Christian History Almanac

The CHA Weekend Edition Presents—Christianity on the Airwaves: A Brief History of Christian Radio in America

11 snips
Mar 7, 2026
A lively tour of how Christian broadcasting grew from early radio experiments to organized networks. Stories about wild early evangelists, regulation after demagogues, and the rise of denominational programs. Traces postwar evangelical consolidation, political influence through airwaves, and the shift to independent stations, niche outlets, and podcasting.
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ANECDOTE

From Teen Sports Radio To Podcast Host

  • Dan van Voorhis traces his broadcasting roots to a teenage radio segment on Extra Sports 690 where he performed a nightly shtick.
  • He connects that early experience to his present work in podcasting and lifelong love of radio culture in Southern California.
INSIGHT

Christian Broadcasting Began With Radio In 1906

  • The very first radio broadcast in America included Christian content when Reginald Fessenden read Luke and played carols on December 24, 1906.
  • Dan uses this to argue that Christian broadcasting began with radio itself, showing religion's immediate adoption of new media.
INSIGHT

Radio's Wild West Enabled Preachers And Demagogues

  • Early radio was a Wild West where any voice could broadcast, quickly attracting preachers like Paul Rader and Aimee Semple McPherson.
  • This openness both enabled evangelism and amplified demagogues, prompting later regulation.
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