Sales at Southeast Christian’s store increase as listeners tune in on air

Readers of the Zondervan best-seller Not a Fan may be acquainted with Southeast Christian Church, where author Kyle Idleman is teaching pastor. Messages from Idleman and Senior Pastor Dave Stone are heard regularly on three local radio stations—with revenues from The Living Word store supporting the radio outreach. 

“We are on three different radio stations, WHAS Radio, WFIA and Shine,” said Dena Meade, ministry leader at The Living Word Ministry. “The intent is to get the gospel out into the city.” 

Throughout the week, messages are broadcast on air during morning and evening drive times, reaching commuters.

In part because of the radio ministry, The Story (Zondervan), subtitled “The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People,” has moved very well at the store. The Living Word sold and gave away more than 10,000 copies when Southeast went through an eight-month, church-wide study.

“There are people who have come by The Living Word bookstore as a result of hearing a message on the radio or on television,” said Cary Meyer, director of communications and creative arts. “They wanted to pick up a book because they wanted to follow along. These are people who aren’t church members, or attending, but they are listening to the radio.”

The store at the Louisville, Ky., church was built out of the vision of Judy Russell, former president of The Living Word. It opened during the Christmas season of 1998, after the church moved into its third and current home at 920 Blankenbaker Parkway. Russell and her husband, founding senior pastor Bob Russell, retired in June 2006, and Stone now serves as senior pastor of the 22,000-member congregation. 

Under the leadership of Pastor Russell, the radio ministry was established in the early 1980s and was followed by the opening of the store. 

Prior to the store’s opening, the church operated a resource ministry, which funded all of the radio broadcasts. The resource ministry sold recorded sermons and was able to generate ongoing funds to cover the radio costs. 

“Even if listeners never walk in the doors of our church, they will call in or get online to order a sermon to give away,” Meade said. “We have also seen a lot of people come forward, visit our church or come to know the Lord through our radio ministry.”

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