70 Years of Being "Unshackled"

On Saturday, September 23, 1950, a new drama program aired on WGN radio in Chicago, which had been the hub of creative national programming in the Golden Age of Radio.

The program was risky because, like most radio, it was performed live. Moreover because its theme was dramatizing true stories of Christian transformation. Not exactly a commercial attraction.

The show was called “Unshackled!” Its first subject was renowned evangelist Billy Sunday, whose widow was among the studio audience . The excitement of the debut was offset by the fact that the show ran five minutes long, a program director’s nightmare. Given that inauspicious start it’s a wonder there was a second episode the next week.

Not only was there a second, this September, Pacific Garden Mission (PGM) celebrates 70 years of producing “Unshackled.” As the series has adapted to changing technologies, personnel and locations, what is unchanged is the consistent flow of testimonies that have been, and are offered to be, dramatized.

Since 1950, as of this writing, 3634 programs have been aired in as many as 14 languages (besides English). Many episodes have featured KIT Ministries founders Michael or Vikki Myers, separately and sometimes together including five in 2020 under unique recording procedures of social distance guidelines.

To highlight the PGM connection, a new “Unshackled” page has been added to the KIT Ministries website, featuring links to programs that include KIT ensemble members, as well as photos behind the scenes and from the new “Unshackled” museum at the Mission.