Inspire, Spring 2007

Paul Gathany has always struck me as a man of character and vision. He has fervently kept his eyes on building up the body of Christ through radio, and with that vehicle God has used Paul to change the lives of thousands of people. –Dr. Bill Brown, President of Cedarville University D r. Brown’s assessment of CDR Radio’s retiring general manager is on the mark. Paul Gathany ’63 is a visionary with a passion to share the gospel. As a pastor’s son, Paul came to Cedarville in 1959 with an interest in radio that started when he was involved in broadcasting his father’s church services. At Cedarville, Paul’s interest became a shared passion with classmate David Jeremiah ’63. Together they began to pursue their vision to use the undeveloped FM radio medium to reach the world with biblical teaching and music. Paul and David were still students when they founded CDR Radio, a move blessed by Dr. James T. Jeremiah (David’s father and Cedarville’s president at the time) along with Dr. John Reed, the chairman of the speech department. Broadcasting began in 1962 on the third floor of the administration building, with only 11.6 watts. Now, some 45 years later, the flagship station has its own building on campus and operates at 30,000 watts. Listeners across the world enjoy the CDR Radio Network, The PATH®, which is broadcast in 36 counties throughout Ohio, Indiana, and Kentucky and through The PATH® Worldwide at www.ThePath.fm . The original purpose of WCDR was to be a training laboratory. In the process of building the radio lab and obtaining the broadcasting license, Paul became acquainted with a gifted engineer named Charlie Shaw. That acquaintance grew into a friendship over many years until Charlie’s death. Paul recollected, “He mentored me in dealing with FCC licensure and a multitude Broadcasting Pioneer Takes a New Path Paul Gathany ’63 26 Spring 2007 of technical issues in broadcasting. I credit him with giving me the foundation that allowed us to move forward with what is now known as the CDR Radio Network.” The trustee decision to move from a student lab to a listener- supported broadcast ministry in the early 1970s ushered in a sea of change. Without an increased budget, that change meant the network would require fundraising activities. With the growth of CDR Radio into a broadcasting network, the mission also grew “… to help listeners understand the Word of God and understand the world in the light of the Word of God, while redeeming the time.” Paul’s management kept CDR on the cutting edge of technology. Following the installation of digital automation in 1994, CDR inaugurated satellite uplink to expand its reach and became the CDR Radio Network in 1995. In 1999, the CDR Radio Network was branded as “The PATH.” Along with translator and satellite expansions, a major milestone has been the expansion into The PATH Worldwide radio via the Internet. By visiting www.ThePath.fm, alumni and listeners around the world can enjoy Cedarville University’s chapel broadcasts and follow Yellow Jacket basketball games, as well as enjoy special coverage of conferences and events not often available through any other medium. Looking back at the changes and challenges of starting a broadcast ministry, Paul says there have been many special times during his years of service. “What rises to the top,” he said, “is the joy that comes from the knowledge that listeners have come to Christ and experienced spiritual growth.”