God’s given us the tools to bring light to a dark world

From envelope-stuffing to national radio waves, UCB’s journey is packed with faith, vision and miracles. As it turns 40, the team looks ahead to the next big move of God. Chris Rolfe reports

David L’Herroux remembers when God fulfilled the first of two promises given to UCB founder Ian Mackie in 1986.

It was December 2009 and, after 23 years of hurdles and tenacity, the UK finally had a national Christian radio station as UCB began broadcasting on DAB.

Now, as the broadcaster celebrates its 40th anniversary, David is readying for the fulfilment of the second promise: that a great move of God is coming to the nation.

“God brought Christian national radio about because there was going to be an unprecedented move of God, so big that the church would be struggling to cope,” he explains. “Having Christian media around the clock to encourage, guide and support believers would be vital.”

As God stirred him to take over leadership of the organisation, David struggled with this idea of “unprecedented”. Then in 2016 God gave him a glimpse of what revival would look like.

“I’d been reading John 4:35 where Jesus challenged the disciples, ‘lift up your eyes and look at the fields and see how white and ready they are for the harvest.’

“Then I started to see things I never thought I’d see: God turning the hearts of a godless society back to himself; a church living and operating in the power of the gospel; government, law and society being reshaped by the truth of God’s Word; and family coming together into the knowledge and transforming power of God’s Word.”

The widely reported quiet revival of today is unprecedented and could be the fulfilment of this vision, he says.

“We’re living in the most exciting days I’ve ever seen. As the world is getting darker and darker it’s got to be that the promise of seeing the church becoming brighter and brighter becomes a reality.”

And this is where Christian media is key.

“God’s given us tools to embrace this, evangelise and disciple as a mass opportunity.”

UCB has a wealth of shows, literature and other media to do this already, but is also taking other practical steps to respond to what God is doing.

“We’re revamping our IT infrastructure to make sure we have an integrated solution, and refurbishing our offices so we can be more united, by moving everybody from two buildings into one.” The vacated building will then become a dedicated space for the new UCB Academy.

Since being piloted two years ago, the Academy has focused on five Ms: ministry, mission, management, music and media – training and developing people inside and outside UCB.

“We also want to develop our virtual courses so anyone can connect and be supported,” David adds.

While he is keen to celebrate UCB’s 40-year milestone and recognise the contributions of staff, leaders and supporters, he is equally focused on future opportunities.

“If you look at Scripture lots of things happen after a ‘40’. Jesus was in the wilderness for 40 days then came out filled with the Spirit. Israel came out of the desert and in their 41st year God led them into the Promised Land. So from a scriptural point of view, 41 is a year where you see great and mighty things.”

How will UCB prepare for that? “God is the God of creativity, and if we’re in tune with him he will lead us to the platforms we need to engage with,” says David.

“Today, it’s multimedia and we need to give everyone the opportunity to engage in the way they choose.

“We’ve got to look ahead, do the research, but above all else make sure we’re listening to God so he can lead us.”

God reaches people through the airwaves in ways you can’t imagine

Anne Henderson, head of UCB 2

Anne Henderson’s relationship with UCB began as a volunteer stuffing newsletters into envelopes, and back then the idea of being a radio presenter couldn’t have been further from her mind. “I was there because I believed in a station that played Christian music and talked about Jesus,” she says. “But did I have a passion for radio? No.”

Thirty years on, Anne is head of UCB 2 and deeply passionate about her job. So what happened to change her mind?

Very early on, she says, there was a meeting with then-MD Mark Littler who said “I feel God is saying you should work here,” and invited her to meet the broadcast manager.

Then there was a ‘God-moment’ during a show where Anne was shadowing a presenter.

“I faded the music as a song ended and put the fader up for the next one, but the room went completely silent.

“It was the one and only time I’ve ever heard the audible voice of God and I felt him saying, ‘This is where I want you to be.’”

She trained and became a full-time presenter, and over the years has witnessed the power of Christian radio.

“It works! People’s lives have been changed through it, and I love it!

One of her best listener moments was while presenting UCB’s breakfast show.

“A lady sent me a letter. She wrote, ‘Every morning I set my alarm for 6am, turn on my radio and meet God in my living room.’

“Also, people who are on their own at Christmas get in touch to wish us Merry Christmas and say they won’t speak to anyone else that day – it’s such a privilege to be a friend on the radio.”

One of the most important parts of the job is listening to God.

“I can prepare, walk into any studio and work the desk, but if you’re not listening you might miss something God wants to say.”

She recalls a poignant moment when she sensed God telling her to share how each person is special.

“I talked about how life can be tough, we all go through difficult times, but God loves us and no matter what you’re going through he’s here, he knows, and he has a plan.

“I said, ‘If you’ve ever felt like you don’t even know if you want a tomorrow, know that God has got your tomorrow,’ then I played the Ray Boltz song ‘God gave me back tomorrow.’

“A few minutes later I got a call from a woman who thanked me for what I’d said. She had got to the point where life was so hard she was thinking of ending everything, but God had just spoken to her. She didn’t know where she’d go from there but she now knew he had a plan for her.

“God reaches people through the airwaves in ways you can’t imagine.”

Through her years in radio Anne has seen many management changes, the internet and a multitude of tech developments transform her job, but one thing has remained unchanged: UCB’s heart for God.

“It’s always been about praying together, reading Word for Today and being family.”

UCB’s challenge for the future, she says, is to remain relevant and moving forward.

“Technology will advance, younger presenters with new ideas will come but the heart of everything needs to remain asking ‘God, what do you want?’ We can come up with great ideas but God’s the one who will lead us forward and bring what is needed to every generation.”

This article first appeared in Direction Magazine. For further details, please click here.