Family Life Ministries, Inc. is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization established six decades ago by a recent college graduate, Dick Snavely, as a youth ministry. The organization’s first twenty years consisted of a staff of less than five and an annual budget of $200,000. During the first ten years of its existence, Family Life operated out of small office areas in Naples and Avoca, NY. In 1967 the organization constructed its current facility located in Bath, NY, a facility that has been added onto five different times.
Family Life began its first radio station in 1983. Six years later a network was formed with the construction of three additional stations. Since the early 1990s over 60 other signals have been put on the air. Today Family Life has over 60 employees, a $6-7 million annual budget, and covers large portions of New York and Pennsylvania with the message of hope. Complementing the radio outreach, the organization has full-time departments in Performing Arts, Hope & Healing Counseling, and Events. Accompanying these departments are divisions in Information Technology, Creative Services, Internet Broadcasting, Food Services, and events for Youth, Singles, and Senior Citizens.
Family Life’s Radio department reaches a potential audience of seven million listeners with over 65 outlets. Family Life’s motto is, “A friend you can turn to”. That expression becomes real with uplifting programming designed to strengthen the family, inform on current events, provide biblical instruction, and encourage through radio drama and contemporary Christian music.
Family Life’s on-air team helps to keep listeners encouraged, uplifted, and spiritually recharged throughout the day. All Family Life’s on-air personalities are what one listener described as, “incredibly real in presenting their faith; refreshingly ‘non-religious’, but truly Christian and unashamed at that.”
Family Life’ also provides online music streams tailored to other tastes and preferences. These include Gentle Praise (Easy Listening), Resound (Pop & Rock), The Gospel Road (Southern Gospel), Adoration (Praise & Worship), Family Life Christmas (Variety), and Peaceful Christmas (Instrumental).
Family Life’s desire is to use the creative arts to effectively communicate hope to our world in unique and innovative ways. The organization strives to bring stories of redemption and mercy to life on the stage and beyond. The stage is occupied numerous times each year as Family Life takes classic works to bring Broadway-style productions to the area. With each performance, a theme in the musical or drama is drawn upon to share the hope that faith in God can bring. Currently, major performances happen a few times each year, but as the ministry looks to a new facility, such undertakings will be produced year-round.
Young people ages 8-15 are also involved on the stage. Each spring a youth theater production is performed to historically sold-out audiences. Once again, classic works and well-known musicals/plays allow these youth to grow in their God-given skills while performing in a professional atmosphere. Summer workshops in drama happen both at the organization’s headquarters and throughout New York and Pennsylvania as hundreds of young people learn new skills in acting, choreography, and theatrical production.
Family Life provides a distinct biblical approach to the field of personal counseling. The ministry’s Hope & Healing Counseling department serves people and church leaders by providing conferences and resources for those who are struggling with difficult issues. The Hope & Healing Counseling arm of Family Life oversees a 29-week course called “The Healing Journey”. Family Life is the catalyst that assists families and individuals to trust God in putting their lives back together again through participation in this course. Personal and family counseling is also available through Family Life’s in-house program.
Family Life sponsors or co-sponsors over 200 events throughout the year reaching tens of thousands of people. Family Life’s hosting of a number of Christian concerts and comedy events provides an enjoyable night out for the entire family. Dinner concerts and dinner theaters afford the perfect combination of a great meal and an inspirational program. Luncheons for senior citizens allow retirees the opportunity of fellowship and fun. Young people and teenagers take advantage of Family Life’s outreaches specifically for them including Bible quizzing, Super Summer Camp, Youth Choir and training in voice and audio production. An annual singles’ conference provides fellowship and inspiration to many singles each year.
Family Life has been blessed with a wonderful reputation in the communities that it serves. Partnership with churches and other Christian organizations have made Family Life the centerpiece of the Christian community. The organization is unique in that it not only incorporates the vehicle of media with an extremely large radio footprint, but it also hosts hundreds of events throughout the year that allow personal interaction with thousands. Family Life provides unique services that most local churches and other organizations cannot. The organization complements rather than competes.
Family Life has an extremely qualified board of directors consisting of business owners, financial advisors, administrators, and human resource directors. Its staff of over 60 deeply committed individuals have come from all across the United States to join in this endeavor. Family Life is blessed to have a volunteer team of over 1,500 individuals who help with all outreaches of the organization and a committed family of donors who have contributed millions of dollars each year to keep the ministry thriving.
Family Life truly lives up to its name by providing a variety of wholesome activities for each member of the family unit to benefit from. The organization is strategically suited to expand its sphere of influence. Your investment in helping Family Life broaden its opportunities with much larger facilities will expedite its growth.