WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle caught up with Michael Cochren from Cochren & Co. ahead of Sonfest 2024!
Michael talked about what first inspired him to start making music, how his faith impacts his music, the power of Christian radio, and the message he hopes people take away from his ministry.
Listen to the full conversation with Michael below or by clicking HERE!
The Morning Thing shares exciting news from the United Way of Knox County!
United Way of Knox County proudly celebrated its first annual Day of Caring, a remarkable day of community service and volunteerism that took place on Friday, September 13, 2024. This inaugural event brought together individuals and business volunteers from a wide range of organizations, including Kokosing Construction, Knox Community Hospital, Park National Bank, Hospice of the Western Reserve, Knox Public Health, the Winter Sanctuary, Hope Now Furniture Bank, Interchurch, Fredericktown Fire Department, and the American Red Cross.
Volunteers participated in a variety of impactful projects across Knox County, demonstrating the power of collaboration and the collective commitment to making a difference in the community.
Key activities included:
United Way is deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of the many volunteers who contributed their time and energy to make the Day of Caring a success. Their dedication is a testament to the strength of Knox County’s spirit of giving and service.
“We are thrilled with the outpouring of support for our first Day of Caring,” said United Way of Knox County Program Director Halle Krajenski. “The passion and enthusiasm of our volunteers made a tremendous impact in just one day, and we are excited to see how this event will continue to grow and strengthen our community in the years to come.”
The Day of Caring also served as an inspiring showcase of the community programs and initiatives made possible by generous United Way donations. Each project exemplified the meaningful, lasting impact that United Way-supported efforts have on the lives of Knox County residents.
As United Way kicks off their annual Charitable Campaign, Executive Director Katie Ellis shared her thoughts: “This day is a powerful reminder of what we can accomplish when we come together for a common cause. The projects completed today reflect the heart of our mission—to create real, lasting change. As we launch this year’s campaign, we are grateful for the volunteers, partner organizations, and donors who make it all possible. Together, we can continue building a network of social support for everyone in Knox County.”
For more information about United Way of Knox County and how you can get involved, visit www.uwayknox.org or contact liveunited@uwayknox.org.
Photos courtesy of Terry Thurston and United Way of Knox County
Days Of The Year.com tells us that Family and Community Day is a special time to bring families and communities closer together. This day emphasizes the importance of spending quality time with loved ones, building strong family bonds, and fostering community spirit.
It serves as a reminder to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and focus on the people who matter most to us.
Community involvement strengthens the sense of belonging and pride, encouraging people to contribute positively to their surroundings.
Through shared activities and interactions, Family and Community Day aims to enhance mutual understanding and respect among community members.
Moreover, Family and Community Day offers a chance to engage in activities that build memories and reinforce connections.
Click HERE to read more about the history of this special days and ways to celebrate.
Click HERE for 7 Ways To Get Your Family Involved In Your Local Community.
The following activities are perfect ways to get the whole family invested in your community. For more examples for each activity, read the full article HERE.
1. Volunteer
2. Help the Neighbors
3. Join a Community Recreation Center
4. Start a Community Garden
5. Make it Virtual
6. Thank Community Helpers
7. Send Care Packages
All the hosts on The Morning Thing yell – YES! If your schedule is like our schedules, you could use help finding balance for your daily schedule.
Marcy found this insightful article from Crosswalk. They share 6 ways to make better use of your time. These tips can become daily habits that will help us find the balance that so desperately needs.
Check out the FULL article HERE from author Vivian Bricker.
We are including some highlights below.
1. Take Time to Read the Bible. The Bible contains everything we need to know in order to live holy and godly lives (2 Peter 1:3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). By taking time to read the Bible, we will automatically be making better use of our time. Even if we only spend 15-20 minutes in the Bible, we are practicing using our time wisely.
2. Be Active in Prayer. Prayer is our direct line to God. Whenever we pray, we can rest in the sure knowledge that God hears our prayers. The Apostle John tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (1 John 5:14). With this promise in our hearts, we need to be going to Him everyday in prayer.
3. Steer Clear of Distractions. There are many distractions in our lives, such as social media, endless text messages, or nonstop scrolling on the Internet. All of these things need to be put aside. They are a waste of time and impact our lives negatively.
4. Prioritize Your Physical, Mental, and Spiritual Health. By taking time to feed into our wellbeing each day, it will help our lives to become more happier and healthier.
5. Practice Saying “No”. Practicing saying “no” will be difficult, yet it is something that must be done. We don’t need to overwhelm ourselves or stretch ourselves too thin. By saying “no” to things that we don’t need or can’t handle, it will help us make better use of our time.
6. Start a Routine. Starting a routine can help us organize our time better and use it more wisely. By having a routine and sticking with it, our days will become much more predictable and controlled. Rather than doing things on the spur of the moment, we will start outlining time in our day to do specific tasks. This will help us to have more control over our day and feel more organized.
Author Vivian Bricker loves Jesus, studying the Word of God, and helping others in their walk with Christ. She has earned a Bachelor of Arts and Master’s degree in Christian Ministry with a deep academic emphasis in theology. Her favorite things to do are spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending time outside. When she is not writing, she is embarking on other adventures.
https://www.crosswalk.com/slideshows/ways-to-make-better-use-of-your-time.html
All this week on the show, we have shined the spotlight on the MTVarts Production of The Little Mermaid Jr.
In honor of opening night (tonight), our Friday Favorites took on a musical theme..
This week for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts shared their favorite Disney Animated Movies.
Click HERE to hear from Alyssa, Xander, Shawn and Marcy.
WNZR’s Alyssa Sidle spoke with several cast members from MTVArts’ Production of The Little Mermaid Jr! We spoke with Kiarah Smith (Ariel), Peyton Hauenstein-Cline (Prince Eric), Karma Carpenter (Ursula), Lyvia VanValkenburg (Flounder), and Madison Sichina (Scuttle.)
The cast members talked about their different roles in the show, their favorite songs, what they have enjoyed being a part of the cast, and lots more!
Listen to our conversations with them below or by clicking HERE!
MVNU’s President, Dr. Carson Castleman, talked with WNZR for our monthly MVNU Update.
Dr. Castleman shares his thoughts about the kickoff of fall semester.
Click HERE to hear the full conversation.
We covered many topics including:
Click HERE to stay up to date with news from MVNU.
Today for our Friday Favorites, The Morning Thing hosts celebrated Grandparents Day. It is coming up this Sunday, 9/8!
Click HERE to listen in as Alyssa, Marcy and our new co-hosts Shawn and Xander share memories of their grandparents.
MVNU has launched the first doctoral level program – DNP, Doctor of Nursing Practice.
Debra Garee, DNP, RN, MVNU’s DNP Director and Associate Professor of Nursing stopped at WNZR to share about the new program.
She talked about the different concentrations within the DNP program and the length of the program.
Debra shared that courses are broken into 3 categories: DNP Foundational Courses, DNP Core Courses and Didactic and Clinical Courses.
She shared how to register for an informational session and find more information.
Debra also talked about how this powerful statement guides the program: Empowering Leaders, Enriching Souls: Transforming Healthcare Through Faith and Knowledge.
Click HERE to hear the conversation.
Click HERE for more information about MVNU’s new DNP program.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is excited to be part of September First Friday. Multiple departments will have informational tables set up on the public square. There will be hands-on, interactive activities for kids of all ages.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with several faculty members about the exciting plans for First Friday.
They each shared about their roles at MVNU and what they were most excited about for fall semester. They also talked about the latest news from their departments.
Featured Faculty:
– Dr. Jennifer Ballenger, Assistant Professor of Youth and Family in the Christian Ministries Department
– Dr. Jessica Grubaugh, Dean for the Jetter School of Professional Studies (includes Business, Education and Social Work Programs), Education Department Chair
– Dr. LeeAnn Couts, Dean for the School of Natural and Social Sciences, Professor of Psychology and Director of Academic Summer Camps
– Dr. John Packard, Chair of the Music Department and Band Director
– Dr. Colleen Bryan, Professor of Psychology and Department Chair for Psychology, Criminal Justice, Emergency Management and Homeland Security
Click HERE to hear their conversations.
Stop by the MVNU tables and have some FUN!
Psychology—Coloring books focused on: What can I be?
Biology—Creepy Crawly Things and More (Plant and Animal Life)
Education—Monster Origami Bookmarks and a gently used book plus some book drawings
Christian Ministry—Games, Popcorn and More
Music—Make your own musical instrument
Nursing—Hands on Nursing Activities
Fairbanks Center for Global Engagement—Partnership with Kenyon
Admissions Table
Click HERE for more information about MVNU!
Rise and Shine 