What happens when divine purpose and human mentorship intersect? Our guest, Roy Wyckoff, played a crucial role in my transformation from being labeled a "loser" to becoming a passionate advocate for the gospel. We journey back to the 90s, revisiting the challenges I faced in Christian radio and highlighting the importance of recognizing and nurturing potential in others. This episode is a heartfelt testament to God's grace and the life-altering power of support and mentorship.
From the early days of our friendship in 1994 to Roy's heroic leadership during Hurricane Katrina, we unpack the profound impact of divine timing and purpose. Roy's role as a general manager of a Christian radio station turned the station into a beacon of hope and aid for many during the crisis. Reflecting on how natural disasters might signal the earth's groaning under sin's weight, we also hold onto the promise of a new heaven and earth. We emphasize the importance of maintaining unwavering faith, undeterred by worldly concerns.
In the face of adversity, how do we find hope? Roy opens up about his personal battles, particularly during his late wife's fight with cancer. His story underscores the power of faith communities in providing strength during tough times. We discuss how love and faith can transform lives, advising listeners to remove negativity to achieve joy and fulfillment. Join us for real stories of struggle and hope, and discover how faith can guide you to a better life. Tune in next week for more inspiring tales of personal growth and redemption.
If you would like to share your story, click this link: https://thepromoter.org/story/
Thanks for Listening, and subscribe to hear a new episode each week!
What happens when divine purpose and human mentorship intersect? Our guest, Roy Wyckoff, played a crucial role in my transformation from being labeled a "loser" to becoming a passionate advocate for the gospel. We journey back to the 90s, revisiting the challenges I faced in Christian radio and highlighting the importance of recognizing and nurturing potential in others. This episode is a heartfelt testament to God's grace and the life-altering power of support and mentorship.
From the early days of our friendship in 1994 to Roy's heroic leadership during Hurricane Katrina, we unpack the profound impact of divine timing and purpose. Roy's role as a general manager of a Christian radio station turned the station into a beacon of hope and aid for many during the crisis. Reflecting on how natural disasters might signal the earth's groaning under sin's weight, we also hold onto the promise of a new heaven and earth. We emphasize the importance of maintaining unwavering faith, undeterred by worldly concerns.
In the face of adversity, how do we find hope? Roy opens up about his personal battles, particularly during his late wife's fight with cancer. His story underscores the power of faith communities in providing strength during tough times. We discuss how love and faith can transform lives, advising listeners to remove negativity to achieve joy and fulfillment. Join us for real stories of struggle and hope, and discover how faith can guide you to a better life. Tune in next week for more inspiring tales of personal growth and redemption.
If you would like to share your story, click this link: https://thepromoter.org/story/
Thanks for Listening, and subscribe to hear a new episode each week!
Speaker 1:
It's time now to get the hell out of your life. A weekly broadcast with real people sharing real struggles and offering real hope. Today's show will encourage, inspire and empower you to face life's challenges with a bold confidence and renewed hope. Now let's join our host, ron Myers. The promoter.
Ron Meyers:
Hello, my friends, it is so good to be with you today. I've been praying for you. Have you felt it? That's right. Every single day I pray for every listener. I want you to experience God's grace, his love, his power and the destiny that he has for you. Have you ever met somebody in life that had an impact on your life? I believe God is moving people around in different places, different geographical locations and different vocations. Because this is the time that you and I have been born for, because we have something to contribute to this world. We have something that we can help with God's plan, and I want you to know that when you listen to this show, it will always be about God's unbelievable grace, his awesome mercy and how much he wants to have a relationship with you.
Ron Meyers:
Personally, I say all the time that we are living in a time that we have to have the desert island mentality. It's just you and Jesus on a desert island, no church, no TV, no podcast. Darn it, hey. But that's the way it should be, because when you are alone with Jesus and you can open your heart and share whatever's on your mind, conversations with Jesus, I call it. It is freedom, it is liberating. And then he begins the process of turning you into the person he designed you to become.
Ron Meyers:
This is a great time to be alive, and my guest today is proof of the fact that God will always intervene in our lives when we don't even know it. He will put people in your path that can change the entire direction, the trajectory of your life and your destiny, because he knows those people have an influence that nobody else has. And when someone believes in you, someone really values what you can contribute to this world, it feels good. And do you know what you want to do? You know what the answer is you want to do more, and that's what happened to me. My guest today is a friend, a coach, a mentor, Roy Wyckoff. If it wasn't for Roy, you would not hear me on this radio show or podcast. He gave me a shot in life when everybody else thought I was well a loser, a goofball. Roy, I'm so glad that you took some time to visit with me today. How are you doing?
Roy Wikoff:
Hey, I'm doing fine, Ron, and so happy to be on your show and have a chance to share with you a little bit of my life and what God's done over the years. It's an amazing look back it really is on all that God has done for me and my family.
Ron Meyers:
I first met you back in the 90s, you were taking your daughter to the orthodontist next to me and you saw a sign I believe Ron Myers Productions and you wanted to find out who is this guy.
Roy Wikoff:
Yeah, actually I was working at that radio station there on the Gulf Coast at the time and you had already contracted for some advertising time with those radio stations for your Christmas show and you came in. That's when I first met you and that was in 1994, by the way, we've known each other 30 years, ron Wow Long time. You were actually a young man in those days. I remember I was impressed. Something about you just clicked, and over time we got to. Not only through that advertising effort I got to know you, but I got to know you real well when my daughter was having her braces put on. Your office was just next door to the dentist and we had a chance to spend some real quality time getting to know each other at that point in your life.
Ron Meyers:
If you want to get the whole story, friends, go to my website. I'll send you the book the Promoter. Go to my website. I'll send you the book the Promoter. But eventually, one day after Jesus got a hold of me, I came to you. You and I were having lunch and I ended up being a volunteer. I offered my services as a volunteer for Christian Radio in the afternoon and you liked it. But when I went on the air, well, a lot of listeners didn't like it, did they?
Roy Wikoff:
No, they didn't. And I got some calls from some believe it or not some prominent Christian leaders on the Gulf Coast who said do you know who this guy is? And that was one of the big questions. And I said, well, sure, ron Myers, great guy, good Christian man. But see, what they didn't know is what I knew at that time.
Roy Wikoff:
I had watched the progress of Ron Myers over the last couple of years. I had watched your growth. I had watched you turn into something that you weren't before and that was an advocate for the gospel and you began to teach and to preach and stuff. And so I saw an opportunity because I was in a position with American Family Radio there. I needed some help. So I asked you to do that.
Roy Wikoff:
And what happened was I got a call from I'm not going to name the pastor, but he called me up and says Roy, he says you know this guy, he promotes a wet t-shirt contest and has beer. I mean, it was all this stuff and that's the kind of promotions that at one time in your life you did, but you had changed. But they didn't know about the change that I saw in Ron Myers and I felt like you had a lot to offer the kingdom through radio and that's why I offered that position to you. I saw something in you that others at that point only knew the public image of Ron Myers and what you did in promotions before. I saw something deeper and I wanted you to be a part of it deeper and I wanted you to be a part of it.
Ron Meyers:
You know, and, roy, that is one reason I have this radio show podcast and I go to non-Christian radio stations to air this, just to let everybody knows that. Here's this it doesn't matter what you've done in life, it doesn't matter if you think that God could never use you, that God does have a plan. And when we get to the point in life like I did, I got to the end of myself. I said Lord, I'm making money, I'm having fun, people know me, but I'm miserable. And that's when I started following Jesus and I love Jesus. It's been what? 30, well, 25 years, or whatever. But the point is this, roy there are people listening right now that they think, because of what they've done, that God could never use them. That's not true, is it?
Roy Wikoff:
No, it isn't. And think about from a biblical perspective. Here was Saul heading on the road to Damascus. To do what? To persecute Christians, to have them stoned, like he did Stephen and others. But here he was and God said I'm going to use you. Look, this was a man who hated Christians, who hated Jesus at that time, and was looking for reasons to put Christians in prison, to have them stoned, have them killed. But yet God took him and you talk about a flip-flop flipped him completely upside down and turned him into the greatest evangelist in the New Testament. No question, paul was that. If God can do that for Paul, what can he do for a Ron Myers? And that's the way I look at things. I don't care what you've done in the past, I don't care who you were in the past. God looked at you and said I'm going to use you, ron Myers, whether you want to be used or not. And he did. He used you and he's using you now.
Ron Meyers:
And Roy, right now, a lot of people, a lot of preachers some are preaching doom and gloom, other ones are, you know, almost selling bomb shelters to go hide because the end of the world is coming soon. A lot of these people that don't know Jesus, they don't know what to think. What do you tell someone out there that doesn't go to church, doesn't really know Jesus that well, they do have faith, but they're starting to get worried. They're starting to get fearful for their family.
Roy Wikoff:
You know, one of the things that I try to tell people and I hear this quite a bit is people are worried about what the world is coming to. The culture of the United States and the world. They call it. If you watch the media, they call it wokeism. You can call it whatever you want.
Roy Wikoff:
God's got a plan. He's sovereign, he knows what's happening. He's not surprised by any of this stuff going on in the current political arena. Not at all. But what we do is we worry. And look, I worry about my children and grandchildren, as you do, john. You know, what kind of future are they going to have in this country? We've experienced in the United States some of the greatest blessings ever, and we really have. But this too shall pass.
Roy Wikoff:
As they say, god's got a plan and, by the way, my preacher says this quite a bit. He says there is a God and you're not him. So he's got a purpose for all of this. And look, my prayer is God, come quickly. Now. Whether you believe in a pre-millennial rapture, whether you know a pre-trib rapture, you know you could go on to all those different rapture theories you want to the bottom line is this God has a plan and the world out here is full of sin and there's a lot of Christians who look at the world and it worries them. I try to look at the kingdom and not let the world bother me, because I can't change the world. But I can touch one life at a time and that's what your program does, because you're broadcasting this program on secular radio stations who have a belief that maybe your program has some value. So you've got that one listener maybe, who listens to what you have to say on some of your different podcasts and I've looked at several of them and listened to them. By the way, you do a pretty good job for an old man. But anyway, we go through this thing and we realize that if you touch one life, if all you do from now to the time you go home to be with the Lord, and you've affected one life for the kingdom, you've been a success. Let's see, in this culture in which we live, it's about the numbers, it's about how many people might ask you how many listeners do you have on your radio program or your podcast?
Roy Wikoff:
And I heard you say that that's not what's important. What's important is touching that one life and you do that. I saw that in Ron Myers in 1994. I could see there was. We became good friends after that and a lot of people, as you said earlier, they questioned me. But God, I think, was tapping on my heart and said hey, I've got a plan for Ron in the future and I just need you to do something today. And I did that and I didn't hear some audible voice out of the sky say Roy, call Ron. That didn't happen, but what happened was I just had a peace in my heart about who you were and what you could become in the kingdom, and I'm kind of proud of that. I like the idea that I was able to listen to God's still small voice and move forward on it.
Ron Meyers:
Well, I actually believe I wouldn't be behind a microphone now if it wasn't for you. And speaking of that, how God has a plan for all of us. You know, I came in to get into Christian radio and, as you said, to share the good news of Jesus. But one of the skills that I've had my whole life is a promoter organization. And what happened in 2004, I became the general manager here at the American Families Radio Station in Gulfport, but one year later, hurricane Katrina changed this entire Gulf Coast and I think that and you saw this, you were down here, coming to traveling down here from Tupelo that God had put me, just like he'll put other people out there in positions when he knows a storm is coming, and he puts people in place. And I think it was the organizational skills that I had, my team had, here at the radio station, because we were busy little bees helping people along this coast to rebuild, send out supplies. Remember this was a central hub of activity and I was right there in the middle of it.
Roy Wikoff:
You were, and what I remember about that was when all the power was down and it was hot and humid. The radio station had two shingles off of it Seriously had a little 100 foot stick there beside and they came down from Tupelo and put a small transmitter in. We were the only and had the big generator. We were the only radio station broadcasting for a while because God placed his Christian radio station in the midst of the turmoil of that storm to provide information. You remember, the people come in, we're doing interviews. You were there in the midst of that when the big stations, the hundred thousand waters, and all those others out there.
Roy Wikoff:
they weren't on the air, they had no power, but God provided through the Christian radio group and I think that affected a lot of people. They now know who American Family Radio is and was, and they know who you are. As a result of that, god uses Romans 8, 28,. All things work together for good. All things, the good, the bad, the ugly, everything. God has a purpose for making it work out to his glory, and I think he did that, you know.
Ron Meyers:
Roy, one of the funny things, while it wasn't really funny, one of the things that happened so many people, a lot of them, were the religious people. Ah, this is God's judgment. He has put Hurricane Katrina on the coast, and I said, well, you know, the only ones that really got damaged around here were the churches and Bourbon Street's opening up right away within two weeks, and I don't know.
Roy Wikoff:
We laugh at that, but it's true. Look, I don't think that Hurricane, Katrina or any other storms are God's punishment. I think that this world is aching. My wife, Barbara, and I were speaking just the other day about the heat that we have up here in Kentucky. Where we are, it's going to be like 99 tomorrow Unusual for this area and we take a look at how the earth is groaning we're seeing snow and Tahoe and 95 degree weather in the mid part of the country, and what that is.
Roy Wikoff:
I think this old earth is tired. The earth is. It's not anything that I did or you did, but sin from the time of Adam and Eve has corrupted the land in which we now live and God's going to change that soon. He's going to change it back to a new heaven and a new earth and all these sea waves. We're going to have perfect 80 degree weather and sunshine all the time. I'm waiting for that. I'm looking forward to that.
Roy Wikoff:
So, because I look forward to heaven, because I look forward to what God has promised us as Christians, I don't fret too much. I don't fret too much about what the economy is doing. Yes, but I like to see the economy better. Well, absolutely, but I don't worry about it, it's going to be what it's going to be. In light of God's kingdom work, it doesn't really matter, but it does matter that we do something in the meantime. What is that? What you're doing with this radio program? Touching lives? That's what really matters.
Roy Wikoff:
Yeah, we can. We need to be careful not to throw trash out our car window. We've had to be, you know, good people and and and take care of the things around us and care about what's going on. But if we forget the gospel in the midst of all that taking care of stuff, then we failed miserably. And I don't want to be that person that fails and I do anyway, because I am. Paul said when he begged God to take that thorn from his flesh and God said hey, look, said Paul, you're going to be OK. I'm going to be strong because of your weakness. Just be OK. And that's what I have to remember. That's what I have to take care of in my heart. I fail quite a bit, just like you do. We fail, but you know what my prayer is each day Lord, when I fail, pick me up, show me where I failed and teach me how to be better, for one purpose, one purpose only, that's the gospel period.
Ron Meyers:
Amen. You know Roy well. Listeners Roy Wyckoff on the phone, my former boss, just a great friend and mentor. He is always like this, he's always enthusiastic, he's always happy. And it brings me back to when I was a volunteer here. You at that time were married to another barber but she was battling cancer and I was sitting back and watching you from a distance and Roy, you, just you were a breath of fresh air. You were always having hope. You're always praying for Barbara. You never were whiny and share a little bit about that, because there are a lot of people going through some sickness situations as we speak.
Roy Wikoff:
Yeah, that's true. By the way, your listeners are probably going away. He just mentioned that he was talking to Barbara a few days ago and, by the way, my late wife's name was Barbara and my current wife's name is Barbara. That's another whole story and a lot of funny stuff happened as a result of that. But yeah, I remember that time. That time in my life was tough. I remember the very day that she passed away. It life was tough, but I remember the very day that she passed away.
Roy Wikoff:
It was on a Sunday afternoon and I got in my truck and of course, they were coming to do whatever they do at that time and I went over to Lowry and Candy Anderson's house A lot of people listeners here know who Candy Anderson is and I went over to speak to Lowry and sit with them until time for church at Michael Memorial. I went to church at six o'clock and some people were looking at me and they said Roy, what are you doing here? I said, where else would I be? I'm with my family, and I wasn't talking about my mother, who was there, and others. I wanted to be with my church family because I knew that's where my strength was and I had people that thought it was crazy that my wife died at three o'clock and at six o'clock I was in church. Where did I need to be? I needed to be in the presence of God's people. I needed to be in the presence of worship and I needed that as much as I needed anything else. That's where my strength came from.
Roy Wikoff:
Yeah, it was difficult days. There were some tough times and I've got some stories that I could always tell about how God reached down and had to shake me to my knees to understand his glory in the midst of it all, and had to shake me to my knees to understand his glory in the midst of it all. But yes, I try to remain positive. It was difficult If I sat here and tried to tell you that it was all fun and games. No, it was not. It was terrible, it was powerfully terrible. But God used that opportunity in the midst of her sickness, her illness and her death to teach me a lot, and I would rather have been taught a different way, but God used it to teach me and with that he should continue to work with me and I'm blessed by that.
Ron Meyers:
Amen. Well, Roy, speaking of that, right now you've got the microphone. You can talk to anyone out there that's having some struggles. What would you tell them?
Roy Wikoff:
that's having some struggles. What would you tell them? Well, I simply say that you surround yourself with people of faith, and that's what I did during those difficult times. A lot of people feel so alone in the midst of their struggle. It doesn't matter whether it's about to lose a loved one, as I did, whether it's an addiction of any kind, from gambling to alcohol to drugs, you name it. You're struggling and you're in a lot of pain. Right now You're thinking how can I get through this?
Roy Wikoff:
One of the things that I would suggest is to surround yourself with people of faith, people who will encourage you. Stay away from those naysayers, those negative people you know like. For instance, when you lose a loved one and somebody says, because you're grieving, after two or three months they say get over it, in time you'll be better. It's the worst thing you can ever say to anyone. But be around Like I did. I went to church. Why? Because I wanted to be around the people who loved me and cared for me, my real family.
Roy Wikoff:
And I encourage you if you're out there listening and you're struggling, maybe with the death of a loved one, maybe you're struggling with alcohol or some type of addictions, go and seek out people of faith who can be an encouragement to you, because I want to tell you, even when I was going through all, that there was Blair Bradley is another friend of mine, you another great friend of mine Jerry Watts, larry Anderson I mentioned these guys because these were the ones that when my wife passed away, they stood beside me, they were there every day.
Roy Wikoff:
I remember Larry Anderson knocking on my door one night at 1030 just to see if I was okay. So surround yourself with godly people, with people of faith, who will encourage you, and these people will walk with you. They will walk with you through the struggles, walk with you. They will walk with you through the struggles, through the encouraging word of God, giving you faith and hope. And I'm telling you, if it wasn't for people of faith, ron, yourself and those other men I just mentioned, I'm not sure I could have made it on my own. God placed those people in my life for a reason and those are the people who made it right for me.
Ron Meyers:
And those are the people who made it right for me. Amen. I have said many times. I would not be here if it wasn't me finally calling out to Jesus and he saved my life, and I love it. As a matter of fact, Roy, I believe we are living in the greatest time ever to be a Christian. As the world is getting darker, our light is getting brighter, People are looking for hope, and those of us who call ourselves Christians, we are carrying the hope of the world within us. So this is a good time. Am I nutty or am I right?
Roy Wikoff:
Well, maybe a little bit nuts, but that's okay. You have an opportunity to in the midst of the seemingly bad darkness that's all around us, because people are desperate for some hope. There's the key. I was on an airplane flight from Chicago to Denver a few years ago and I was with Transworld Radio and there was a gentleman sitting beside me on the whole flight. He was a Muslim and we got to talking and he said what is it about you? Because he knew I was a Christian, because he heard me talking to someone else. And I said you know, we have a common goal here in life. And he said what's that? I said peace. I said everybody who's ever born, ever lived, they just want peace. And I'm not talking about world peace, I'm not talking about peace from wars, I'm not talking about peace from struggles. I mean peace in our heart. I said, and the only way to get peace is through Christ Jesus. I found an opportunity. God placed me right. I never know what ever happened to that guy. I have to believe that God continued that conversation with him right on.
Roy Wikoff:
Here's what happens, Ron. You are in the middle of a war zone, you are broadcasting in the middle of a terrible darkness, but there's a light. Always remember. Darkness cannot overtake light. Light always overtakes darkness, and your radio program and your podcast is a light, it's a beacon so people living in darkness can see, and I think that's what has to happen here. So look, hey, I'm always open to a conversation. Hey, you can give people my phone number, have them call and say, hey, I heard you on the radio, I'll pray with them. If someone out there is struggling now, if it's a Sunday morning and this radio program is broadcasting, I may not answer right away. You can leave me a message. I'll call you back after church. My number is 270-217-0612. That's 270-217-0612. You want to talk and pray. You want someone to maybe help you a little bit through your struggles, and I'm also a grief counselor. I do that as well and I appreciate any opportunity to pray with anyone, anytime, anywhere.
Roy Wikoff:
I missed the radio gig. Hey, I did that for 45 years, 45 years, and God gave me much of that through Christian radio. Now I'm a real estate broker. I'm not having a ball because I get to really share my life with others through that. Even though the law says you can't talk about your faith when you're a realtor, I do anyway. I don't care, I'm going to talk about Jesus no matter what. And I've got a great life partner now over 20 years, almost 20 years with my wife, and she feels the same way and we have a great relationship and God has blessed me. My goodness, I am so blessed, Even in the midst of losing someone you love dearly and moving on through. I've lost both my parents, I've lost a sister. I've seen death here. Just a month ago we lost Barbara's mother but in the midst of it all, God gives me hope. I wouldn't want to live any other way. I want to share that with somebody. Amen, Somehow someway Amen.
Roy Wikoff:
Well, I'm going to ask you right now, roy, to pray for our listeners. I'll do it. Let's pray, father, lord, jesus, we just give you all the praise and all the glory, all the power that we can muster in our hearts right now for you, lord, thanking you for your gospel message, thanking you for your death, burial and resurrection. That truly makes a difference in who we are and what we do. Father, lord, there's a lot of people listening right now to this radio program and this podcast, and I pray for their hearts. I pray for their minds as it relates to their heart struggle, lord.
Roy Wikoff:
If there be one person out there, lord, or many, that is struggling with life, have them know that you are there for them. Bless them in such a way, lord. Encourage their hearts to reach out to Ron, to reach out to me. I pray, lord, that this is something that will change the hearts and the minds of everyone listening. So bless them, lord. Lord, I pray, blessings on Ron and his show, that he will continue to be able to share the gospel message and the struggles that other people have as they get the hell out of their lives, and I understand that that's so important. So we praise you, lord and we thank you and all this. We pray in Jesus' name.
Speaker 1:
You're listening to Get the Hell Out of your Life with your host, ron Myers. Real stories, real struggles and real hope.
Roy Wikoff:
Here's a refreshing word from Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us. And walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us.
Speaker 2:
Ron, we'll be back in a moment to wrap up today's conversation. We want to encourage you today with God's promise to you. It comes from the book of Jeremiah chapter 29, verse 11. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. That's God's promise to you when you choose to commit your plans and future to Him Now back to Ron.
Ron Meyers:
Well, friends, my time is up and I want you to remember this. Do not forget this God is not through with you and I. You can't script God's love. You can't script what God is going to do in your life. So be on the lookout for people that God is going to plant, or maybe has already planted, in your life. I believe in you, friends. God has an awesome plan and I will continue to pray for you and join me next week for another great episode of Get the Hell Out of your Life Real stories, real struggles and real hope. In the meantime, remember this that I love you, jesus loves you, and when you get the hell out of your life, life gets good, life is fun. And guess what? You're going to smile again.
Speaker 1:
Get the Hell Out of your Life is underwritten by the Christmas City Gift Show. We invite you to come shop with over 255 vendors from all over the United States from November 8th through the 10th inside the Coast Convention Center located on the beach in Biloxi, Mississippi. You can find more information at christmascitygiftshowcom. Thanks for listening, and if you would like to share your story of what God has done in your life or listen to previous episodes, please visit our website, thepromoterorg. Join us next week for another episode of Get the Hell Out of your Life Real stories, real struggles and real hope.
