Louis Grant has been on air with WMIT for 40 years, but his story begins with the day he met Jesus Christ. Born in a Christian home, he was raised by godly parents – a pastor and a musician – with whom he traveled with through various states for ministry. One Sunday morning, six-year-old Grant was sitting in a church listening to one of his father’s friends preach a sermon.
“I tuned him out! When he was finished, my Dad gave the invitation and asked the congregation to stand,” remembered Grant. “Then he said to the congregation, ‘If you are right with God, sit down. But if you are not right with Him, don’t sit down. Come, and let us pray for you!’ I just went on down the aisle and gave my heart to Jesus that day and I’m so glad I did!”
Grant first visited WMIT with his parents in 1962 when the station opened as WFGW. Dr. Graham let Grant’s father be the first preacher on the air with his live broadcast, Count On Me.
Several years later, Grant was holding several jobs. He was working part time at Sears-Roebuck in sales, laying tile, digging ditches and doing construction work. The busy, physical labor was taking a toll on his body. He asked God to bless him with an inside job. “In August of 1970 I had just married my wife, Sandra, and needed a better job. I borrowed my Daddy’s car and drove out to the station and talked with Dick Jensen, the General Manager at that time, and he said to me, ‘Louis, you may be an answer to prayer.’ I’m thankful for being an answer to prayer – for 40 years!”
Grant says that God has proved faithful over the years. “I can’t ask for a better staff of people to work for and with than the people God has placed in my life here – such a loving and helpful family. You never go through anything here alone. Just let the people around you know what’s going on in your life and you are on their hearts and in their prayers.”
In commemoration of Grant’s 40th anniversary in ministry with WMIT, he was honored with a reunion dinner on September 18. He says he would also like to do another thing himself to commemorate his anniversary. Although he has been at this job for a long time, he never wants God to finish using him. “I just want to please Him!”
