Press On
Every four years, the world pauses to watch the drama of the Winter Olympics. Athletes glide across ice, soar off mountains, and push their limits in freezing temperatures—all for the chance to stand on a podium for a few moments of glory. Behind every routine and race is a story of unseen discipline: early mornings, sore muscles, setbacks, and the quiet decision to keep going.
Our faith often looks the same.
The apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Olympians understand that kind of focus. They don’t train accidentally. They live intentionally. Their daily habits reflect their ultimate goal.
Our spiritual lives are shaped the same way. Growth rarely happens in dramatic, highlight-reel moments. It happens in the quiet—when you choose prayer over panic, forgiveness over resentment, faith over fear. Just like an athlete builds strength through repetition, we build trust in God through our consistent surrender.
The Winter Olympics also remind us of perseverance. Skiers fall. Skaters stumble. Teams trail behind. But champions aren’t defined by their flawless performances—they’re defined by resilience. Scripture echoes this truth: “Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1).
You may not be training for a medal, but you are running a race of faith. There will be icy patches. There will be uphill climbs. But God is faithful in every season—cold, uncertain, and challenging.
So as you watch the Olympic flame burn brightly against the winter sky, remember: the greatest prize isn’t gold. It’s a life shaped by trust, perseverance, and a steady focus on Christ.
Keep pressing on.
– Brian McIntyre
Thank You for Keeping Hope Alive
Every day we witness how God continues to use Brilla to bring light into difficult moments. And nothing encourages us more than hearing directly from the people whose lives are being touched through this ministry—thanks to your support.
Today we want to share real stories… stories that you are making possible.
Testimonials That Remind Us Why We Do This
Lorena wrote to us during one of the darkest seasons of her life:
“Brilla.FM came into my life during one of my darkest moments, when the pain felt stronger than my own strength. Its words and worship were like a balm over my wounds, reminding me that God had not abandoned me…”
Pablo, a leader and father, shared this message:
“…the resource that has impacted me the most is From Chaos to Hope, because it has helped me guide every teenager in the church and in my home, and it has helped us grow spiritually as a family. Thank you so much, Brilla.FM.”
And Karla, after our month of gratitude in November, told us:
“…I am thankful for Brilla, which is a source of hope when the day-to-day pressures overwhelm me…”
These stories remind us that behind every piece of content, there is a life being healed, strengthened, and lovingly accompanied.
“From Chaos to Hope” – Growing Beyond Expectations
Our family and teen-support resource has had an incredible impact. Several churches launched parent support groups, and youth ministries began discipleship programs using our material.
The need is great, and that’s why we are producing a new podcast, launching in January, to continue supporting parents, teens, and youth leaders.
Christmas Special Podcast – A Gift for the Season
This December we released a special Christmas podcast featuring Dr. Wilfredo Canales, exploring the mysteries and biblical truths behind this meaningful celebration.
Our Team Is Growing — and So Is the Vision
We are thrilled to welcome Hugo Lucero, our new Creative Assistant, who will be collaborating with us from Guatemala. His creativity and insight are helping us strengthen our digital strategy on social media, YouTube, and Instagram.
We also celebrate that our team is made up of people from various countries across Central and South America. This cultural richness allows us to serve and represent our diverse Spanish-speaking community with authenticity and heart.
Thank you for believing in this mission.
Thank you for investing in hope.
And thank you for making it possible for people like Lorena, Pablo, and Karla to find light in their journey.
Let’s keep shining together.
Viviana Perez, Director of Hispanic Media. Brilla.fm
Thanks to your generosity and support of Brilla.FM, in September we launched “From Chaos to Hope”, our resource project designed to guide parents and teenagers in their spiritual, emotional, and relational development. We are thrilled to share that the results have been very encouraging!
During our launch on Facebook Live, over 250 people tuned in to learn how to use the resources, and more than 90 parents joined our private Facebook group for ongoing support in raising teenagers. This clearly demonstrates the great need for this resource in families and the real impact it is having in the lives of young people.
The project includes:
- 31-Day Parent Guide, with spiritual nourishment, connection questions, and practical daily application.
- Teen Devotional, featuring 31 topics and short-form videos (reels) to share on social media.
- Youth Leader’s Guide, with weekly meetings that reinforce the same themes covered at home and in the teen devotional.
- Podcast and Parenting Tips, integrated into our programming to continue supporting families.
Because of your support, more families are receiving practical, biblically grounded guidance for navigating the challenges of adolescence. Your contribution helps this project grow and reach more households, strengthening faith and love in every home.
Together, we are investing in today’s teenagers—the generation that will impact the world tomorrow. Thank you for partnering with Brilla.FM and making this possible!
Viviana Perez
Director of Hispanic Media. Brilla.fm
By Brian McIntyre
Shine.FM Ministry Director
As the sun shines brighter and the days grow longer, we’re reminded of the warmth, light, and hope that Shine.FM brings to so many hearts — and it’s all possible because of you. This summer, we want to pause and say a heartfelt thank you to our incredible family of financial supporters. Your generosity doesn’t just keep the music playing; it fills lives with encouragement, faith, and love every single day.
Summer is a season of connection — backyard barbecues, road trips with your favorite tunes, and evenings under the stars. And through it all, Shine.FM is there, offering uplifting songs and powerful messages that remind listeners of God’s constant presence. Whether someone is hearing about Jesus for the first time or simply needs a moment of peace in a busy season, your support ensures Shine.FM remains a steady, hope-filled voice.
Because of you, we’re able to provide not only inspiring music but also community outreach, prayer support, and family-centered programs that touch countless lives. From summer festivals to community events and service projects, your giving fuels ministry beyond the airwaves.
As we move through this beautiful season, we invite you to reflect on the impact you’ve made — and to continue walking alongside us. Every gift matters. Every prayer counts. Together, we’re shining the light of Christ in places it’s needed most.
Thank you for being part of the Shine.FM family. You are making a difference, one song, one story, and one heart at a time. Here’s to a summer filled with joy, hope, and God’s endless love — and to the faithful supporters like you who make it all possible.
One of the greatest gifts we can give others is the wisdom we’ve gathered along the way. Our skills, stories, and lessons learned weren’t meant to be hoarded — they were meant to be shared. When we pass along what we know, we don’t just help one person. We spark a chain reaction of growth, empowerment, and hope.
I was reminded of this on my recent trip to Guatemala with Olivet Nazarene University’s Shalom Project. Alongside a group of ONU media students, we led a media camp for young people, offering hands-on, practical experiences. What struck me wasn’t just their passion for media — it was their hunger to learn, to grow, and to multiply what they were learning into the lives of others.
Whether it was a lesson on podcasting, a conversation about content development, or simply listening to their stories, I saw how powerful it is when we invest in others. Every bit of wisdom shared, every tool passed along, becomes a seed planted in good soil. And those seeds will bear fruit in ways we might never see — in churches, families, communities, and in future leaders still to come.
Jesus modeled this for us. He didn’t build His Kingdom by adding followers one at a time; He multiplied Himself through disciples who would carry His message further than one lifetime could reach.
The challenge for all of us is this: Who are you pouring into? Who are you equipping? Your experiences, mistakes, and victories have incredible value. Don’t keep them to yourself. Share them. Teach someone. Encourage someone. Multiply yourself — and watch what God can do with it.
Here a highlight video from one of the students:
Unprecedented Growth: The Rise of Christian Radio
Christian music radio is experiencing unprecedented growth, outpacing all other radio formats. While mainstream radio stations struggle to maintain listener engagement, Christian radio stations, like Shine.FM, thrive, drawing in audiences with a connection that goes far beyond entertainment.
Unlike traditional radio formats that focus primarily on trends, Shine.FM provides a sense of community, encouragement, and faith-based inspiration. Listeners aren’t just tuning in for music —they are seeking hope, encouragement, and a deeper connection to their beliefs. This emotional and spiritual bond keeps audiences coming back, creating a loyalty rarely seen in secular formats.
Another key factor in this growth is the personal engagement between hosts and listeners. Shine.FM personalities often share their own faith journeys, offer encouragement, and foster real relationships with their audience. This authenticity sets Shine.FM apart from mainstream radio that often prioritizes celebrity gossip, controversy, or fleeting pop culture trends.
Additionally, Christian music itself has evolved significantly, blending contemporary styles with uplifting lyrics that resonate with a wide demographic. Whether it’s worship or pop-infused praise songs, the genre has expanded to meet listeners where they are — without compromising its message of faith and hope.
Technology has also played a major role in Shine.FM’s growth. Digital streaming, mobile apps, and social media allow us to reach audiences beyond our radio signals, expanding our influence globally. Many listeners turn to Shine.FM not only in their cars but also on smart devices at home, at work, or on the go.
At its core, the success of Shine.FM comes from offering something deeper than entertainment — it provides encouragement, faith, and a sense of belonging. As long as people continue to seek hope, Shine.FM will continue to offer the true HOPE… Jesus!
If you think vibrantly, feel deeply, and concentrate intensely, you can probably create an entire environment in your mind and imagine yourself there.
Perhaps you have done so with a hope-filled dream, far-fetched fantasy, or nature-inspired landscape. God has fashioned the human brain to explore imagination and aspiration.
What a gift, then, that He reveals Himself in word pictures. His Spirit inspired writers to chronicle visions, communicate prophecies, and capture promises through Scripture.
More than mere ink on a page, those words breathe life into my being. The soul is lifted upward, or as my grandmother would say, “transported into the heavenlies.”
Casting my gaze to the throne room of the King will always invoke an overwhelming sensation of awe and anticipation. I get the same sense from those to whom it was revealed.
I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above Him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. – Isaiah 6
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And He who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. – Revelation 4
I honestly can’t wait to join the scene in heaven and add my voice to the everlasting chorus!
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created.”
“Worthy are You … for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and You have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
“Amen!”
Abby
If a person wants to maintain their skillset, certification, or ability, they likely contribute significant measures of time, energy, and resources to stay sharp. For most people, the adage holds true: “If you don’t use it, you lose it.”
Lapse in memory, skill, or proficiency often takes place over time due to inactivity. In the same way, spiritual dullness, dryness, or laziness often results from the same sort of idleness.
The Bible emphatically summons readers to wake up and warns believers to stay alert, because it is too easy to be blinded, impeded, or defeated by the enemy’s schemes.
“You know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime … put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.” – Romans 13:11-13, 14
The only way to remain keenly aware, doctrinally sound, and humbly obedient is to be Spirit-filled and Scripture-saturated. Knowledge of the truth mitigates potential for error.
“I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as His anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in Him.” – 1 John 1:26-27
The Word is a weapon to wield in the battle.
“I have stored up Your word in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” – Psalm 119:11
“And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” – Ephesians 6:17
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” – 1 Timothy 2:15
The same source yields power, provision, and protection back at camp and on the frontlines. The “whole armor of God” includes the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of readiness given by the gospel of peace, shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit.
And finally, without a doubt, effective soldiers must engage in constant communication with their commander. The directive is to pray “at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication” and to “keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18).
The Lord is a Warrior and Defender, King and Conqueror. He will not be crushed, nor those who stand with Him.
“For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” – 1 John 5:4-5
Abby
When attempting to describe a person or convey an experience, you might say something along the lines of, “Well, it’s like …”
One of the freedoms of human communication involves the combination of language and imagination to illustrate a reality yet unperceived by the hearer. It is often helpful to reference a familiar point of orientation and go from there. “The shops along main street look like a postcard scene” … “That dessert tastes like grandma’s French silk pie” … “She reminds me of so-and-so.”
It’s no surprise, then, that God depicts Himself in various terms and likenesses. The human mind cannot comprehend His fullness, so He relates Himself to lesser concepts more easily grasped.
For example, Scripture paints God as a sun, a fountain, and a rock.
“For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” – Psalm 84:11
“For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light do we see light.” – Psalm 36:9
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2
His qualities are displayed like those of a father or mother.
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.” – Psalm 103:13
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” – Isaiah 49:15
He is everything that provides, protects, and preserves.
“I am the bread of life … If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” – John 6:48, 51
“I am the door of the sheep … If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” – John 10:7, 9
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” – John 10:11
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” – John 15:1-2
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12
Indeed, “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).
All of these combined still portray a mere fraction of God’s existence … yet they help people like me relate to their Maker.
As He Himself declares, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end” (Revelation 22:13).
Abby
You may wake up to a house full of children, wave at your neighbor on your way to the mailbox, or engage in casual conversation with the cashier at the store. With people all around, it is easy to understand how life is a social activity.
The need for companionship and communion is deep and age-old. God made human beings to be relational from the beginning. “Then the Lord God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him’ … So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man He made into a woman and brought her to the man” (Genesis 2:18, 21-22).
Psalm 133 expresses the beauty of community: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
The fellowship of brothers and sisters adopted into the family of God is far more than good company or mutual benefit. It is oneness in Christ.
“ … maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” – Ephesians 4:3-6
The saints are called to love, forgive, and serve one another, all while edifying, exhorting, and encouraging one another in Christ.
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” – Colossians 3:16
This beautiful privilege and process requires the gathering of believers, both in large congregations and small groups, as well as one-on-one relationships.
“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” – Hebrews 10:23-25
In my own life, I am abundantly blessed when I sense God’s presence among His people, receive wisdom from their lips, and take comfort in their faith in the Almighty.
I could never do life on my own, and praise God, I wasn’t made to.
Abby
