# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1944_S398
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

398 © - Miscellaneous Matters -

station’s reaching out farther than ever before. The studio facilitie
too, were inadequate. :
In order to meet the latter situation, the station initiat
a $100,000 Forward Movement. Since speed was imperative.
bring the improvements at the station to a conclusion, it becam
necessary to plunge into debt in the faith that our friends woul
approve the steps which were. being taken by those who were’:
‘responsible for the station’s progress. The needs were brough
before our people. through the printed word. A Director of Publi
Relations was appointed in the person of the Rev. Paul Barth;.
who contacted individuals in the Station’s behalf and presented its
case before conventions and conferences. The Lord has blesse
these efforts and made the hearts of many willing to give liberally, ’
also through memorial wreaths and bequests. As a result, it has
become possible to pay off $50,000 of what appeared a crushing *
debt, and it is confidently hoped that repayment of an additiona
$25,000 will be made in the first half of the present year. With *
‘the continued support of our Christians, the debt should be wiped .
out entirely within the next year.

The increase in time on the air has also increased the operating
cost of the station. More operators: were needed, more programs
‘had to be provided, and more office help was necessary to handle
the many details of work incident to the operating of a radio station..: *
This meant an increase in the annual budget ’way beyond anything
dreamed of when KFUO set out in the attic of the old Concordia «:
Seminary. At the present about $65,000 per year are required
to keep the station functioning efficiently. So far the friends of
KFUO have staunchly given their’support. Synod in 1941 granted
a sizable subsidy to the station; congregations, not only those of
the St.Louis area, but also beyond hearing distance, have put
KFUO into their budget or at given periods lifted collections desig<
nated for the station, and thousands of individuals from. far and
near have sent in larger or smaller contributions to help support
our station. It is our prayer that KFUO, in view of its inestimable
value as a missionary agency reaching into the populated areas of:
Missouri, Illinois, Iowa, Tennessee, and even beyond, may be ‘sup-. *::
ported by the prayers of those who love Zion and by the gifts of
their hands. -

In view. of the increased budget, the suggestion has come to us
repeatedly that a simple solution of all of- the Sstation’s financial
troubles would be ‘to become a commercial station, The Radio -
Committee has taken this matter under serious consideration and’
discussed it from all angles, even to the extent of making a survey.
of the revenue that might be hoped for from advertising. The’
conclusion, however, was reached that going commercial would,,