WRBS-FM

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WRBS-FM
Broadcast area Baltimore, MD
Branding "Uplifting & Encouraging"
Frequency 95.1 MHz
First air date 1964
Format Contemporary Christian
ERP 50,000 Watts
HAAT 152 meters
Class B
Facility ID 52353
Callsign meaning W Reynolds Broadcasting System
Owner Peter & John Ministries
Webcast Listen Live
Website http://www.wrbs.com/

WRBS-FM is an FM radio station that broadcasts on the 95.1 frequency in Baltimore, Maryland.

[edit] History

In 1948, three young ministers approached WFBR, then one of Baltimore's most popular radio stations at that time, with a novel idea. They wanted to reach non-church goers with the gospel during the week. The station was happy to sell them time--at 11:15 three nights per week, after most of the listeners had gone to sleep.

The program was called, "The Peter, Paul and John Broadcast". Peter and John Bisset were the youngest of five brothers whose family had emigrated from Scotland during the Great Depression. Paul Plack was a talented vocalist who had met the brothers during his evangelistic tours.

Seeking better exposure for the gospel, the three sought a morning time slot on WFBR or another Baltimore station. They received clear direction to approach the station, and soon their half-hour program could be heard daily during morning drive time between country music selections. The young men's live broadcast included singing, preaching, and informal dialog, punctuated with Scottish brogue.

When Paul left the broadcast in 1952, the program was renamed. "The Peter and John Broadcast" aired continuously for more than 50 years with two of its founders participating. Until Peter's sudden death of a heart attack in 1995, faithful listeners tuned to the program's familiar opening words, "This is Peter ...and this is John, dear friends."

In 1964, Peter & John Radio Fellowship acquired WRBS. This put the brothers at the forefront of the sixties' explosive growth in entertainment radio. They also were just ahead of the popular shift from AM radio to FM radio, with its superior sound.

WRBS upgraded its facilities in 1972, to 50kW and 24 hours daily as part of a move from East Cold Spring Lane in Baltimore to its present site at 3600 Georgetown Road. From its beginnings, the goal of WRBS has been to present the gospel message of Jesus Christ in the Baltimore area.

In 2006, the Peter and John Radio Fellowship, Inc. acquired a Baltimore AM radio station, the former WITH (1230)and changed its call letters to WRBS. The FM station is now licensed under the call letters WRBS-FM.

WRBS-FM is a hybrid format of contemporary Christian music and some nationally syndicated, family-oriented talk programs. The AM station features Bible teaching, hymns and familiar Gospel songs.

[edit] External links