Draft:Your Story Hour

Your Story Hour (YSH) is an interfaith, radio drama of Bible stories. By dramatizing biblical, historical, and true-to-life stories, listeners are able to capture important events and lessons more clearly. The program began in 1949 and is now heard on well over 4,000 radio stations worldwide.

History
In 1949, a group of people came together due to their concern about the character development in young people in Southwestern Michigan. They dedicated each Saturday afternoon for a story hour in a room above a fire station in Eau Claire, Michigan.

Stanley Hill, the original Uncle Dan and founder of Your Story Hour, and Irene Lovell, the first Aunt Sue, connected with their first radio station called WHFB-FM (now known as WQLQ). March 25, 1949 was their first appearance in a Newspaper article, announcing when their first radio broadcast would be (March 27th). The radio drama was first performed live in a studio. Because there was not a budget for producing the stories, amateur actors were used. As their ministry grew in popularity, they were able to use professional actors and local children. Sources noted how their high quality recordings are effective in educating and building the characters of children. By 1957, Your Story Hour moved their base for recording to Medina, Ohio.

By 1966, Your Story Hour was aired on approximately 175 radio stations. By 1974, as they celebrated their 25th anniversary, it was aired on 500 radio stations.

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In 1985, Tu Historia Preferida, the Spanish version of Your Story Hour, launched.

In 1992, Chas Tvoego Rasskaza, the Russian version of Your Story Hour, launched.

On March 27, 2019, Your Story Hour 's 70th year of live broadcasting was celebrated. Visitors were able to meet the hosts of the radio programs as well as the members of the staff.

Your Story Hour airs on over 4,000 radio stations worldwide with thousands of people tuning in to listen the programs. With the help of the Internet, they are able to reach thousands more. Your Story Hour remains unaffiliated with any church denomination, organization, or other group. Their motto: Making boys and girls of today better men and women tomorrow®

Hosts
Stanley Hill, as Uncle Dan, (1949-1995)

Irene Lovell, as Aunt Sue, (1949-1951)

Betty Ahnberg, as Aunt Sue, (1952-1986)

Carole Pezet, as Aunt Carole, (1988-Present)

Chet Damron, as Uncle Dan, (1996-2017)

Jon Clayburn, as Uncle Jon, (2018-Present)

Nicole Buckhanan, as Aunt Nikki, (2018-Present)

Publications
In addition to creating radio stories, Your Story Hour has included other resources for children.

Adventures in the Holy Bible
Adventures in the Holy Bible are interfaith Bible lessons. Hundreds of thousands of children, from all types of Christian denominations in many countries, have benefited from these. Each year, hundreds of people complete the full set of Bible lessons.

Club
The Good Deeder club existed since 1949 to encourage the young listeners to do good deeds. In 1961, the first subscription magazine to be issued was called The Good Deeder. By 1974, this club had more than 100,000 members. By 1982, the Good Deeder magazine became Clubhouse. Although there are no club members anymore, children can still read the online Clubhouse magazines each month.

Other languages
As the ministry of Your Story Hour expanded, it launched both a Spanish and Russian version of its programs. The number of stories produced in these languages is not as extensive as the stories produced in English, but they have been very well-received in Spanish and Russian-speaking countries.

Tu Historia Preferida
In 1985, Your Story Hour launched Tu Historia Preferida to reach the Latin world. As an impact was made to the Spanish-speaking children in South America and North America, Tu Historia Preferida found its way to reach the thousands of children living in Cuba.

Chas Tvoego Rasskaza
In 1991, Your Story Hour was invited to the Soviet Union to record a Russian version of their program. A goal was to provide insights into how Americans think and solve problems. By 1992, during the fall of Communism, they launched Chas Tvoego Rasskaza to reach those of the Russian language. The dramatized, biblical, and true-to-life stories came alive for the Russians—who were used to living under Stalin's leadership—and the messages were applicable to their lives. Within a few months of broadcasting Your Story Hour in Russian, there were more than 75,000 requests for Bible lessons. The producers were receiving about 500 letters per day. Even Russian officials praised the program. Through shortwave stations covering the former Soviet Union, as well as AM/FM stations in Alaska, Chas Tvoego Rasskaza is being broadcasted. Like the English and Spanish programs, the Russian program is hosted by an Aunt and Uncle.