Published: November 24, 2008 07:01 pm            

Mountain State native combines career, life’s mission in unique job

A local Christian radio station owner has launched a ministry geared to help area pastors find resources to better equip their congregations for service.

“The radio station and the Christian Resource Center fit together like a hand in a glove. We work in tandem on a lot of projects,” said Vernon Drumheller, station manager of AM 860 WOAY radio in Oak Hill.

The radio station, which is totally separate from WOAY-TV, has long been a vehicle for airing Christian music, talk shows, local news, weather and a Christian perspective on world and national news.

Since Drumheller took over management of the 10,000-watt station in 2007, the format has moved more in the direction of teaching/talk radio.

Its motto, “Helping you grow in the faith,” dovetails with Drumheller’s life’s mission, he said.

“Part of my goal in life is to see if I can make an eternal difference in people’s lives. The best way to do that is to introduce individuals to the Lord Jesus Christ,” Drumheller said.

“With the radio station, we can reach people with biblical preaching and teaching and a Christian perspective on parenting, money management and family issues. At the CRC, we can encourage and provide resources for pastors so they can work more effectively within their churches.

Local pastors also have the opportunity to be heard on the radio station.

Tom Moffit Jr., owner of Moffit Media, the parent company of AM 860, designed a plan to use the radio station as a base for the Christian Resource Center, which is located in the Stewart Enterprises building in Beckley.

The ground floor suite of offices includes space for Bible studies, small groups, such as an addictions recovery program, workshops for pastors and a training room suitable for a variety of teaching and training opportunities.

At present, the radio station serves as the funding source for the CRC, which is a nonprofit entity.

Drumheller had previously worked for Moffit Media in other states.

A St. Albans native, Drumheller earned a bachelor of science degree in business administration and minor in radio broadcasting and Bible from Liberty University in Virginia.

A job as director of public relations took him to Florida, where he became acquainted with Moffit Media Inc. It was in Florida that Drumheller also met and married his wife, Ana.

At the invitation of Tom Moffit Sr., Drumheller moved to Philadelphia, Pa. to work for the company there.

In 1989, the Drumhellers moved back to his home state, and over the next few years, he worked in a variety of management positions at Heck’s, Bazaar Home Fashions and the insurance business, among others. A call from Moffit Media took him back to Philadelphia from 1995-2005 to manage a station there.

When Moffit Media bought AM 860 in 2006, Drumheller returned to take the helm.

“I’ve found that all the experiences I’ve had over the years have prepared me in different ways for this unique ministry with the radio station and the CRC. Both are about developing local ministries in the mix.”

He moved his wife and children — Joel, 18, Leah, 15 and Ezra, 5, to Prosperity and is now finding the best of both worlds living back where he has roots in the Mountain State.

“I get to come home and use the experience I have to bring back some hope and optimism to West Virginia, and I have a unique opportunity to make an eternal difference in people’s lives.”

— E-mail: bdavis@register-herald.com

        

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