By Dan Wooding
Founder of ASSIST Ministries

CORK, IRELAND (ANS) -- The Christian community radio project for Cork called “LifeFm” has been granted a five year license by the Broadcasting Commission of Ireland. (Pictured: Logo of new station).

Brian Daly, Chairman of the volunteer run station, says he hopes that broadcasting can begin around Christmas 2006.

A news release from the station said, “In the spring of 2004 LifeFm's volunteer network performed very professionally during a six week temporary license across parts of Cork city. (Pictured: Leaders of new Cork radio station. Left to right: Louise Blake,Stephen Shields, Brian Daly and Chris OSullivan).

“The main aim of LifeFm is to provide Cork's Christian Community with its own unique radio station that reflects their lives and aspirations in a Christian ethos.”

The Central Statistics Office 2002 Census indicated that the population of Cork City is 123,062.

“When asked to state their religion, 113,140 registered themselves as belonging to one of the Christian Denominations,” said the news release. “According to recent surveys the majority of these people attend church on a weekly basis.

“While it cannot be assumed that everyone who attends church will listen to a local Christian Radio station, LifeFm believes many will find this station uniquely tailored to their spiritual needs.

“The station will have all the normal elements such as news and current affairs, community information, music and chat, but with a commitment to reflect a Christian audience's value system.

“LifeFm will have many unique program elements like Sunday morning 'Celebration' and programs reaching many forgotten minorities. There will also be a host of short features uniquely suited to our audience e.g. 'Thought for the Day', 'Lives of the Saints' and Scripture readings. There will also be a focus on disadvantaged people with feature slots like 'Planet News' and 'Amnesty International’".

The release went on to say, “Musically, the station will have a mixture of contemporary and traditional Christian music not heard on other stations, along with a unique selection of secular music in line with a Christian value system.

“LifeFm will be run primarily by a volunteer staff and will be mostly funded by voluntary donations.

“We would like to thank our Lord Jesus Christ and every person who is taking part in this exciting project.”

The organizers of LifeFm said they would be delighted to hear from anyone who would like to partake or support the project. Details are on the website www.lifefm.ie  or contact Brian Daly at his e-mail lifefm@eircom.net.

 (ANS) www.assistsnews.net