Father, son lead Christian television station WYBU

A father and son have been on the job together since local Christian television station WYBU went on the air 11 years ago.

Virgil Thompson, 64, is general manager and Alex Thompson, 32, is production manager at the Phenix City station.

“I feel called to introduce Jesus Christ to people,” Alex said. “We love what we do here.”

Virgil agreed, saying there is no better way of making a living.

“We get to help those in need and spread the message of Jesus,” he said.

The two are assisted at the station by traffic director Emma McPeters and chaplain Norman Garrison.

The station is owned by the Christian Television Network based in Clearwater, Fla., which has 17 stations nationally in locations such as Tupelo, Miss., Nashville, Quincy, Ill., and Macon, Ga.

Their facility is located in the former home of commercial station WCGT, which was owned by McClure Broadcasting.

Both Thompsons are natives of the area. Virgil, who currently lives in Phenix City, attended the defunct Baker High School in Columbus and Columbus State University. Alex, who lives in Ellerslie, Ga., also attended high school in Columbus, graduating from Jordan Vocational High School.

Virgil is a former member of the Muscogee County School Board.

“We reach an estimated 250,000 households,” Virgil said of WYBU.

Over the air locally it can be found on Channel 16. As far as cable, it can be found on Channel 9 on Medicom, Channel 19 on Charter Communications, Channel 68 on Cable TV of East Alabama, Channel 2 on WOW Cable and Channel 11 on Windjammer Communications.

Most of the programming comes from CTN, which is led by popular hosts such as Pat Robertson, Charles Stanley and Les Feldick but there is also local programming, some of which is produced in the station’s studio.

Several church pastors such as the Rev. Raymond Cochran of Franchise Missionary Baptist Church in Phenix City, the Rev. Charlie Sanders of Liberty Hills Baptist Church in Phenix City and the Rev. Jay Bailey of Solid Rock Church in Columbus have shows.

“Unity With Pam” with Pam Hovey is a popular production as is “The Sharon Jones Show.”

But it is not all about faith.

Locally, Georgia State Sen. Ed Harbison has a show discussing a variety of issues.

Nationally, “Your Health With Dr. Richard and Cindy Becker” talks to viewers about medical conditions.

Virgil said one of the most important national shows is “You and Me,” which airs in the early morning. The host has people call in seeking help with their most serious problems.

Alex said he is in the process of putting together a fishing show with professional fisherman Royce Railey that will be carried nationwide.

“There will be talk about fishing and faith,” said Alex, who hopes it will help bring a younger audience to the station.

WYBU is a nonprofit station and depends on donations. It does not sell advertising.

“CTN has a couple of national telethons each year. I would love to have a local one,” Virgil said.

He admits the station could use a new transmitter.

“We are limping along with the one we have,” Virgil said.

WYBU operates a Love Basket ministry aimed at helping support people in financial crisis. Virgil said it deals primarily with single parent families and helps them in several ways.

WYBU has a prayer hotline that operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Alex works with a nonprofit M2540, a ministry providing meals and other items to the area’s homeless on Monday and Tuesday evenings.

“We can help churches and other groups promote their activities,” Virgil said. “We are about positive programming.”

This story was originally published June 10, 2017 at 12:33 AM with the headline "Father, son lead Christian television station WYBU."