Photo submitted by: Lena Unrau. Tante Esther Horch seated on the left-hand side

 

On March 13th we celebrated a milestone at Golden West -- and we're STILL celebrating!

March 13th 1957 was when CFAM Radio 950 went on the air for the very first time, broadcasting out of Altona. And the radio station has grown, and expanded beyond the borders of our Province over the past 60 years. We have enjoyed hearing from you some of your memories of Jim McSweeney, Aunt Ollie, Danny Orlis, and Tante Esther. A picture was sent our way last week, that was taken in 1958 when the Edenburg School got a tour of CFAM, and had their picture taken with Tante Esther. Thank you Lena Unrau for sending that our way!

Esther (Hiebert) Horch hosted a Saturday morning broadcast called "Children's Party" in 1958, and in addition to that, other programs including "the Story of our Hymns", "Afternoon At Home", and "Homemaker's Chat". Esther Horch was a unique gift to the church at a time when few women were involved in public forms of ministry in the MB Church in North America. She left a rich legacy of involvement in teaching, counseling, writing, radio ministry, and many other areas. Esther and her husband, Ben, made a profound impact on generations of Mennonites in North America. Esther’s husband, Ben, was a singer and conductor who, at one point, gave private music lessons at the Winnipeg Bible Institute (now Providence University College). Ben, predeceased Esther in 1992. Then, two years later, Esther also passed away after a rich life of service, not only to her own community, but to many others. 

For Esther, or Tante Esther as we endearingly call her, serving God meant serving people. She believed that helping people in need was the duty of every Christian...And her work with us at CFAM, was a part of that ministry,and now, a piece of our history!