(Digital Editor's Note: This article was published first in the August 2023 print edition of The Stand.)
“Bro. Don hired me to format the very first AFR station, which was WAFR. And back then it was just music,” said John Riley on his first radio position at American Family Association (AFA), the parent ministry of American Family Radio (AFR).
Riley has worked in radio since 1981 and became aware of AFA when it orchestrated a boycott of 7-Eleven stores for their sale of pornographic magazines. Wanting to make a difference, Riley contacted AFA and received help to do the same in his area.
In 1991, Riley saw an advertisement in National Religious Broadcasters’ magazine about Don Wildmon starting a radio station in Tupelo, Mississippi, and needing a program director. Understanding the impact of Wildmon’s ministry, Riley ignored the criticism of others and traveled to Mississippi for an interview with Wildmon, who hired him.
Packing his wife Lennie and their four kids into a station wagon, Riley moved from his job in Minnesota to Mississippi. Since then, his family has grown to include five more children and now nine grandchildren.
WAFR started out as a radio station run by three people; Riley being one of them. So he has witnessed the growth and impact of AFA and AFR through the years. Currently, he works in network promotion and co-hosts JJ & John in the Morning, alongside JJ Jasper.
“[It’s] just an incredible privilege to have been a part of this for 32 years,” Riley reminisced.
A heart for Israel
One of Riley’s passions is for the country of Israel and its people.
“The heart that I have for Israel began … with my mother, …” Riley said.
Riley’s mother was born in Morocco to a large Jewish family. After meeting and marrying Riley’s father while he was in the U.S. Army, she legally immigrated to the U.S. and became a citizen around 1953. It was in the U.S. where she soon found the Lord.
During his life, Riley has traveled to Israel roughly 30 times, exploring the country and making connections with the people. Because half of his mother’s family moved to Israel, Riley has visited with them during his multiple visits. He has also passed down his love for Israel to his children.
“Going beyond the love for Israel and the Jewish people, it’s really passing on the love for the Word of God,” he explained.
Seeing his heart for Israel, AFA asked Riley to put together a five-minute weekend radio spot. For the past five years, he has been producing the Middle East Report to spread awareness of God’s chosen people and news regarding their nation.
A love for ministry
Besides his work on the air, Riley also works in network promotion, helping in the coordination of other ministries when they partner with AFA and making sure those ministries are promoted properly through AFR.
“AFA says, ‘Look, this is not our ministry, this is God’s ministry. And we will take the stewardship that God has given us and use it to bless other ministries,’” Riley explained.
One such ministry that AFA and AFR has partnered with is Truth For Youth (TFY), whose goal is to spread the gospel to young people by giving them TFY Bibles. This partnership has resulted in AFA/AFR helping to give away over 1 million Bibles.
Along with making sure radio spots are airing and talking points are hit, Riley also lines up interviews and coordinates with Tim Todd, president of TFY.
“That Truth For Youth partnership has been absolutely incredible. So my little part in it is just simply being a conduit for the staff,” Riley remarked. “It’s nothing really, just coordination” that is motivated by a love for God and passion for His purposes.”
