First Person with Wayne Shepherd

While in Kyiv, Ukraine, Ed Cannon and Igor Sereda talk with Wayne Shepherd about FEBC's radio ministry in that war-torn country. (click for more). Ed is President of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) and Igor is an on-air host for Radio M which is FEBC's Ukraine ministry. Radio M is heard on several radio stations throughout the country and also operates a counseling ministry, helping Ukrainians spiritually as they endure another winter of war.For more reports, listen for the podcast UNTIL ALL HAVE HEARD found on many podcast portals and at FEBC.org.An earlier conversation with Igor on FIRST PERSON can be heard here. Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

For the final broadcast of 2024, Wayne Shepherd talks with musician Dennis Parker (click for more) about his powerful testimony of faith in Christ that rescued and saved his life."I've never heard a more dramatic account of a man whose life was torn to pieces by alcoholism, drugs, and broken relationships-- until he turned his life over to Jesus Christ and was redeemed", says Wayne. Dennis is an extremely talented musician who often play in the band Kentucky Thunder with Ricky Skaggs as well as many other musical credits.  NEXT WEEK:  Ed Cannon from UkraineSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

As we prepare for Christmas, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth joins Wayne Shepherd to talk about devotions from her book (Click for more), The First Songs of Christmas. The Advent songs of the Bible unfold God’s redemptive plan for the world and His eternal purpose for the ages. Reflecting her own love for the season, Nancy offers meditations on the first two chapters of Luke’s gospel in The First Songs of Christmas. Using This 31-day Advent devotional, the conversation shines new light on the ancient yet inspiring songs of Elizabeth, Mary, Zechariah, the angels, and Simeon.NEXT WEEK:  Dennis ParkerSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

The Founder and CEO of the Legacy Coalition, Larry Fowler, talks with Wayne Shepherd about helping grandparents have a greater spiritual impact on their families. (Click for more)For information about the Legacy Grandparenting Summit to be held February 21-22 in Birmingham, AL and remote church sites around the nation, please visit https://legacycoalition.com/summit/.Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Author Martin Bennett joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about the true story of his book, Wounded Tiger. (click for more...) It's the amazing account of the Japanese pilot who led the attack on Pearl Harbor and an American POW who changed his life.  To learn more about the book and its author, please visit www.woundedtiger.com. And to listen to the FIRST PERSON interview with Jacob DeShazer, please click here. Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Chad Roberts, a pastor who has been totally blind since 2018, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his story of his determination, with God's help, to not quit but continue his ministry. (click for more)The circumstances that led to Chad's blindness have not deterred him in the least from continuing to teach God's Word as a pastor. You can learn more about Chad and his story here, including his radio and media ministry called Awakened to Grace.NEXT WEEK:  Martin Bennett, author of Wounded Tiger. Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Quentin Schultze joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about both his own story of faith in Christ and lessons from a popular movie, A Christmas Story. (click for more)                     Quentin has written a book, You'll Shoot Your Eye Out, Life Lessons from the Movie  A Christmas Story. In the book he draws spiritual lessons from the movie, based on his friendship with the screenwriter, Jean Shepherd. But he also dialogues with Wayne about his own story of faith and a difficult early life.Quentin Schultze is a popular speaker, writer, and communications professor.NEXT WEEK:  Chad Roberts, a blind pastorSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Mike Joens put his faith in Jesus Christ while in the Marines. He went on to become a successful animator and has now created a series for children. (click for more)It was a dramatic turn in his life in 1972 when Mike Joens became a Christian while serving in Naples, Italy. For the next several years, he worked for studios such as Hanna Barbera, Filmation, Warner Brothers and Marvel Productions. He worked as an animator, storyboard artist, character designer and writer, honing his skills on every level, while learning the nuts and bolts of cartoon production. Mike's dream all along was to create an animated series for children that would teach God's Word. That happened with the production of Theo Presents, available on DVD here.Next Week:  Quentin SchultzeSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Kevin Belmonte joins Wayne Shepherd to give a glimpse into the life and faith of eighteenth century best selling author, educationalist, and abolitionist, Hannah More. (Click for more)We welcome biographer Kevin Belmonte back to FIRST PERSON this week with another lesson from the life of a great Christian from the past. His new book on the life of Hannah More, The Sacred Flame, is being released this next week.In addition to her credentials listed above, Hannah More was a Christian philanthropist and reformer and a cherished colleague of William Wilberforce.  Kevin Belmonte has been on FIRST PERSON several times, most recently with his notes on D.L. Moody and Christmas. That interview can be heard here. NEXT WEEK:  Mike Joens, Creator of THEO for childrenSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

The grandson of the late Dr. Warren Wiersbe, Dan Jacobsen, talks with Wayne Shepherd about the publication of one of his grandfather's unpublished manuscripts. (Click for more)    Years ago an unpublished Wiersbe manuscript tucked in a dusty manila folder was unearthed by the Jacobsen family. Wiersbe grandson Dan Jacobsen, a young pastor himself, spent two years preserving his grandfather's original writing and completed the work titled, Becoming New, A 100 Day Journey of Transformation Through God's Word. It's a powerful continuation of Warren Wiersbe's legacy.In this FIRST PERSON interview, Dan mentions a podcast furthering the legacy of Warren Wiersbe-- it can be found at Apple podcasts here:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/warren-wiersbe-sermons/id494964859. They can also be found on YouTube and Spotify. And to hear a previous FIRST PERSON interview with Wiersbe, please click here:  https://www.buzzsprout.com/admin/121603/episodes/10962795-warren-wiersbeNEXT WEEK:  Kevin Belmonte on the life of Hannah MoreSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Pastor Steve DeWItt talks with Wayne Shepherd about his book, Loneliness, Don't Hate It or Waste it Redeem It. (click for more)        For years, Steve DeWitt was the only never married megachurch pastor in the United States. This put him in proximity to thousands of people, yet he lived his daily life alone. Over some 8,000 days as an adult single, and now eleven years of marriage, this pastor has a unique perspective on solitude and aloneness. He is the author of Loneliness, Don't Hate It or Waste It Redeem It. As you listen to FIRST PERSON you'll hear Pastor Steve tell his own story and apply biblical teaching to the issue of loneliness.Steve DeWitt is the Senior Pastor of Bethel Church,  a nondenominational church located in NW Indiana/Chicagoland which ministers to its community across multiple campuses. He is also the speaker on the radio program The Journey.NEXT WEEK:  Dan JacobsenSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

This week the story of martyred missionaries John and Betty Stam, who died in 1934. Author Andrew Montonera will talk with Wayne Shepherd about his new  book, By Life or by Death. (click for more)     I am pleased to have Andrew Montonera as this week's guest on FIRST PERSON. Andrew is related by marriage to martyred missionaries John and Betty Stam and has written a new account of their story in his book, By Life or by Death.Using family scrapbooks and unpublished sources, Andrew has taken a fresh look at the story of the Stam's death in 1934 when they were executed by Communist Chinese soldiers. Their story captured the world's attention in 1934 and still holds meaningful lessons for us today.Shortly before his death, John Stam wrote a letter to mission authorities and wrote, "May God be glorified whether by life or by death" (Philippians 1:20).NEXT WEEK:  Steve DeWittSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Upon the occasion of her 75th birthday being celebrated this weekend in California, we are re-airing this 2020 program with Joni Eareckson Tada talking with Wayne Shepherd about her story and ministry. (click for more)This weekend in California, Joni Eareckson Tada has invited friends to join her in a celebration of her 75th birthday. A quadriplegic herself, Joni is the Founder of Joni and Friends which since 1979 has committed to reaching and serving people with disabilities with practical help and the saving love of Jesus.As an author, speaker, and artist, Joni is loved the world over for her compassion for those with disabilities. Her own experience of living with pain, coupled with a deep relationship with God and His Word, gives Joni a platform to speak into the lives of hurting people everywhere.This personal FIRST PERSON interview took place in 2020 during the annual National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville and is being released again on her 75 birthday. Happy Birthday, Joni!NEXT WEEK:  Andrew Montonera, Biographer of martyrs John and Betty StamSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

The leaders of the National Prayer Altar event at Washington DC's Museum of the Bible on October 24, James and Sharon Ward, join Wayne Shepherd in urging prayer for America ahead of the election. (click for more)With the national election coming up in early November, a special prayer meeting is being planned in Washington D.C. on October 24th. It's called the National Prayer Altar and it will be held at the Museum of the Bible. Believers of all ethnicities, cultural backgrounds, and Christian denominations are invited to participate in-person or online from 6:00-8:45 PM ET.This week on FIRST PERSON, you'll meet James and Sharon Ward of TLN Media who will be leading the National Prayer Altar. They say we must earnestly pray and cry out for divine intervention, for God's Kingdom to come and His will to be done in our nation and world.For information about the National Prayer Altar and to attend-- or particiapte online--go to National Prayer Altar.com.For James Ward's book, Zero Victim, click here. And for a previous FIRST PERSON interview with James regarding his book, please listen here.Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Christian comedian Phil Callaway joins Wayne Shepherd to reflect on his life and calling to communicate the Gospel through humor. (Click for more information).A Word from Wayne:Phil Callaway once told his mother that when he grew up he want to be a comedian. His mother answered that he couldn't do both. That gives you some idea of this week's conversation on FIRST PERSON as Phil joins me to talk about his life and calling as a Christian comedian, author, speaker, husband, father, and grandfather.Phil is known worldwide for his humorous look at life - especially the hard parts. He's the best-selling author of  27 bookson family, comedy, life and golf. These include Laughing Matters, I Used to Have Answers…Now I Have Kids, Under Par, Making Life Rich Without Any Money, and Family Squeeze. He hosts the daily radio program LAUGH AGAIN which is broadcast across North America, the UK, and English-speaking Africa. Phil's writings have been translated into languages like Polish, Chinese, Spanish, German, Dutch, Indonesian, and English (one of which he speaks fluently!)Next Week:  James and Sharon WardSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Babbie Mason, an award winning Christian singer-songwriter, author, conference speaker and TV host, tells Wayne Shepherd her story, including an early Motown aspiration. A WORD FROM WAYNE:Babbie Mason is a gifted singer-songwriter, author, conference speaker, and TV host and her name is synonymous with creative excellence in the Christian community. She is the recipient of two Dove Awards and inducted into the Christian Music Hall of Fame in 2010.In this week's FIRST PERSON conversation, you'l hear Babbie talk about her early life growing up in church where her father was the pastor and singing ever since she can remember. As a young person she aspired to be a Motown artist until God made her calling clear. Her humble beginnings paved the way for a ministry and career that have taken Babbie Mason and her music across the globe, to churches, conferences and corporate conventions, on television, radio, the silver screen, through her books and even an online radio station.Her book, EACH ONE REACH ONE; Everyday Ways You Can Shine God's Light, is a USA Today best-seller and can be found here.NEXT WEEK:  Phil CallawaySend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Chicago's "Rooftop" pastor, Corey Brooks, invited Wayne Shepherd to visit Project Hood and see and hear the difference the Gospel message of hope is making in a tough neighborhood. A Note From Wayne:He serves a church in one of Chicago's most underserved neighborhoods. Pastor Corey Brooks invited me to see and hear the difference the Gospel is making through Project H.O.O.D. (Helping Others Obtain Destiny). During the visit we sat down in the yet-to-be completed Community Center and talked about the vision to spiritually transform lives and uplift communities in the heart of Chicago.Pastor Brooks, a visionary leader committed to eradicating violence and transforming lives in Chicago's South Side, is the Founder and Senior Pastor of New Beginnings Church of Chicago and the CEO of Project H.O.O.D.  This ministry started through the vision of Pastor Brooks who believed in the power of education, mentorship, and community development to break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future.He is known as the "Rooftop" pastor because of 100's of nights he has camped on the roof of the church to bring attention to the need and raise the necessary funds to fuel the vision. His is a story of not only vision, but persistent prayer and hard work.NEXT WEEK:  Babbie MasonSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Dr. Rick Ostrander is Wayne Shepherd's guest to talk about the Christian Study Center at the University of Michigan which he leads and his calling to Christian scholarship.A Note From Wayne:On this week's edition of FIRST PERSON our guest is Dr. Rick Ostrander, Executive Director of the Christian Study Center at the University of Michigan. A Christian Study Center is a community of students and scholars animated by the ancient ideal of integrating faith, learning, and living. Such centers have emerged at many leading universities in the U.S. and Canada in recent decades. The Michigan Christian Study Center, launched in Fall 2022, joins this growing movement.Also in the conversation, Dr. Ostrander will describe his own experience and calling to Christian scholarship. Experienced in higher Christian Education, he will apply the lessons he has learned to help both students and parents of prospective students sort out the important factors in following God's leading through education.Rick Ostrander's book, Academically Speaking: Lessons from a Life in Christian Higher Education, can be found here.Send your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

O.S. Hawkins joins Wayne Shepherd in conversation about one of America's great pastors and national evangelical leaders, the late W.A. Criswell of Dallas.A Word from Wayne:Recently in the news because of a devastating fire that destroyed its historic sanctuary, First Baptist Church in Dallas, TX was once famously led by Dr. W.A. Criswell. This week's FIRST PERSON takes you back in time to tell the story of Dr. Criswell's life and ministry as told by his close friend, Dr. O. S. Hawkins, himself one of Dr. Criswell's successors.W.A. Criswell has been described as unquestionably the most prominent national evangelical leaders of his day. In our conversation, Dr. Hawkins tells the story of his mentor's life, but also addresses the three life regrets expressed personally by Dr. Criswell.The biography is titled Criswell, His Life and Times and you can learn more about it by following this link.This interview was recorded just a few days before the fire. Amazingly, the pulpit used by Dr. Criswell and others survived the fire. For updates on the fire and the church's recovery, follow this link.NEXT WEEK:  Dr. Rick OstranderSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!

Ed Cannon, President of the Far East Broadcasting Company, talks with Wayne Shepherd about his personal story of faith and career calling. A Word from Wayne:Faithful listeners of FIRST PERSON recognize the relationship between this program and the Far East Broadcasting Company. Without FEBC's support, we would not be able to bring our weekly interviews to the radio. But the relationship is far more than just professional. It is deeply personal because of my love and respect for both FEBC and its President,Ed Cannon. Ed can I have known each other and worked together for years longer than FIRST PERSON has existed.So, I am pleased that this week we get to sit down for a conversation with Ed that tells his personal story of faith and career calling.  Ed is a former oil company executive and the Lord has used his business experience, coupled with his desire to proclaim the Gospel, to be an exemplary Christian leader. I think you'll enjoy hearing the backstory of Ed's life and testimony.We also have a weekly FEBC podcast called UNTIL ALL HAVE HEARD where Ed and I tell some of the inside stories of FEBC's ministry. It can heard on most podcast platforms like Apple and Spotify-- and at FEBC.org.NEXT WEEK:  O.S. HawkinsSend your support for FIRST PERSON to the Far East Broadcasting Company:FEBC National Processing Center Far East Broadcasting CompanyP.O. Box 6020 Albert Lea, MN 56007Please mention FIRST PERSON when you give. Thank you!