The Journey Radio Network helps collect over 1,300 gifts for the ‘World’s Largest Baby Shower’

Through the Liberty University-owned radio station The Journey, and because of the generosity of its listeners, more area families choosing life for their unborn child will receive the physical, emotional, and spiritual support they need to care for God’s precious gift.

The station recently collected more than 1,300 baby items through listener donations — from diapers and wipes to blankets and onesies — for the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center’s annual “World’s Largest Baby Shower”, in partnership with The Journey.

“This is four times the normal contributions, which is really just unbelievable during a national crisis,” BRPC Director Susan Campbell said.

“Because of the World’s Largest Baby Shower, our supply room is overflowing and we can give abundantly, indulge (mothers and their babies), celebrating the life that was chosen as well as easing the financial pressures that tend to rule their minds,” Campbell added. “The on-air announcements The Journey gives our ministry is priceless.”

She said baby registry gifts even came in from The Journey’s online listeners, as far away as California, Nevada, New York, and Florida.

The partnership between The Journey and BRPC took place from Jan. 9-Feb. 14 and listeners could purchase items from a special Amazon gift registry.

Journey General Manager Mike Weston said the station — started by Liberty founder Jerry Falwell, Sr., in 1981 — appreciates its listeners who not only support the Journey, but also the various ministries it partners with. They help to fulfill the station’s mission of changing lives, and in the case of BRPC, rescuing the unborn in at-risk pregnancies.

“We just get to be the megaphone, to be their voice on the radio,” Weston said. “It says a lot about our listeners, our donors, many of whom already give to support us, the fact that they’re willing to give even more for another ministry that we want to partner with, really just says a lot about their generous hearts.”

Besides the BRPC, The Journey has partnered with Habitat for Humanity’s Apostle’s Build in Roanoke for the past three years in building an area family a home; the Salvation Army, with staff members joining its bell-ringing brigade; and Meals on Wheels, among other area organizations. It has also partnered with Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child every holiday season.

“What makes me the most thrilled about this is when we started the Journey, we had a strategic vision for the future, but from the beginning, we always wanted to be more than just a radio station,” Weston said. “What this (success) says to me is that God is honoring that bigger vision of bringing people to us, and I’m very grateful.”

Weston hopes to broaden the partnership to other pregnancy centers throughout The Journey’s coverage area.

“We really want to expand and include other pregnancy centers because of our far reach into the other markets,” he said. “We just haven’t had the time yet to lay the groundwork, but in future years, Lord willing, we can go to Richmond and Hampton Roads and Roanoke and Charlottesville and we can say, ‘Hey, would you like to be a part of the baby shower?’”

The Journey flagship station is located in Candlers Station Shopping Center in Lynchburg, where it is heard on 88.3, as well as multiple other signals throughout Virginia and in parts of North Carolina. Listen live at myjourneyfm.com.