s son is non-verbal special needs. Now while all this might have become unpleasant, it didn’t. That’s because the heart of a loving mom, and the kindness of a military professional, turned the awkward situation into a real blessing for Peyton!

By Richard Hunt More than a million people have been affected by the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that struck this past Saturday “and 540,000 of those are kids who are displaced,” explains Forhetz, “and the Lord blessed us in such a way that we already have a children’s feeding program going on on the island … we’ve been in Haiti operating since 2006.”

“When people hurt, you hurt.” – Pastor Eric Camp Camp, who pastors Collective Church in Pascagoula, tell us, believers from at least 10 churches took part in the car-based evening prayer at three hospitals. “We were asking God, first of all, to strengthen the medical personnel, to bless them, keep them safe, to heal those who have COVID in the hospital…and bring relief during this pandemic.” In our podcast, Pastor Eric offers a pointer from the Bible that could be very useful in toning down the debate about wearing masks and other precautions.

By Richard Hunt Faith: “It’s a part of who I am, and so that means a lot of just giving my life, my workouts, my competitions over to God … there’s a lot more peace that comes with that.” – Grace Norman In our podcast, Grace offers her take on the current buzz-topic of athletes’ mental health and she describes the way she focuses with cues, “seeing yourself into the moment and the now, instead of getting caught up in what’s coming next” during a triathlon. You’ll also hear her advice about the importance of setting goals for yourself in life, including those goals that are “way out of our comfort zone … and not setting limits on you or what God can do through you.”

Billie Branham talks with Chicago Eco House founder and president Quilen Blackwell about his impact on neighborhoods in Chicago

Christian-based Jail to Jobs Austin successfully redirects teenagers caught breaking the law, dropping the local recidivism rate to just 20-percent. JTJ goes into juvenile halls and offers young men and women a chance to show up on a jobsite and learn a trade when they are released. “If we can get them to us, and mentor them and teach the word of God,” says Jeremias Cooper, Travis County director, “then we can start making some changes in their lives.” Air1's Felipe Aguilar takes a Closer Look.

Why do two-thirds of freed prisoners go right back in? “The key is breaking them free of the ‘criminogenic thinking’ typical of people with criminal history,” says James Ackerman, President and CEO of Christ-centered ministry Prison Fellowship. To offer hope behind bars, hip-hop artist Lecrae partners with PF to perform concerts in prison yards, speaking directly to inmates about his own family to urge men and women to embrace a second chance. “They’re still human beings - with dignity - who’ve made mistakes.” Air1's Monika Kelly gives us a Closer Look.