Your Story Hour

Summary

Your Story Hour ("YSH") presents the Judeo-Christian ethic through dramatized stories of secular history, sacred history, and true to life stories. YSH aspires to introduce role models that build strong character and encourage todays youth to make sound decisions. YSH uses only professional actors, sound effects and music to present these historical, Biblical and true to life dramatizations. YSH’s programming is aimed at 6-13 year olds but seeks to appeal to the whole family. It is an interfaith radio program heard throughout the world on 3500 stations in English, Spanish and Russian. This ministry has chosen not to be open and transparent with MinistryWatch.com. As a result it is difficult to understand all aspects of its ministry.

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Your Story Hour ("YSH") presents the Judeo-Christian ethic through dramatized stories of secular history, sacred history, and true to life stories. YSH aspires to introduce role models that build strong character and encourage todays youth to make sound decisions. YSH uses only professional actors, sound effects and music to present these historical, Biblical and true to life dramatizations. YSH’s programming is aimed at 6-13 year olds but seeks to appeal to the whole family. It is an interfaith radio program heard throughout the world on 3500 stations in English, Spanish and Russian.

This ministry has chosen not to be open and transparent with MinistryWatch.com. As a result it is difficult to understand all aspects of its ministry.

Prudent donors want to understand what it is they are going to support. Some ministries claim they have no legal obligation to share financial or other information — but they do have a moral obligation to do so. Without access to comprehensive ministry information it is not possible for donors to make optimal giving decisions. Ministries that seek to obscure critical information from scrutiny undermine the faith and trust of donors and damage attitudes that have a long term negative impact. For those few ministries that state it has no legal obligation, it should be noted that donors are even less so obligated with any legalist obligation to give, but they do have a moral obligation to give in a prudent and wise fashion. Transparency is a consensus of practical sound wisdom. Many Christians are willing to live ethically without a governmental entity mandating that they do so. Transparency is the key component to a growing and prosperous donor — ministry relationship and fundamental to long-term ministry success. Information, however, must be timely, relevant, accurate and complete for it to be used effectively.

Christians should have nothing to fear by being open. All will be judged at a future date, and with this thought in mind, how are we to conduct ourselves before God today? Organizations described as “Christian Ministries” are at least giving people an image of God. Is God characterized as closed, impartial and hidden; or, open, personable and knowable? Scripture enjoins Christians to conduct themselves honestly (1 Thes. 4:12; 1 Tim. 2:2), with due candor (Jms. 5:12) and grace (Col. 4:6), without deliberate offense to Jew, Gentile or the Church of God (1 Cor. 10:32), with decency and orderliness (1 Cor. 14:40), blameless, giving no occasion for rebuke (Phil. 2:15), and offering no opportunity for false accusation (1 Pet. 3:16). Responsibility for the resources God has placed in the trust of His saints is called “stewardship” in the Bible (1 Pet. 4:10), the person responsible for the resources is called the “steward” (Lk. 12:42; 16:1-8). Most Christians would not argue with the principle that the chief aim of man is to ...”to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.” However, how can a “Christian Ministry” “glorify God” if they are not open? Are not organizations that hide things characterized as cults? Should not Christian ministries lead by example? Besides being characterized as a steward, Christians can be characterized as ambassadors and as light because God is light. Just these few summary ideas indicate that Christian ministries should be open and transparent. In addition, responsibility to God is linked to responsibility to government and mankind.

MinistryWatch.com's hope is that Christian ministries are indeed an example to follow and not otherwise. It is one of our premises that Christians should be light in a world of darkness and as such, Christians should be setting the standard by their conduct.

It is not enough for ministries to live up to the minimum of any written law, or to give all men their due. Ministries ought to give them more than their due. Ministries should be concentrating on the good of others, seeking reward in self-denial and sacrifice, and not of personal advantage. Therefore ministries should treat others as they would want to be treated by them, regardless of unworthiness and ingratitude.

Donors should be seeking information before they give as well as after. Before in order to have an idea where the money is intended, as well as if it corresponds to the donors values. And then after to see if it really happened. Trust but verify, so that they know if they would desire to continue to give.

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Your Story Hour uses the following to express its mission:

"A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste..."

Your Story Hour speaks to the minds and hearts of today's youth, encouraging them to make sound decisions and build strong characters.

Statisticians say that by the year 2000 more than one-half of the world's population will be under 20 years of age. These young people will face more drug and alcohol abuse, crime, poverty, broken homes, hunger and death that the world has ever known before.

For almost 50 years Your Story Hour has been on the battlefront, setting high standards of excellence in programming for children, building character and encouraging high moral values through our programs.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Need Program Accomoplishments info

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Your Story Hour uses the following to express its statement of faith:

We Believe...
...the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of God, applying to mankind today as if has in all ages.

...God is the Creator of the world and all human beings were created in the image of God.

...God's existence is eternal, expressed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost

...in Jesus Christ the Son of God, in His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious death, his resurrection and ascension, and His return in power and glory.

...in the ministry of the Holy Spirit, by whose indwelling power people may live victorious Christian lives.

History [ Back to top ]

In the mid to late 40's, Stanley Hill, Genevieve and Jay Clymer among others began to notice the rapid growth of juvenile delinquency. They decided to organize and conduct a Saturday afternoon story hour.

The story hour began in the town hall located above the fire department in the small village of Eau Claire, Michigan with wonderful stories from the Bible about David, Daniel, Joseph and many others.

Some months later Stanley Hill shared their ideas with H. M. S. Richards, a radio evangelist. Mr. Richards suggested a developing a radio program for children.

Jay Clymer contacted a local radio station. The station manager was enthusiastic and gave them a half-hour of free broadcast time on a weekly basis for one year. After a few weeks, a second station picked up the program, then a third, and a fourth...

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Educational Media Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		297 of 352	32 of 40
Fund Acquisition Decision		333 of 352	38 of 40
Resource Allocation Decision		347 of 352	40 of 40
Asset Utilization Decision		91 of 352	5 of 40

Donor Alert [ Back to top ]