Written by: Becky Hunter in Becky Hunter's Random Bits of Wisdom on June 4, 2012

Devon is a 7th grader. Last weekend, as I stood at Northland’s welcome desk he handed me his iPod and said, “You have to listen to this!” It was a Christian rap that he’d discoved on a local radio station, HOT 95.9 FM. I listened while I watched Devon mouthing the words through a smile that should be used in the HOT station’s advertising. That HOT station is just one of the effective and numerous ministry outreaches of the "Z."

Since 1995 Orlando’s "Z" radio has been boldly and successfully proclaiming Christ. Z88.3, (WPOZ-FM) is programmed setting No. 1 on my car radio, and I don’t have to go out on a limb to assume I’m not alone with that pre-set. According to Arbitron, the company that measures radio listening in the United States "Z" is the most listened to radio station in the Orlando metro area.

There are lots of reasons "Z" exists today, but none more significant than the willingness of one man to respond to his God-given passion to make it a reality. Jim Hoge is founder, president, and CEO of the station. He is a faithful man with a passion for Christ and compassion for people. Married more than 20 years to his beautiful wife, Eunice, Jim is dad to two wonderful daughters. He has degrees in electrical engineering technology and business administration and a work ethic that is hard to match. On weekends “Mr. Jim” is a Bible teacher for Northland’s 4th and 5th grade students in Children’s Church!

When we listen to the station that is “safe for the little ears” let’s thank God for that ministry and for people like Jim Hoge who dedicate their lives to spreading the GOOD NEWS of Jesus!

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones” (Proverbs 2:6-8).