The Rock Radio Network

The Rock Radio Network is a 3-station AM radio network out of San Juan, Puerto Rico. It broadcasts Christian biblical teaching in a bilingual format. The Rock consists of the stations WBMJ in San Juan, WIVV in Vieques, and WCGB in Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico. The Rock is owned and operated by Calvary Evangelistic Mission, Inc.

History

WIVV Days

The Rock Radio Network began as the missionary radio station WIVV (AM-1370). In 1952, the missionary couple Don and Ruth Luttrell moved to Vieques, Puerto Rico.^[1] Don Luttrell was a pioneer missionary pilot and evangelist.^[2] When they arrived, their main purpose was to evangelize by means of rallies and Bible study courses. As time passed, the Luttrells felt the need for a more effective tool that could reach the Caribbean more quickly. In 1956, they started what became the first full-time Christian radio station in the Caribbean. It was named WIVV, or "West Indies Voice of Victory," ^[3][4] because its intended coverage area included the West Indies and Lesser Antilles. WIVV broadcast a mixture of prerecorded Bible teaching from the USA and local sources, along with music, news, and weather reports. In time, WIVV and its associated ministries consolidated into what became known as Calvary Evangelistic Mission.

WBMJ: The Rock Radio Network

WBMJ (AM-1190) was founded in the 1960s by the comedian and musician Bob Hope.^[4][5] In its early years, WBMJ was a secular music station. Passing through different hands and managements, it eventually rose to become one of the top rock-music stations in the island of Puerto Rico.^[5] To its fans, WBMJ was known affectionately as "The Rock." In 1985, WBMJ passed into the hands of Calvary Evangelistic Mission.^[6] Shortly thereafter, its programming changed to an all-Christian teaching format with a mixture of live and prerecorded material similar to was what already broadcasting on WIVV. With two radio stations, Calvary Evangelistic Mission made the decision to broadcast mostly from WBMJ and to combine the two stations into one radio network. After an on-air contest to adopt a new name, listeners chose the moniker "The Rock" for the new network. This name honored both WBMJ's history as a rock station and the Christian title of the "Rock of Ages" for Jesus Christ.

WCGB

WCGB (AM-1060) was founded in 1967 by Grace Broadcasters, Inc. The station was built in Juana Díaz, which is a small town just outside of the second-largest city in Puerto Rico, Ponce. WCBG was an all-Spanish station with a Christian emphasis, but slightly secular in programming. For example, the station covered local sports, news, and politics, and it aired secular music. Yet the management also made sure that every hour of programming contained something with a religious context.^[7][8] For many years, the management of The Rock had desired to reach the Western side of Puerto Rico and Ponce. In 2004, Grace Broadcasters sold WCGB to Calvary Evangelistic Mission.^[9] When WCBG joined The Rock, its programming changed to a bilingual teaching format almost identical to what was already airing on WIVV and WBMJ. Most of the programming today on WCGB originates from The Rock's main studios in San Juan. However, WCGB retains a four-hour bloc of its own programming every weekday morning between the hours of 9 AM to 1 PM. This programming can be listened to live on a separate live stream through the Network's website.^[10]

The Rock Today

Today, The Rock Radio Network is the only bilingual radio network in Puerto Rico. Its programming is split between English during the morning and daytime, and Spanish during the evening hours. The Rock airs a mixture of Christian teaching and family-centered programs, along with Christian music and Salem Radio Network Satellite News. It airs a combination of well-known Christian figures such as Tony Evans (The Urban Alternative), Charles Stanley (In Touch), Luis Palau, and Nancy Leigh DeMoss (Revive Our Hearts). Also, The Rock actively seeks local program producers in English and in Spanish that meet its stated purpose. These programs include the live Saturday-night Spanish program "Pulpito Reformado" with Pastor Carlos Cruz Moya,^[11] and the English program "Comfort Ye My People" with local pastor Jason Dennet, among many others. With this mix of programming, the network serves Puerto Ricans that speak Spanish as a first language, as well as the large community of Puerto Ricans who are fluently bilingual. In addition, The Rock touches the strong presence of English-speaking Americans, Europeans, and other ethnic groups that live and vacation in Puerto Rico. WIVV serves the US and British Virgin Islands, which are primarily English speaking.

The Rock has been upgrading its studio and transmitter facilities. 2007 saw a new transmitter for WCGB and a new WinJock automation system at the hub in San Juan. In 2008, The Rock was just finishing an ambitious overhaul of WIVV, with a new transmitter and a new building on Vieques. Recently, The Rock added all-Spanish programming Saturday nights. The Network also expanded its weekday Spanish programming from 12:00 midnight to 1:30 a.m. It is looking at the possibility of further expanding its Spanish offering to include Sunday nights.

In addition, The Rock makes all its local programming available for free download through the Media Center on its website.^[12]

The Rock is seeking ways to bolster its presence in the community and the rest of the islands through a growing online ministry. At the same time, The Rock is looking at ways to increase its coverage of the Caribbean through the acquisition of more stations.

Funding

The Rock Radio Network is a division of Calvary Evangelistic Mission, Inc. (CEM), which is a 501(c)(3) IRS registered nonprofit.^[13] The Rock is supported in two main ways. CEM owns a 7-story building complex in Santurce, Puerto Rico. One floor houses the radio network and the Bible Correspondence School of the Caribbean, and the other floors are rented to subsidize the ministry.^[14] This is CEM's main source of income.^[15] The Rock is also supported by donations, which come in several ways. First, some of the program support the costs associated with their airtime. CEM accepts donations from listeners, friends, outside groups like churches and businesses, and estates.^[16] The Rock holds an annual "Sharathon" fundraiser, which supplies a small portion of the annual budget.^[17]

Website of The Rock Radio Network

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  Logo of The Rock Radio Network, 2008

Sources:
[1]The booklet "CEM: 40 Years and Beyond" (1997), pg. 20. This booklet is published by CEM, Inc. and is available for free.
[2]Ibid., pg. 21
[3]Answers.com
[4]Personal recollections of Ruth Luttrell, co-founder and President Emeritus, CEM, Inc. (interview October, 2007)
[5]A fan website for the old WBMJ (not affiliated with its current owner)
[6]Personal recollections of Ruth Luttrell, co-founder and President Emeritus, CEM, Inc. (interview October, 2007)
[7]Interview with Janet Luttrell, CEO, Calvary Evangelistic Mission (April 2008). Janet is former manager of another popular rock-music station in Puerto Rico, AlfaRock.
[8]Ibid. above, pg. 28
[9]Interview with Lawrence Trumbower (April, 2008). Trumbower was the founder and first manager of WCBG. Today he is Chief Engineer for The Rock Radio Network.
[10]Allbusiness.com (Tracks media-station transfers)
[11] Iglesia Presbiteriana Reformada de Puerto Rico - the church of Pastor Carlos Cruz Moya (contains information about The Rock and his program on the station; also a link to listen to The Rock).

References