Praise FM celebrates 15th year with thanksgiving

One of the country’s premier radio stations came in for high praise last Sunday, as it celebrates its 15th anniversary this month.{{more}}

Praise FM (105.7 and 95.7 FM) hit the local airwaves in June 1998, with a music library of five music compact discs.

The station’s signals were transmitted by an antenna that was described as skinny and inadequate for its purpose, and only reached as far as Kingstown and environs.

Today, the station boasts a vast playlist of gospel music, two transmitting towers, and provides programming that

not only can be picked up by neighbouring Caribbean countries, but can be heard by countries around the world via the Internet (www.praisefmsvg.com).

Sunday’s thanksgiving and celebratory service took place at the Streams of Power Tabernacle in Sion Hill, where the station is located.

The station was conceived by Pastor Errol Daniel and his wife Camalie, who saw the need for a gospel radio station amidst the secular stations which popped up with the granting of licenses to the public in the late 1990s.

Daniel said that from the very beginning, the station has been blessed with generous donations of equipment, from persons who themselves were involved in radio broadcasting. He said supporters also allowed them to use land and homes to store transmitters and erect towers; assisted with tools,legal advice, labour, service on and off air and of course, financially.Most of this was free of charge.

“This is what you call ‘highly favoured,’” Daniel told the approving and appreciative congregation.

Daniel and his family were lauded for their perseverance, determination and achievements by a number of listeners and supporters of the station.

Among them were Minister of Ecclesiastical Affairs Maxwell Charles and Parliamentary Representative for East Kingstown and Opposition Leader Arnhim Eustace.

The highlight of the evening for most persons was the re-enactment of programming which takes place at the station.

From Fellowship Breakfast Special, Praise Lime, Children’s Ministry to Family Time, the hosts of these programmes gave the congregation and audience a taste of what happens on air.

The congregation was especially blown away by three-year-old Agape Daniel, who proclaimed that she was “wrapped up, tied up, and tangled up in Jesus,” her confident recital of the entire Psalm 1 chapter, and her singing.

Other performances on the night included a solo on trumpet by Linton Squires, singing by Sister Prescott and Ayana Little, a dance by the flag ministry, and spoken word poetry by Vonley Browne.

Daniel, his wife Camalie and others were presented with tokens of appreciation by the church, for their contribution to the station.

Of course, no anniversary celebration is entirely complete without a cake.

At the end of the service, the two candles in the form of number “15” adorning the anniversary cake were blown out by Agape, her brother Adonai and friend Adonis Byron, much to the delight of all. (JJ)