John Connor “Hope Together…”

Hope Together: How One Radio Campaign is Changing Lives-And Why Your Station Should Join In

This past spring, something beautiful happened at UCB Radio.

We launched a campaign called Hope Together – Send a Kid to Camp, inviting our listeners across Canada to nominate a child in their life who—due to financial hardship, family trauma, or other challenges—might miss out on the life-changing experience of Bible camp. What happened next reminded us of the power Christian radio has when it steps into the role of guide, empowering listeners to be the heroes of their own communities.

The Spark: Filling the Gap Camps Didn’t Know How to Close

In early spring, we began reaching out to Christian camps across Canada. The response was overwhelmingly positive—but also revealing. Many camps already had sponsorship funds available to help kids attend… they just didn’t have a way to find those kids.

That’s when we knew UCB Radio could play a unique role. We realized that our platform could serve as a bridge between these camps and the hurting families our listeners already knew.

We did our homework, reaching out to every Bible camp we could in and around our broadcast areas. Over a dozen camps came on board.

The Call: Listeners as Heroes

Once the infrastructure was in place, we opened the invitation to our listeners: Tell us about a child who deserves a camp experience but wouldn’t otherwise get one. Within weeks, we received over 100 heartfelt nominations.

It was one of the most beautiful and difficult parts of the campaign. Tyler Rody, our Promotions Specialist in Saskatoon, reflected:

“I was emotional reading through the nominations. From bullying to homelessness, there are families across the country who face a variety of challenges. Reaching out to the families was touching. For them to know that their kids were going to get to experience Bible camp, thanks to the support of their nominators and Bible camps across Canada—this is such a special gift to be part of.”

And the stories were more than words on a page. They were real lives, real children. As Jamie Wicklam, one of our key community promotions leaders, shared:

“Reading Joe’s nomination brought me to tears. His story is heartbreaking—losing his father, being rejected by his mother, and growing up in the care of his aunt and grandparents, all while navigating the added challenge of his grandfather’s mental health struggles. And yet, in the middle of it all, Joe shines. He’s an eager part of his church community and clearly deeply loved. It’s a privilege to work with the camps and be part of giving Joe this opportunity to attend Christian camp this summer. All glory to God for what He’s doing in Joe’s life.”

The Impact: Lives Changed

In the end, we partnered with over a dozen camps and selected sixteen children to receive full summer camp sponsorships. Some of these kids have never been away from home. Some have never had the chance to hear about Jesus in a setting like this. And now, they will be welcomed into Christian communities of love, play, and spiritual formation.

Even now, we’re in the joyful stage of notifying families—and the reactions have been humbling and unforgettable.

A Path for Other Stations

If you’re reading this and wondering, Could we do something like this? — the answer is yes. Here’s what we learned:

– Start early. Connect with local camps in late winter or early spring.
– Be the bridge. Camps often have resources but no referral system.
– Trust your listeners. They know the needs in their communities and want to help.
– Make it personal. Use real stories to connect hearts.
– Keep it simple. A clear message and short nomination process goes a long way.

Join the Movement

This campaign wasn’t about us—it was about what God can do when His people are invited to act on behalf of others. We were just the guide. The real heroes? Our listeners. The nominators. The camps. The kids.

If you’re a station, ministry, or church leader who wants to be part of something like this for the 2026 camp season, we’d love to hear from you. Let’s see how Hope Together can expand across borders, platforms, and hearts—because there’s no limit to what God can do through a simple act of kindness.

John Connor is the National Promotions Director at UCB Radio in Canada, where he leads national campaigns, artist partnerships, and community engagement initiatives that bring hope to listeners coast-to-coast. With a background in ministry and over a decade in Christian media, John blends creativity, strategy, and heart to help grow the reach and impact of faith-based music and storytelling. He’s also a musician and the manager of the alternative rock band Across the Sea, and is passionate about helping Christian artists thrive.

John lives in Ontario and is deeply invested in both his family and community. Contact John at john.connor@ucbmedia.ca