When radio first emerged in the early 1920s, it was met with both fascination and uncertainty. The thought that voices and music could travel invisibly through the air seemed almost otherworldly. Some hailed it as a marvel of modern science; others regarded it with skepticism, unsure of its lasting value or potential risks.
For Christians, radio quickly proved to be more than a technological achievement. It was a modern mission field. Pastors and evangelists recognized that if radio could carry news and entertainment into homes across America, it could also carry the hope of the Gospel. Their willingness to embrace the medium not only shaped the future of religious broadcasting but also laid the groundwork for the entire field of Christian media.
Every year on National Radio Day (August 20), we celebrate a medium that changed the world. Radio wasn’t just about news bulletins or baseball scores. For Christians, it was a way to share the Gospel with millions of people who might never set foot in a church.
And at every step of this story, NRB and our members have kept the Gospel on the airwaves.
The Early Signals: 1920s
In 1921, listeners in Pittsburgh tuned in to hear something entirely new: a church service broadcast over KDKA. Soon, pastors like Paul Rader in Chicago and R.R. Brown in Omaha realized they could reach far beyond the walls of their tabernacles. Families gathered around glowing radio dials to hear hymns, sermons, and Scripture.
It was a brand-new kind of ministry. For the first time, the Gospel could travel farther than any preacher’s voice could carry.
1921: KDKA early studio
The Golden Age Under Fire: 1930s–1940s
By the 1930s, Christian programs were some of the most popular on the air with millions tuning in. “The Lutheran Hour” and “The Old-Fashioned Revival Hour” drew audiences in the millions. For many, these broadcasts became a spiritual anchor during the Great Depression and World War II.
But just as broadcast ministries were flourishing, the networks moved to shut evangelicals out. By the early 1940s, major stations refused to sell airtime for “sectarian” programs. The most faithful voices in Christian radio were suddenly silenced.
Billy Graham broadcasting in the early days of Christian radio. Photo courtesy of the Billy Graham Library.
NRB Is Born: 1944
That crisis sparked action. In April 1944, 150 evangelical broadcasters gathered in Columbus, Ohio, to form the National Religious Broadcasters to preserve the freedom to spread the Gospel over the airwaves.
Their commitment was twofold: hold one another to the highest ethical standards and ensure that no government or network could ever silence the Gospel again. By standing together, the founding members of NRB preserved access to the airwaves, setting Christian broadcasting on a trajectory of lasting impact. Their advocacy quickly gained traction; in 1949 the ABC radio network reversed the ban on paid religious broadcasting, and other networks soon followed.
William Ward Ayer (far right) would later become the first president of NRB, before New York’s Calvary Baptist Church. The altar call was carried live by radio.
Kingdom Impact Grows: 1950s–2000s
From Billy Graham’s “Hour of Decision” to the rise of Contemporary Christian Music on radio stations, the second half of the 20th century saw Christian radio explode with creativity. Stations, networks, and ministries multiplied.
NRB conventions became the gathering place for broadcasters to share ideas, sharpen skills, and encourage one another. Station managers traded playbooks and producers tested new consoles while hosts recorded live from the exhibit floor, birthing partnerships that still shape the dial. Through it all, NRB members were the heartbeat—pastors, evangelists, engineers, producers, and volunteers who believed radio could be a lifeline for countless individuals hungry for encouragement and timeless biblical truth.
Recording live from the Exhibit Hall at the NRB Convention in 2011.
Radio in the Digital Age: 2010s–2020s
Far from fading in the digital age, radio has adapted and remained a trusted companion in daily life. More than one in three Americans listen to Christian radio. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, Christian radio stayed open when church doors closed. Through national disasters and seasons of uncertainty, radio stations still organize prayer initiatives, food relief, and local outreach.
“The positive impact and reach of Christian radio cannot be overstated,” said Troy A. Miller, NRB president & CEO. “Christian radio is a strong and resilient force for the spread of the Gospel. Radio is more relevant today than at any time in its history.”
While Christian media now includes television, film, podcasts, apps, and global digital networks, it all began with radio. Radio proved that the airwaves could be a pulpit, that technology could be redeemed for mission, and that when believers stand together, the Gospel cannot be silenced.
NRB continues the work its founders began—defending Christian communicators on Capitol Hill, protecting viewpoint diversity and the right to purchase airtime, advocating for AM access in every dashboard, filing comments and briefs on key media and free-speech cases, and equipping members through its convention, webinars, and policy updates. We champion stations and ministries so truth can be heard clearly across every medium.
On National Radio Day, we honor the pioneers who tuned their microphones to heaven’s message. We thank our members, because without your faithfulness, this story would not be possible.
Click here to access NRB member Ambassador Advertising’s radio toolkit to share the significance of Christian radio with your audience.