This week in Christian history: Pope John Paul II visits Ireland, George Whitefield dies, BBN launched

BBN begins airing programs – Oct. 2, 1971

This week marks the anniversary of the first broadcast of the Bible Broadcasting Network (BBN), a prominent Christian radio station now based in Charlotte, North Carolina.

BBN traces its origins to the efforts of President Lowell Davey, who successfully purchased a radio station in Norfolk, Virginia, with the aim of promoting Christian teaching and music.

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“We sense the need of a quality station that is Christian-oriented and has quality music, both classical and Christian. We are, therefore, in the process of looking for the availability of such a station,” Davey wrote in a 1968 letter.

BBN eventually acquired a bankrupt station, with WYFI launching its programming at 5 p.m. on Oct. 2, 1971.

Today, BBN operates more than 100 low-power and numerous high-power stations across the United States, reaching over 50 million people.