Excited children from around the neighborhood filed up the narrow firehouse staircase. Seeing the bright red fire engines and friendly firemen is exciting enough, but that's not why they had come. They had come to see and hear two young men portray the most exciting stories ever told—stories from the Bible.
For the next year, Stanley Hill and Jay Clymer continued their programs above the firehouse. It was the height of the Golden Age of Radio, and radio drama and stories were among the most popular programs.
Stanley was telling Jay of an opportunity he had to meet a radio host when he noticed that far-away look in Jay's eyes. "You know," Jay said, "I think we ought to adapt what we have for radio."
"You can't be serious," Stanley replied. "How do you think we could continue our jobs, working 50–55 hours a week, support a family, educate our children, and have time to produce a weekly half-hour radio program? Besides, where would the money come from?" Stanley protested. "I think it can be done," Jay said simply.
After more discussion, some time to think, some counsel from others, and lots of prayer, the story team believed that they should not look to their own capabilities or resources, but rather to what God could do in response to their reach of faith. They began to imagine the possibilities.
With encouragement and support from their friends, Jay, accompanied by his wife Genevieve, presented the program idea to the manager of the new FM radio station in Benton Harbor, WHFB. To their surprise, he quickly offered them 30 minutes of free air time each week.
Now what? They had never done a radio program before and weren't sure how to go about it. In answer to their prayers and reach of faith, God began to put the resources together. Virgil Iles, a student who was interested in writing scripts, came up with a concept. "How about a format that would have children pay visits to an aunt and uncle who told stories?" And that's how the personalities of Aunt Sue and Uncle Dan were born.
Stanley played the part of Uncle Dan, and Irene Lovell played the part of Aunt Sue on the first live broadcast of Your Story Hour, March 27, 1949. Each week the team returned to the studio to read another script.
Most radio was live at that time. Tape technology was still in its infancy. There were other stations in Southwestern Michigan that wanted the program as well, but the cast couldn't repeat the program at each station. So they made five records of the live broadcast and distributed them to the stations.
Soon it became evident that the ministry team needed the ability to go into production so they could distribute recordings to stations across the country. To do that they needed a Magnacorder, a newly developed tape machine. They were expensive and scarce. So the team prayed.
Virgil, who was also interested in electronics, found a dealer in Chicago and ordered a machine. When he went to get it, he was told, "I'm sorry, it's not available." Virgil began a search of every dealer in Chicago, but no Magnacorder could be found.
Knowing that God didn't make mistakes, he didn't give up. He returned to the first dealer and asked if they could search the warehouse again. After a fruitless search, they returned to the office to find the very machine Virgil had ordered. "You should have seen the surprise on that man's face," Virgil said. "He had no idea where it came from, but I knew. God had answered our prayers."
They began to record the program in Virgil's basement with blankets and mattresses hung around the room for soundproofing. Next, they moved to the back of the barber shop with a drycleaners on one side and a newspaper office on the other. They were able to record at night until the drycleaners started a night shift. What they needed was a quiet place of their own where they could record.
Again they prayed and discovered an unused garage away from the traffic and stores that they could convert to a studio. Everyone connected with the ministry went to work. Some wrote letters to friends. Marjorie Hamp, office manager and secretary-treasurer, sold her collection of Life magazines for $50. Others contributed, too, until the little group could make the first payment of $350. They now had a studio of their own.
That was the humble beginning of a ministry that is now on 3,000 radio stations world-wide. To understand the success of this program, you have to know something about the man behind "Uncle Dan"—Stanley Hill. Those who knew Stanley knew him to be a man who loved children, a man who could tell stories and make them come to life with his special sound effects, but most importantly, they knew him to be a man of prayer.
Stanley wouldn't make a move, begin a broadcast, develop an idea, or even make a phone call without prayer. It was not uncommon for Stanley to ask assistant Richard Rideout to pray while he went into the control room to make a phone call. But Richard quickly learned not to expect the phone to be used any time soon. No phone call was made until Stanley had spent a significant and sufficient time alone in prayer before dialing. Finally, after some time, Stanley would emerge with a smile on his face and the answer they needed.
At home Stanley spent many hours praying for direction and guidance for the ministry and praying for the people the ministry touched. Recently, Stanley's widow gave the rug Stanley used to kneel on to Richard. Stanley's knees had nearly worn a hole right through it.
The first broadcast of Your Story Hour was 55 years ago this month. And God has continued to answer prayers for this ministry ever since. What started as a story time above the firehouse has grown to be a highly respected world-wide, inter-faith, non-denominational, multi-lingual broadcast ministry, and the longest-running, most-listened-to children's radio program in the world.
Maybe not every idea for children's or youth ministry will end up like Your Story Hour. But if it is God's idea and you are willing to follow Him as Stanley did, it is certain to accomplish God's purpose.
Ask God what His purpose is for you. Ask Him to help you develop the talents that He has given you. Don't be afraid to try new things. Look for opportunities to use your resources to serve the young people of this generation who so desperately need the hope that you know and love. Invite others to pray and work with you. Then watch for God to do great things to advance His kingdom.
Gary Burns is the Lake Union communication director. Portions of this article were adapted from an article in The Good Deeder, Vol. 23, No. 1, by Doris Burdick.
