The Good News Network
The Good News Network is the umbrella organization comprised of GNN Radio, which broadcasts via satellite to 25 English speaking affiliates, and Radio Amistad, which broadcasts to six Spanish speaking affiliates. These affiliates are spread throughout Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Alabama.
The Primary focus of the Good News Network is to provide solid, Biblical teaching to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world and encourage believers in their walk with Him through programs such as FamilyLife Today, Grace to You, Insight for Living, Turning Point, Truth For Life, Point of View, and many more quality programs.
How It All Began
Clarence Barinowski wanted to solve a problem. As a traveling salesman for a family-owned animal feed business, he traveled over 50,000 miles a year. Spending so much time in his car made him wish he could hear some Christian broadcasting. But there was no way to make it happen over such a large territory. The startup cost to build a station was very high and the reach was limited to the coverage area for that station.
But God made a way. Non Commercial Educational stations became available, as well as, satellite technology, which made it possible to build a much more inexpensive broadcast facility. So, in 1982, Clarence incorporated the Augusta Radio Fellowship Institute and filed for a frequency. The permit was granted and soon, a tiny Sunday School room provided by what was formerly known as Bethany Chapel, became a radio studio. The signal was sent via microwave transmitter to a tower in Sweetwater, South Carolina, from which it was sent out to listeners for the first time – WLPE was on air!
At this point, Clarence was working full-time selling feed, and so a lot of volunteer help was needed, especially for technical and engineering issues, as feeding farm animals did not lend a great deal of expertise in the radio industry. The learning curve was steep, but the very first FM Christian radio station in the area was finally broadcasting. All the sleepless nights were worth it as the dream was realized and listeners began to write and provide support for the ministry. At night, Clarence and his wife, Sylvia, would hand write receipts for gifts. But this was just the beginning.
Growth of the Network
As support increased, the vision enlarged. A search for places to put more stations in communities without Christian radio saw applications in Georgia for Jesup (WLPT), Vidalia (WGPH), Byron (WPWB); in North Carolina for Harkers Island (WLGP); and in South Carolina for Florence (WLPG). Growth continued when a large gift allowed GNN to build a station in Barnwell, South Carolina (WHBJ) and Fair Bluff, North Carolina (WGHJ).
Next, stations were built like WFAL, serving south of Atlanta to Macon; WJTB in Columbia, South Carolina; WJNA in the Clemson/Anderson/Toccoa area; WZTR in Dahlonega, Georgia; WQDK in Gatesville, North Carolina and reaching into the Suffolk, Virginia; WMJB in Columbus, Georgia/Valley, Alabama; and WBHC in Hampton, South Carolina. The remainder of areas covered are: in Georgia… WZIQ, Albany; WWGF, Donalsonville; WTHP, Gibson; WPMA, Greensboro; WLPF, Ocilla-Tifton; WNNG, Unadilla; WSJA York, Alabama and repeaters in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, and in Georgia… Richmond Hill and Blakely.
Far more than was ever dreamed has been accomplished, which has been a great blessing to many people in these areas and those that listen worldwide through our online streaming. Who would have ever thought that the lonely backroads of Georgia would reach so far?
WPMA, Greensboro, GA
Radio Amistad
An opportunity to purchase WBLR in Batesburg – Leesville, South Carolina allowed GNN to reach many Spanish speaking people who live and work there. Soon, more Spanish stations were added in Soperton and Sparta, Georgia and repeaters in Lake Oconee, Georgia, and in South Carolina…Batesburg and North Augusta.
We partnered with the Radio Amistad out of Houston, Texas to provide most of the music and content. Radio Amistad is Spanish for “Friendship Radio”, and it reaches a large Hispanic community with Christian music as well as teaching, such as “In Touch” with Charles Stanley, “Focus On The Family” and others, only in Spanish. These stations have been very effective in reaching these communities with the gospel.
Dolly Martin is our Program Director, and she regularly translates letters and forwards phone messages to us, detailing the impact of these ministries in our communities. If you would like more information about Radio Amistad, you can visit their website:
We, at the Good News Network, are grateful for God’s blessings and the many new listeners who have contacted us, and we look forward to continuing with our mission to carry God’s Word over the airwaves. We are thankful that a traveling salesman’s dream to have a local radio station has been fulfilled above and beyond, as God has blessed and multiplied this network which is now able to reach the world through the internet.
Interesting Tidbit
The first station’s call letters were assigned as WLPE since no specific letters had been requested. One day while reading Philippians 4, Clarence was able to put some significance to the letters with the line, “Whatever is Lovely, Pure and Excellent.” The theme was continued with Lovely, Pure, True (WLPT), Good, Pure, Honest (WGPH), Lovely, Pure, Faithful (WLPF), but the pattern dropped at WPWB.