Eaganís AM980 ó where Christians get provocative
Posted: 6/13/02
by Laura Adelmann
Staff Writer
Edgy, provocative and topical. Itís not what one expects when tuning into a Christian radio station.
Salem Broadcastingís AM980, KKMS Radio Station, Eagan, is changing presumptions, getting into issues and heating up weekday drive-times.
ěSalem has a formula that seems to be working around the country Ö and that is mostly preaching in the morning, but Ö (then) putting on a live drive-time home,î explained Todd Friel, AM980 ěTalk the Walkî program host.
The ěformulaî takes on a unique twist in the Twin Cities. While most of Salemís 80-plus stations feature some afternoon talk, AM980 offers three programs, three local personalities, with three vastly unique approaches.
Tom Marsland hosts ěTomís Placeî from 4 to 6 p.m. weekdays, digging into daily news and expounding on the controversy.
ěIím the one that does the show that most closely resembles a secular show,î said Marsland.
Tomís Place is spiced up with Marslandís unapologetic, politically-incorrect, biblical perspective. Hot issues Marsland tackles include homosexuality, education, new-age culture and abortion.
Joyce Harley, also issue-driven, offers listeners ěIn Focusî on 980AM airwaves weekdays beginning at 1 p.m.
ěI am more of an interviewer,î said Harley. ěI like to get an expert on and get into the mind.î
Harleyís passion for information gives listeners deeper understanding of hot-button issues. She regularly investigates topics in education, relationships, marriage, morality and issues of faith.
Frielís 2 to 4 p.m. ěTalk the Walkî takes a hard look at issues within the Christian community.
He explains, ěWe talk less about secular culture and more about the Christian community and how we respond to the culture.î
When he does venture into discussing the secular culture, itís usually in his segment ěPagans acting like pagans again.î
Friel describes ěpagansî as the dictionary does: ěPeople who donít acknowledge God.î
ěSometimes the pagans just act in such a silly fashion, itís worth taking a look at because, quite honestly, it provides a chuckle,î he said.
Examples of topics for pagan fodder include a parent robbing people with a gun in one hand and his 2-year-old child in the other. When chased by a police dog, the robber threw his child at the dog.
ěWho in their right mind would throw their child at an attack dog, just so they can get away?î Friel exclaims. ěThe pagans are acting like pagans again!î
Marslandís show, although he strives to remain intellectual and informative, also incorporates a unique brand of humor into his format.
ěI take the topics seriously, but honestly, I donít take myself too seriously,î he quipped.
When picking topics, he explains, ěIím looking for moral and cultural conundrums. Things that tackle the traditional Judaeo-Christian value system.î
Islam, he said, has risen as newcomer to the list; others include new age culture and revisionist historians.
ěAnd, in recent years, itís been a very effective onslaught by gay left leadership,î he said. ěI donít particularly have anything against gay people, I have over the years met people I care for very deeply who are gay.î
But Marsland says the Bible clearly states, ěabhorrent sexuality is not in Godís plan.î He says some in leadership are seeking to change the culture.
ěTheir leadership is completely whacked out. In an Orwellian sense, theyíre attempting to re-educate adults and educate our kids from the get-go and theyíre just very effective at it,î Marsland said.
Harley also delves into controversy, particularly on ěEducation Wednesday,î when she investigates the federal governmentís mandates, including Minnesotaís Profile of Learning.
ěI am concerned that our children get a good foundational education, not influenced by activists that have another agenda,î Harley said. She said children in public schools are learning through the perspectives of activists, including extreme environmentalists and gay activists.
ěEvery time we talk about this, we say it is not the fault of the teachers, itís the fault of the curriculum theyíve been given,î Harley said.
She has interviewed numerous guests who give personal accounts of their experiences with sex education in the classroom, the usurping of parental rights and the federally dictated system that leaves teachersí little input into the curriculum they are expected to teach.
Although Harley, as with the other personalities, holds firm a Christian perspective, she said her goal is to seek information and truth.
ěIím in the business of presenting the information to our listeners and letting them decide,î Harley said. ěSo, Iím more than happy to have someone from the other side of the fence do a presentation Ö and we can talk about it hopefully openly and honestly.î
Married for 39 years to a marriage therapist, Harleyís ěIn Focusî show features her husband, Dr. Bill Harley, every Monday and Thursday. Listeners are invited to call in with problems for advice. Many of the callers are struggling with fidelity issues.
ěThe typical call is regarding infidelity. They range from ëIím in an affair and I donít know how to tell my mate,í or they just discovered or suspect something is going on,î said Harley.
No matter their style, the goal is the same ó to get information and discussions going on from a Christian perspective.
Marsland said too often Christians have stayed out of the public debate, contributing to societyís moral disintegration.
ěWe need to bring people from being sheeple and bring them up to the level to create critical thinking. God gave us this wonderful mind. Itís so cool. And Christians are probably the number one group who choose not to use much of it,î said Marsland.
He said most Christians, when faced with cultural challenges, will ějust nod and smile and want to have group hug.î
ěWe need to engage our intellect when God has gifted us with such a marvelous thought process,î he said. ěI want to really wake people up to some of that.î
And it seems thereís always something to talk about.
Said Friel, ěThe challenge in Christian talk radio is not ëOh my, what am I going to talk about for two hours today.í Itís what am I going to pick from this huge stack of topics I have sitting on my desk right now.î
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