Myron Grueneich, strategic coordinator for the Dakota Baptist Convention, sat at his desk listening to music over the Internet when he heard, "You're listening to the all-new Dakota Impact Radio."

He smiled, knowing that Dakota Impact Radio was a part of the Dakota Baptist Convention's new high-tech ministry outreach program. Dakota Impact Radio was launched last December with the help of the Next Wave Radio Network.

With 92 churches in their convention, Myron knew they needed a way to stay in constant contact with their members, church body and missionaries around the world.

Next Wave Radio helped the Dakota Baptist Convention create its own customized Internet radio station. Myron sees Dakota Impact Radio as an extension of who they are, a part of their cyberspace ministry. The station has helped in developing a strong identity within not only the Baptist Convention, but the individual church communities as well.

Stepping out of the conventional ministry box, Myron sees their radio station as an ideal outreach tool. Their own personal radio station, linked directly from their Web site, allows them to communicate with their listeners-21st Century style-by staying in touch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It has opened all new avenues of thinking for them.

Their overall vision of the station is to make an impact for the kingdom of God in the Dakotas . However, they also see some very practical applications for the station. They want to touch and influence the spiritual aspects of their listener's lives, offer support and encouragement, and, in essence, become a positive light in their community. And, everything on the station is skillfully woven together with today's best Christian songs and praise music, featuring artists like Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Twila Paris, Third Day and Mercy Me.

The real fun has been in dreaming of ways to use the station to fit their needs. Currently, they are focusing on building a strong audience for the convention itself. However, they hope in the future to use the station as an extension of their training services, sharing sermons, airing special events, Bible training, and seminary courses. Next Wave Radio offers an archiving service which will facilitate all of these plans. They have even discussed offering a talk show and live call-in line. They also hope to help local churches within the Baptist Convention launch their own local Internet stations via Next Wave Radio.

With a dial-up connection, listeners can hear good quality (close to FM audio), and, if they have a high-speed connection, they will enjoy crystal-clear CD quality.

And, the response has been great. Myron believes that listeners are really starting to connect the station with their church. People are listening at home and work, and all across the globe. They even heard from a soldier in Iraq that learned about the station from one of the church members and has been listening ever since. It has also provided a great way to keep people aware of the missionaries they support around the world, while also ministering to the missionaries themselves.

The Dakota Baptist Convention is not the only ministry utilizing the benefits of Next Wave Radio. More than 30 churches and ministries across the country have started stations of their own, and the network is quickly growing.

A listener to Calvary Chapel's station in Melbourne , Florida , was thrilled when his pastor announced the launch of their new station.

He said, "I knew immediately that this would be powerful. I tuned in and I am blown away."

And Mike Popovich, senior pastor at Olive Drive Church in Bakersfield , California , claims he was, "inspired to upgrade the look and level of communication on their whole Web site since the addition of their Next Wave Radio station." When you go to www.olivedrivechurch.org, you can see the positive results.

Kevin Kinchen, associate pastor of Living Stones Church in Alvin , Texas , has really taken their station, Living Life Radio, seriously. They invested in portable digital equipment that allows them to record conversations with their members out in the lobby, the praise and worship during the service, or one-on-one interviews. They have made stars of the "regular folks" in their congregation as they've created great spots for their station.

Toben Heim, vice president of New Business Development for Youth Specialties, said they talked for months about their desire to have a Youth Specialties online radio station. Believing it would be overly complicated and time consuming, they put the idea on the back burner. Then they found Next Wave Radio and the idea of having a station moved squarely back to the front burner.

Toben says, "I can't believe how easy it is to get a station put together, even to the extent of allowing us to launch a new format for youth groups. We can't wait to get our station up and running."

Youth Specialties has been intimately involved in the music decisions for the youth station set to launch later this spring.

Staying connected, relevant, and in-demand within your community is a constant struggle. You can have a 24-hour music station focusing on your ministry, your events, your message, your people, and your vision. All on a station featuring today's best Christian music. You don't have to play the music or provide the announcers. But, when the music stops, it's your church the listeners will hear about.