Tim Landis

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Construction Starts at WJTL

tim : September 26, 2016 11:11 am : Staff Pages, Tim Landis

constructionstarts091916

The Vision . . . The Need!

It is an exciting time here at WJTL as construction has begun on the final phase of The Junction Center Project.  We have clearly seen God at work over the past five years as many obstacles have been overcome with the final plans exceeding what had been hoped for.

The vision is to expand and improve the ministry outreach of WJTL!  We believe that music is an important non-threatening way to reach people for Christ, many of whom would never darken the doors of a church.  Our goal is also to provide quality Christian content that supports, strengthens, and challenges you as a believer in your daily walk with God.  Ratings show that approximately 100,000 different individuals listen to WJTL for a total of 5 to 6 hours each week.  That adds up to more than 36 million listener hours per year!  That does not count the thousands more reached daily over the Internet!

The venue will be very flexible with seating that can be configured many different ways allowing for a wide range of small to medium size events.  Major artists like Chris Tomlin and TobyMac will continue to be held at larger venues but this venue will allow for a host of additional regional and national artists that deserve to be heard and supported.  The stage audio and video will be wired directly to the WJTL studios allowing for the broadcasts of live concerts both through WJTL, Facebook Live and Youtube.

Faith based theater will also be presented including an anticipated summer youth theater camp.  Current outdoor events like the  “The Kid’s Cookie Break Fest” and the “National Day of Prayer” will continue to use the whole site but be improved by the addition of this facility.  The Junction Center tent will be repositioned into the grassy area next to the Arts Center Hall and will be used as the stage cover for an outdoor amphitheater that can hold up to 6,000 people.

It will be a beautiful venue with a fresh contemporary style that utilizes many natural materials.  A custom designed audio system from Clair Brothers will mean the sound will be world class. A full forty foot wide theatrical stage will have a state-of-the-art lighting system designed by Stray Lights.  Running the length of the building will be a really cool balcony featuring a unique vantage point to see a concert.  We are really excited about the design and layout and think you will be too.

Your gift is greatly needed to help WJTL finish this building.  The cost to complete this project is slightly more than $2,500,000 of which 80% is being funding internally by WJTL/Creative Ministries through the sale of some assets and long term savings.  The remaining 20% ($500,000) though needs to come from WJTL supporters.  As you know it is a challenge each year for WJTL to meet it’s annual operating budget so it is very important that any gifts given be “over and above” what you would ordinarily give to the station.  This is a real exercise of faith for the ministry as it will be a significant challenge to meet both the current operating budget while also expanding the ministry.  (Here is a link to donate to WJTLs General Fund.)

A donor has agreed to match each and every gift until the goal is met!  This means that your gift to the Performing Arts Center will in fact be doubled!  As an additional incentive, every donor who gives more than $500 will be acknowledged on a plaque in the vestibule of the new building unless directed otherwise.  All gifts are needed both large and small if this goal is to be reached.  Please prayerfully consider how you can help.
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Click here to make donation to the Performing Arts Center

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Important Letter For All WJTL Listeners

tim : December 2, 2013 6:41 am : Staff Pages, Tim Landis

Dear WJTL Listener,

Move the clock back 30 years and you would see WJTL just starting out in the attic of a small converted chicken house.   Low eaves meant ducking so as not to bump your head and the single downstairs restroom was shared with another office.  The DJ quickly learned to play an extra long song when nature called.

Much has changed since then but the mission of sharing the Good News of Jesus has not.   We are so grateful to the WJTL listeners who have remained committed to supporting the station in the midst of difficult economic times.

There is so much to be thankful for this year.  We praise God for bringing our dear friend Lisa Landis back from the brink of death and returning her to us.  She is working towards resuming a full schedule as her stamina allows.

The Junction Center continues to be a blessing and has allowed the station to expand its outreach to live concert broadcasts, The Kid’s Cookie Break Festival and other special events.  We have so enjoyed meeting and fellowshipping with our listeners in person.  Reaction to the cool new Junction Center Tent has been tremendous.  The tent will be up again in May for the WJTL Summer Concert Series and much more.

WJTL’s new studio facility was named The Junction Center because it captures our desire to connect people first to God and then to each other.  This was an easy choice also because our address is 1875 Junction Road.

Listenership continues to be very strong with the readers of Lancaster Newspapers again voting WJTL number #1 in popularity.  Your support is encouraging and very much appreciated.

Each day we get testimonies from listeners.  Whether it is the single dad excited to see his teenage daughter listening to good Christian music or the young mom blessed to hear her children singing along with the songs and enjoying WJTL.  Recently a cancer patient shared her struggles about how the station has uplifted her and provided a “spiritual retreat” during her treatments.  Do you have a story to share? We love to hear them.

Finally, I am happy to report that donations for 2013 are on budget as compared with the 4% decrease we saw last year this time.  It is important to know that one third of our donations come in from mid November to December 31.  This means that we still need to raise $323,000 by the end of the year to meet our minimum budget goal for 2013 and to start 2014 on a strong note.  Your generous gift today is greatly needed and very much appreciated.

In Christ,

Tim Landis
President/CEO, WJTL – Creative Ministries

 

Click here now to donate online.

 

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WJTL’s Big Announcement

tim : May 6, 2013 6:07 am : Staff Pages, Tim Landis

Dear WJTL Listener,

After a long and cold winter spring is finally here.  Spring is my favorite time of year as signs of new life are everywhere.  It is hard to miss the beauty of God’s creation around us.  I am reminded of God’s promise: “Behold, I make all things new!” (Revelations 21:5).

Things are also starting to blossom at the home of WJTL.  Phase One of the Junction Center Project has now been completed debt free and the studios are working great.  God has truly blessed!  This added space has enabled us to broadcast concerts in front of a live studio audience and to host many other special events.   We love meeting listeners!  The indoor capacity of only 50 people is clearly not enough to meet the demand.

Phase Two expands this vision with the construction of a large parking lot, restrooms and sewer system, landscaping with 65 new trees and a tent!  This high tech Saddleback tent has a completely open interior with no poles to hinder sight lines.  Featuring a great sound and lighting system the Junction Center Tent will be up from mid-May until mid-October starting in 2014.  If construction goes well the tent may actually open later this year.  The capacity will be 600 under roof plus additional open air seating outside.

Plans are for a WJTL summer concert series as well as a number of Kid’s Cookie Break and other events.  The tent will be able to accommodate a wide range of activities including concerts, seminars, banquets, comedy and theater.  “Christ. Community. Music.” is the current slogan for WJTL which also serves as the vision for The Junction Center.  We will also make this tent available to other select organizations.

WJTL is also excited to announce a long term agreement with the Hempfield Soccer Club to use our excess land for practice fields.  This relationship will bring thousands of young soccer players and their families to the Junction Center over the next ten years.

Long term plans are to construct a permanent community fine arts building on The Junction Center site.  This will allow for twelve months of usage rather than the six months provided by a tent.  As a matter of good stewardship though we will want to pay off the costs incurred for Phase Two first before starting anything new.  Currently Phase Two costs are estimated at $960,000 and it is our prayer that this debt can be retired within three years.  This will require a high level of participation from WJTL supporters as compared to the original purchase of the property where two major donors made it possible to purchase the foreclosed property at 28 cents on the dollar.  Your generous gift today will be a real boost to this effort.  Please join us in believing God for his provision and blessing on this ministry.

In Christ,
Tim Landis
President/CEO
WJTL / Creative Ministries, Inc
JC-Groundbreaking-9x6-LR4Web

Junction Center Phase 2

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Important Letter from WJTL

tim : December 4, 2012 1:45 pm : Tim Landis, Uncategorized

Dear Friends,

Thanksgiving reminds us to be thankful for the things (or people) most important in life. Christmas reminds us about the greatest gift our Heavenly Father gave us and to share that gift with as many as we can. I cannot think of a better time of year to share encouraging comments from two of our listeners. They represent the 115,000 people who listen to the station each week.

“I love listening to WJTL in the car as I run errands with my three year old. I truly feel that you help me fulfill the command in Deuteronomy about talking about our faith with our children while we walk on the road, or drive in our case. My daughter just recently started asking spiritual questions and I love that after hearing a song about Jesus’ death and resurrection she wants to ask why Jesus died, what sin is etc. Your music and messages open a discussion door without me forcing it open and makes her curious about our faith, so thank you!” – Anna

“I just wanted to thank you for the past few days while we were all anticipating the carnage of Hurricane Sandy and not knowing what would happen. Once again through music, God’s message came through loud and clear . . . It was an excellent music format for Faith, Strength and Peace!! Thank you to everyone who sacrificed to keep all of us informed during a very uncertain time!” – Denise

We are so grateful to our great WJTL listeners who make this ministry possible. We could not do this without your encouragement and financial support. Typically about 30% of our budget arrives between the middle of November and the end of the year. We stretch every dollar as far as it can go and in fact have not raised our already conservative budget for the past several years even after moving into The Junction Center. All year we balance good stewardship with what we have and faith for what will come.

As a friend of WJTL you will want to know that donations are running 4% behind last year and that a total of $306,000 still needs to be raised by year’s end. Please consider making an exceptional gift so that we can enter 2013 on a strong note. Gifts of any size though are very much needed and appreciated.

I pray for God’s blessing and protection on you and your family this season.

Sincerely,

Tim Landis
President/CEO

WJTL/Creative Ministries, Inc.

PS: To give online go to:
https://wjtl.com/stationinfo/support/

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Will you accept this free gift?

tim : December 19, 2011 2:48 pm : Staff Pages, Tim Landis

Tim Landis – As a child my parents were members of a small mission church located in an impoverish section of Lancaster city. The old red brick church featured a large neon cross with the words “Jesus Saves” in the center. The congregation was a mixture of Mennonites from outlying rural areas and people from the hood, many of which had various addictions and other challenges. At Christmas and other holidays my mother often invited some of these less fortunate souls to be part of our celebration activities and meal. As children we were less than thrilled to have to share our Christmas meal with that strange new family that smelled of cigarette smoke and who chewed with their mouths open.

For as long as I can remember, mom has always had a large wooden manger as the centerpiece at her Christmas meal. In the manger is a colorful assortment of small wrapped “stocking stuffer” gifts. After dad reads the Christmas story, mom picks up a gift and turns to the youngest child and says, “Do you know why we celebrate Christmas?” After getting the appropriate answer she then says, “Salvation is a free gift from God but we need to ask for it. It is your choice. Just like God gave us his Son Jesus, I am offering you this free gift if you want it. Do you want this gift?” Each person at the table is in turn asked the question before they can open their gift of a flashlight, breath mints, silly putty or what ever else caught her fancy at the dollar store.

I wish I could say that my wife and I are carrying on this family tradition of inviting needy people to our Christmas meal but that would not be true. We have done it a couple times with the most memorable being the time we invited Charles, a lonely bachelor, former NY cab driver and a spectacular hypochondriac to dinner. By the end of the meal my wife was in tears as every item of food was critically inspected and commented on. “Is this Turkey organic?” “Has this teabag been bleached?” and everything was either too hot, too cold, or would aggravate one of his many perceived medical conditions.

In a few days our family will travel to grandma and grandpa’s house for the Landis Christmas dinner. The manger will again be placed in the center of the table brimming with gifts for those willing to receive.

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WJTL HAS A NEW LOGO!

tim : November 29, 2011 12:01 am : Tim Landis

Tim Landis – For the past twenty years or so the round red, white and blue logo of WJTL was an instantly recognizable symbol throughout central Pennsylvania . As a staff though we felt that it was time to freshen up the old logo. The basic design for the new logo has both 2D and 3D versions. The primary color is green although you will occasionally see the logo presented in other colors including orange. Obviously this means that your old bumper sticker is now either a collector’s item or obsolete depending on your view. You can pick up a new bumper sticker at any one of our live remotes or special events. We will also be sending out the new stickers in our receipt letters and other correspondence. Do you like the new logo? Please use the comment section below to let us know.

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WJTL Happy to Help Soccer Tournament

tim : November 22, 2011 11:03 am : Tim Landis

WJTL was happy to donate the grounds of The Junction Center for use by the Hempfield Fall Classic Soccer Tournament. The tournament was held on November 19 and 20 and featured over 650 teams representing athletes between the ages of 9 and 19. Approximately 1,200 games were played and 100 soccer fields were used. WJTL donated the use of it’s land for four of those fields. The tournament gave the ministry a full page ad in the soccer program book to welcome the teams and introduce the station. One of the goals of WJTL and Creative Ministries is to be effective ambassadors representing Christ in the local community.

WJTL Welcomes Soccer Tournament

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