[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 141 (Thursday, October 31, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING DON AND SHARON WIEDEMAN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOB SCHAFFER

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 31, 2002

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Don Wiedeman 
and his wife, Sharon, Johnstown of Weld County, Colorado.
  Mr. Wiedeman was a farmer who only wanted to raise the best corn in 
the country. He never thought about owning a radio station until he and 
his family went on vacation and decided to attend Church services in 
Phoenix, Arizona. He was following along in his Bible as the pastor was 
reading Isaiah 40. The words ``go up on a high mountain'' seemed to 
speak out him and call him to action. At the same time as this was 
happening, one of the pastors of the Church pointed to him and said 
``God just told me he has something special for you in radio.'' Mr. 
Wiedeman pondered and prayed about this unusual event and talked to 
some acquaintances of his who had radio knowledge. After several years 
of work he started a radio station in Colorado.
  Wiedeman's dream is now a conservative Christian (with Hebrew roots), 
pro-Constitution, pro-individual rights station with many different 
program hots. It is a station heard ``around the world,'' on satellite 
and internet. The station has a large family of listeners who depend on 
it to be their ``watchman on the wall,'' in all ways. Their program 
hosts report the news, not their interpretation of it. This radio 
station is based on ``faith, truth and freedom,'' according to 
Wiedeman.
  In November, 1997, a fire silenced the station for several weeks 
causing their family of listeners to go into mourning. The ``watchman 
on the wall'' was no longer available for all their faithful listeners. 
It was a deadly silence! When the station returned to the air in 
January, 1998, their family of listeners rejoiced. Their ``watchman'' 
was back.
  Mr. Wiedeman is a humble, Christian man who has a spiritual program 
to start the day for his listeners. He teaches God's word to all who 
will hear it.
  Mrs. Wiedeman is a humble, Christian woman who is dedicated to this 
family of listeners, too. It is a family of listeners because everyone 
who gets to know others at events sponsored by the station truly become 
friends. Mrs. Wiedeman also hosts a radio show on Fridays.
  We are thankful for Mr. Wiedeman and for all that he does for the 
radio station to get the message out, and Mrs. Wiedeman for her 
spiritual input and knowledge. The Wiedeman's have long, outstretched 
arms that embrace a vast number of people. Coloradans hope they are 
able to continue in their work for many years to come.
  I ask the House to join me in commending and thanking the Wiedemans 
for their service to the community and to the country they love.

                          ____________________