WGTS Annual Report 2023

REPORT 2023

Dear friend,

Summarizing a 24.7.365 media ministry is a challenging endeavor, but one that is critical as it holds your WGTS/WGBZ/AllWorship.com and When We Pray team and board of directors accountable. As listeners fund this ministry, we must approach all that is done in a context of accountability.

This report shares many impressive data points and inspiring photos and testimonials from listeners. Taken together, you’ll see a picture of the ministry through various lenses, such as financial accountability, community involvement, and on-air connections. My prayer is that you’ll recognize how your giving affects hundreds of thousands of listeners every week.

Your giving has built a ministry that is truly Always Encouraging and life-changing.

God has entrusted us all (listeners, donors, team, board of directors) with a tremendous resource for sharing Jesus and His love. As we look at 2023 in this report, we also are looking forward to the rest of 2024 and beyond as we answer God’s calling to provide comfort, joy, hope, and encouragement with more people at a deeper, more meaningful level.

In 2024 we recognize stress and loneliness as areas where we can make a difference. The solution—learning more about Jesus Christ as he is the foundation to feeling better no matter our circumstance. It’s exciting to consider all that God will bring about as we all commit to growing closer to Him. Please join me in that commitment in this very moment.

May God bless you, as you have blessed others with your faithful support.

With gratitude,

Kevin Krueger President and CEO

Your giving makes a powerful difference to hundreds of thousands of listeners every week.

ON THE AIR

5,200

WGTS callers heard on the air with our teams sharing their stories, their laughter, their worries, their opinions and knowledge

131,400

encouraging, messagefilled songs aired

I listen all the time, whether I’m struggling, or in a joyful place. Listening brings me peace.

91.9 is my source of light in the mornings on my early drives to work!

18 #6

overall rank in Washington, D.C., of all radio*

*for listeners ages 6-plus number of programming team members working daily to bring the best possible ministry broadcast to the Nation’s Capital

382,800

weekly over-the-air listeners within the Baltimore and Washington, D.C., region

Morning host Jerry Woods

ON THE AIR

6 YEARS

WGTS encouraging listeners to learn more—on a daily basis— about the Bible. Our programming includes the game Bible or Not hosted by Johnny and Stacey and the Verse of the Day.

400 of Placing the Bible Front & Center

365 Verse of the Day to encourage and inspire listeners You can hear the Verse of the Day on-air and find it on our website, the app, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. games of Bible or Not with Johnny and Stacey Exploring and learning scripture in a creative way

Breakaway is the longest running community affairs program in Washington, D.C., having aired for more than 60 years.

Breakaway host Kevin Krueger

Breakaway programs and podcasts with local, regional and national guests with host Kevin Krueger on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 9–11 a.m.

WGTS has gotten me and my family through many a car ride. I love this music ministry for being Christ-focused, positive, and always encouraging! hours of life-changing programming

52

Health Tips at 7:40 a.m. on Wednesday with an Adventist HealthCare professional

8,760

Weekend host Brandi Lanai

ON THE AIR

5 artists visit WGTS studios, creating connections with listeners

Brandon Heath

Lauren Daigle

Patrick Mayberry

Rend Collective/

3 1-minute devotionals

artists recorded to bring encouragement and inspiration to listeners.

I want to be someone who is known as helping eradicate loneliness.

—Lauren Daigle

at 7:10 and 9:10 a.m. on the Morning Show

A daily dose of encouragement through stories of hope

27 “Words of Hope” videos

done by our staff to give listeners hope and encouragement with words from the Bible

Chris Llewellyn Words of Hope videos started in 2015.

Grew up with WGTS 91.9 and still continue to listen now that I am an adult.

Blanca

Scan the QR code to watch Jerry’s Words of Hope video.

Scan the QR code to watch artist devotionals.

Chris Llewellyn

Blanca

EASTERN SHORE

In June, WGBZ 88.3 marked its 2-year anniversary with staff and board members by presenting part of a local church service, Sligo by the Sea, in Ocean City, Maryland.

We moved here in 2009 with the military and have been listening ever since. A song plays at a pivotal moment just when I need it, and the words are just perfect. I know it’s a God-thing!

I am so blessed to be part of the WGTS family! The love pours out of the hosts and every song they play!

ON THE GROUND

Board member Kermit Netteburg, his wife, Donna, and afternoon show hosts Stacey and Johnny Stone present the church services in Ocean City, Md., for Sligo by the Sea.

ON THE GROUND

2,300 boxes of cereal

20,000 toys

679 children sponsored through Compassion International

50 Drive-Thru Difference days

Dollars raised to help Haitian orphans

Dollars raised for Salvation Army red kettles

WGTS listeners gave 2,300 boxes of cereal throughout the summer to help families in need

41 Sticker Stops

happening at churches, schools, hospitals, and parks to connect with listeners

4,500 ice cream treats served during the summer months at concerts and other gatherings

ON THE GROUND

10 concerts attended by more than

29,000 listeners

held at churches, arenas, and county fairs

TOBY MAC ZACH WILLIAMS

BLANCA

TAUREN WELLS

Our ministry, AllWorship.com, provides six streams of Christian music to listeners and has expanded the ministry to reach listeners globally online.

1,797,131

Prayers prayed by listeners for other listeners on When We Pray since we began the ministry in 2011.

562,500 people listened on our app, website or using a smart speaker

listening hours on the app

allworship.com

100,000 hours a month of listening 3,581 downloads of the app

6,000 monthly visits to the website

600 financial gift totaling $34,514

I am in the Middle East, serving in a war zone, and it is wonderful to hear great praise and worship music anytime there is an Internet connection.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INTERNS HANDS & HEART VOLUNTEERS

2 Interns who received university credit and learned about media programming, marketing, fundraising, and leadership. Their time over the summer was split between helping at the office and in the field interacting with listeners.

“It is important that we invest in young people through practical exposure and education, helping them explore the many career paths within media ministry.”

–Kevin Krueger, President and CEO

50+ Hands and Heart volunteers

who greet listeners at events, share ice cream or a sticker with them, and pray with them.

Emily Kreher (left) and Julia Everett (right)

Ken Scribner, Director of Promotions and Community Engagement, and Promotions

Assistant Tom Ozio often pray with our listeners at events

14,644 101,135

$8,440,901

Total income from all sources

WGTS is listener-supported and through generous donations is able to stay strong in our ministry for families. The complete audited financial report will be available on the website in early July. Scan this QR code to go to our “Financial Accountability” page on our website.

Charles A. Tapp, Chair Kevin Krueger,

TAKOMA PARK TOWER DC EVENTS

58 years of broadcasting from the Takoma Park tower that was erected in 1965.

WGTS staff gathered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for the nation’s Easter sunrise service.

WGTS did the afternoon show live at the Cherry Blossom festival near the Tidal Basin, greeting and praying with listeners.

The tower was decommissioned and the staff gathered for a time of prayer and appreciation for the tower and studios that have served the community for nearly 60 years.

Staff and listeners attended a concert at the John F. Kennedy Center, with musicians from Romania in celebration of religious liberty.

Ken Scribner and Tom Ozio, community engagement staff, gave a marketing presentation at George Washington University.