Transforming Lives Through Strong Tower Radio

An in-depth look at Strong Tower Radio's ministry growth from 2009 to 2025. 

What has the Lord done? I could begin with a 1,000-word answer; instead, here are two pictures: to the left, one station in 2009; to the right, 23 Michigan stations and permits in 2025. 

From one small Cadillac station (red) in 2009, Strong Tower Radio (STR) now broadcasts on 19 stations in Michigan (blue), with four new station permits (yellow) being developed. The green shapes indicate growth opportunities available for the small South Haven station currently at 300 watts, and for the 100,000-watt Escanaba station to relocate. Each new station's broadcast comes with miracles of God’s provision that could fill an edition of the Michigan Memo!

What has the Lord done? He has prompted growth experiences that expand with Strong Tower Radio’s coverage! Through coverage growth spanning 15 years, God has transformed, and continues transforming, the lives of over 100 people as they've tuned in to STR, have been drawn by the truth of God’s Word, have seen the beauty of His character, and have begun walking with Him. Whether for the first time or in a new and deeper way, this walk includes joining the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) Church and becoming part of their local church family. All glory to God, Who changes lives through this ministry!

How does God provide for this growth? Through listeners and members like you. Non-Adventist listener giving provides 4% of STR’s annual budget, while 96% is given by SDA church members who recognize STR as a powerful tool extending their evangelistic reach.

The following chart summarizes recent STR financial data:

Seventeen stations incur monthly operating costs of $56,250, half of which ($21,000 + $7,000) is covered by direct monthly donor giving and member giving via Michigan Radio Ministry. The other half is covered by annual donors (many at year-end) and occasional donors (a few times per year). With up to eight more stations beginning broadcast in 2025, annual costs will increase from $675,000 to $883,000. New areas reached by the everlasting gospel broadcast 24/7/365 call for new monthly donors from those areas, and from those who value powerful evangelism—wherever they live! An additional 322 monthly donors at $50 per month would timely cover current monthly costs. This figure increases to 669 new donors at $50 per month with the additional stations’ costs.

These 25 stations (two in Illinois) will reach 4.8 million people with the full gospel message via radio signal at a cost of $0.015 per person per month. One-and-a-half cents per month per person—remarkable economics to provide nearly 5 million people the opportunity to hear lifesaving truth 24/7/365! Where do you find a better investment?

Monthly donors help equalize cash flow. During periods when donated funds have been less than expenses, payroll for STR’s seven employees has been delayed until sufficient funds arrive. In 2024, this resulted in payroll delays every few weeks from June through November, followed by catch-up payrolls when annual donor funds were received. As of this writing in the second quarter of 2025, STR is eight weeks behind on payroll. Vendors do not live by faith; they require payment each month. We recently saw this with our new Greenville station, which nearly had its power disconnected.

Strong Tower Radio works in the currency of souls, which requires fiat currency to accomplish. The returns on your investment are eternal and continue to multiply.

In the past nine months, 10 STR listeners have committed their lives to Jesus Christ through baptism and have joined the SDA Church. Their testimonies highlight how the Holy Spirit steadily draws hungry souls to Him—including through their radios! These decisions did not happen suddenly; they developed over the prior 12-36 months as former habits and beliefs were abandoned and replaced with the truth of God’s Word. Let me share a few testimony highlights:

Raised in an SDA home, Darren viewed his upbringing more as a cultural than relational experience. Seeing Christianity as rules-oriented compliance instead of a transformational relationship with God, Darren followed his own path for several decades before realizing that God was the missing piece in his life, not something the world could offer.

Those decades included marriage, several children, and divorce after his children moved out. Trials in his grown children’s lives revealed to Darren that God was his only hope and that he needed to spend meaningful time with God beyond simply asking for help. Darren began by listening to uplifting music and soon found STR while searching the radio dial! The music and messages resonated with him, and he realized God was directly answering his concerns through His proclaimed Word.

Darren continued listening to STR and was amazed at how clearly God answered his questions through these messages. Darren studied the Bible with a local church elder and embraced the everlasting gospel through baptism on September 7, 2024, at the Grand Rapids Central SDA Church. Hallelujah!

Darren still listens to STR at home and in his car, enjoying the sermons and music. He likens Strong Tower Radio to a wall of fire that keeps Satan’s distractions away. Praise God for another changed and changing life!

Matthew and his wife Holly were both raised in Lutheran families but had questions, especially Matthew. A co-worker, Anthony, introduced Matthew to STR, and they compared notes on what they were hearing. A few months later, Matthew heard a message on the Sabbath that "made his jaw hit the floor" with its clarity. This was the first time Matthew received a clear Bible answer to his questions about the seventh-day Sabbath! Convicted, he soon began attending the Wilson SDA Church with Anthony.

Anthony, Matthew, and Holly began Bible studies with their pastor and elders. Anthony overcame personal challenges and committed his life to Jesus in baptism in April 2022, becoming the first baptism in the new Wilson SDA Church. Matthew and Holly navigated scheduling difficulties (one works nights), persisted with their studies until their biblical understanding harmonized, and were baptized together at Dave’s Falls, Wisconsin, on September 20, 2024. They are now part of the Wilson SDA Church family.

Matthew continues listening to STR, and he and Anthony still compare notes on what they hear, encouraging each other in their listening. Glory to God for changing lives through these broadcasts!

Thank you, friends, for your support of STR. God continues changing lives through this ministry! As the Holy Spirit impresses you to add your support, call STR at 231-468-2087 or visit our STR.fm website to extend your evangelistic reach through Strong Tower Radio, where God’s character is proclaimed!