A Canadian Christian radio station aims to connect with listeners during the COVID-19 pandemic.
As people are quarantined at home, CHVN-FM hopes to get God’s message to them, reports Winnipeg Free Press. “I want listeners to know God is with them, we’re with them, we’re all in this together,” said Colleen Houde, CHVN-FM news and on-air host.
We want to reassure people God is still King, Jesus is Lord, we can rely on God at this challenging time. —Mike Thom, CHVN program director
Houde explained that many are staying at home, maybe away from their families, and their only connection could be through radio.
Connections, Houde’s magazine-style show, broadcasts a variety of segments that are informative to its listeners. Recently, it featured tips about working from home and improving Internet safety for children. Houde said the new living arrangements can be stressful and challenging for some people and the radio station hopes to alleviate these negative feelings.
Researchers found that children also experience stress during quarantine because of the drastic change in their environment. According to a general medical journal, The Lancet, “children who were isolated or quarantined during pandemic diseases were more likely to develop acute stress disorder, adjustment disorder, and grief.” To cater to the younger audience, CHVN-FM opened a segment that allows children to send greetings to their friends.
Mike Thom, CHVN program director, said, “We want to be a place of peace and calm for listeners.” He added that, “We want to reassure people God is still King, Jesus is Lord, we can rely on God at this challenging time.”
CHVN-FM features Christian churches and the links to their online worship services. This is to expand the reach of the churches of different denominations. In addition, the station wants to promote Christian artists who are now home-based because of the pandemic.
“We want to be a connecting point between Sundays,” said Thom. “Now, more than ever, we need to be connected to each other.”
