Amateur radio, often called "ham radio," is a hobby and service that brings people, electronics, and communication together. People use ham radio equipment to talk across town, around the world, or even into space, all without the need for the internet or a cell phone network. It's a fascinating mix of science, skill, and social interaction that attracts enthusiasts from all walks of life. Ham radio operators, known as "hams," can communicate using voice, text, image, and data on numerous dedicated frequencies. They are licensed by their country's communications authority after passing an exam that tests their understanding of radio technology and regulations. Beyond the hobby aspect, ham radio is crucial during emergencies when traditional communication systems fail. Ham radio operators can provide reliable communication for disaster relief efforts and public service events. Thus, this community-driven pursuit fosters technical knowledge and innovation and emphasizes the spirit of global friendship and mutual assistance.
Are there spiritual lessons that can be learned from ham radio? Can illustrations from the amateur radio hobby deepen our understanding of how to live the Christian life?
A series of devotional reflections was published monthly in the "Transmitter," a newsletter of the Nazarene Amateur Radio Fellowship (NARF).
For years, prior to the advent of email, cell phones, satellite phones, and the Internet with things like Skype and Zoom, the Nazarene Amateur Radio Fellowship (NARF) provided weekly on-the-air fellowship as well as phone patches for missionaries scattered around the globe who wanted to talk to friends and family back home. What is now the Nazarene Global Ministry Center had an amateur radio station in its building in Kansas City for communication with missionaries and church leaders around the globe.
My U.S. General Class call sign is N0FOL - November Zero Foxtrot Oscar Lima.
We spent four years as Nazarene missionaries in Haiti. Telephones were scarce there. So, amateur radio became an important communication tool. Within the country, we mainly used the 2-meter band while the 20-meter band served to communicate back to the U.S. In Haiti, my call sign was HH2HC.
My wife Barbara also holds a General Class amateur radio license. She is KC4CHB.
Note: Amateur radio operators have an alphabet soup they use to communicate. At the end of this page of devotional thoughts, there is a glossary with explanations of things like CQ, QRP, and QTH.
Around the world on a hundred watts | Bedspring for an antenna | Loss of power | Headed the wrong direction | Mouse-eaten communications link | Down with hepatitis | Wrong picture! | Rescue at sea | Hearing His voice | Always on frequency | My visibility | Global support net | Grounded properly | Lost first love | Let your light shine | Keen sight | Share the Good News | If only | QRM | Upgrading | CQ CQ | Making a difference | Dead microphone | Elmers | Bracing for the wind | Simple stuff | Loose connections | Predictable power | Ready to meet needs | Go to a quiet place | Voice actuated | Talking to God | Our heavenly HT | Fading signals | Missing keypad button
I've learned enough radio theory to get my General license. Right now, I'm working on upgrading to Advanced.
I'm still amazed to think that putting a hundred watts of power into a little wire lets me talk to several people all over the globe at the same time. It seems incredible that I could do that with a hundred watts. That much power only lights one room in my house.
It's possible, of course, because human beings finally figured out that's how God had designed this one tiny aspect of our universe. Every time I turn on the equipment in my shack, it's enough to make me sing, "0 Lord, my God, when I in
awesome wonder consider all . . . Thy hands have made ... Then sings my soul.,. . . How great
Thou art."
- Howard Culbertson, HH2HC . . .
I met a Haitian who had been an Amateur Radio operator for a long time. He prided himself in having built all of his own equipment. He told me that when he put together his first radio, all he had available for an antenna was a metal bedspring. So, he used that bedspring and managed to have QSOs1 with amateurs from all over the globe. He got as good a result as I managed to get with my expensive tribander.
There's a spiritual truth here. If we are available, God can use us. He isn't just interested in our abilities. It's our availability that He wants.
My Haitian friend used a bedspring to talk to Libya. God wants to
use us to talk to a lost and dying world.
-- Howard Culbertson, HH2HC [
e-book on Haiti ]
Help! My Kenwood 330 is no longer putting out a strong signal on my Maco tri-bander. Ray, W9NHB, and a few others have suggested some possible reasons and solutions to try. I have tried them, but I'm still only putting out about 15 watts. I wish I had an expert serviceman here to help me.
Fortunately, it's totally different when I lose power spiritually. God's Word is a clear and complete service and repair manual. In addition, I have the Creator Himself standing by to guide me in putting everything back in top shape.
When I work on my amateur radio equipment, it's basically by trial and error. I'm glad I don't
have to do that spiritually.
-- Howard Culbertson, HH2HC
At Easter time, we drove to the Dominican Republic on the other end of our island to spend the weekend with Paul and Thelma Say (WB4WOC/HI8).
We had only sketchy directions for finding their house in Santo Domingo. So when I thought we were within range, I began calling Paul on 2-meters (simplex).
He answered immediately. However, before he finished his first sentence, I lost him. I kept driving and calling, thinking he would come in as we got closer. But I got only silence.
Finally, we stopped to use a telephone (this was before cell phones). We discovered we had made a wrong turn. Instead of going toward Paul's house, we were going away from it. Sure, I was in Santo Domingo. But I was headed the wrong way.
As I turned around, I also asked the Lord to keep me spiritually headed in the right direction.
Just being in the Kingdom is not enough for me. I want to be always headed toward Jesus.
Thus, the signal will be stronger and the communications clearer.
-- Howard Culbertson, HH2HC
I punched in the code to activate my auto-patch. Nothing. It was doubly frustrating since I was trying to demonstrate to a friend all the advantages of amateur radio.
A couple of days later, I found the problem. A mouse had eaten through the telephone line. We had seen that mouse sometime before. However, for one reason or another, we hadn't gotten around to setting a trap or putting out poison. The result? A severed communications link.
That can also happen spiritually. Small problems ignored or pushed aside can cut
communications links with our Lord and with fellow Christians. Resolved: the next time I see a
small intruder scampering around -- be it a furry mouse or a spiritual problem -- I will take care
of it immediately to keep my communications links intact.
-- Howard Culbertson, HH2HC
Word had gotten out that I was out of commission with hepatitis. On the next Nazarene Amateur Radio Fellowship net, people were asking how I was, telling me they had been praying for me. This was partly because we were fellow amateur radio operators. But when they said they had been praying for me, they highlighted a stronger bond between us: our mutual citizenship in God's Kingdom. The NARF net does not create ties between us. It simply expresses bonds already there because of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives.
As I fellowship on the NARF nets, I am not just making new
friends. I am getting better acquainted with brothers and sisters in Christ. "All the brothers
here send you greetings . . . The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love to all of you in
Christ Jesus" (1 Corinthians 16:20, 23-24, NIV).
-- Howard Culbertson, HH2HC
The day after I installed an auto-patch, I startled a fellow missionary. I used the 2-meter rig in my jeep to call him on his telephone. When he answered, I tried to explain that I was using a radio in my car to call him. He sounded quite puzzled. Later I found out why. He had pictured me talking to him through the AM-FM car radio speaker.
What a communications breakdown! It happens in trying to
explain amateur radio. It can also happen when we try to communicate the most important news
of all: the Gospel. The images we sometimes elicit in non-Christians' minds may not always
correspond to reality. I pray that my testimony of my faith and of God's workings in my
life will become clearer with each passing day.
--
Howard Culbertson, HH2HC
I sat glued to my radio as the small boat owner called for help. His stricken boat was taking on water. And his only communications link was on the amateur bands. Propagation wasn't all that good, and he was only able to operate QRP.
Alerted by other amateur operators, the U.S. Coast Guard took control of the frequency. However, because of poor propagation, they wound up having to continually ask for help from amateur operators.
Eventually, the news came that a helicopter was hovering over the sinking craft. What a rescue operation I listened to that day!
That, of course, is what Christmas is about. It is the climactic
moment in an incredible rescue operation with us at the center. As Christmas nears again, let me
wish you a joyous time as we celebrate God's rescue mission that saved us.
-- Howard Culbertson, HH2HC
Interstate 40 across eastern Oklahoma was a mess. Freezing rain turning to ice had cut travel speeds to 30 MPH. I was running over an hour late.
In its scanning mode, my 2M Kenwood picked up a strong repeater. I was headed to Alma, a tiny dot on the Arkansas map. Without much hope of finding someone to relay a message of my lateness, I picked up the 2M microphone.
To my surprise, KSVR, Stan Ross, answered my CQ. "You're supposed to eat supper at my house," he said.
A sense of relief flooded over me. While he was giving me directions, I broke out of the freezing conditions and into a standard wet drizzle. I relaxed and speeded up.
Our relationship with God is sometimes like that. As life's troubles buffet us, our palms can
grow sweaty on the treacherous road. Then, out of the storm comes the Master's Voice: "You'll
soon be at my house. I'm looking forward to sitting down and talking with you." What a relief
and assurance His voice always brings.
-- Howard Culbertson,
HH2HC
In the days before cellphones, I kept a 2M rig in the car I used in missionary deputation travels. During a tour of the Central California district, I was scheduled to be with Art Moore, KE6TU. I needed directions to his house. So I decided to try to call him as I neared Oakdale.
But, alas! The ARRL repeater directory listed several repeaters in his area. How was I to know which one Art might be monitoring?
It's different with the Lord. I don't have to hunt around for
Him. I don't have to ask someone else to try to get Him up on "frequency." He's constantly
monitoring my frequency.
-- Howard Culbertson,
HH2HC
Our third home assignment as Nazarene missionaries has begun. As we began traveling in deputation across the country, I was reminded of the visibility amateur radio involvement usually gives a person. I've seen those tell-tale antennas sprouting in yards all across America. Whenever I do see an amateur antenna, I immediately sense a certain comradeship with the occupants of that particular house. We share the same hobby. And I often wonder if I've talked with that "ham" or if I'll have the opportunity in the near future.
What about my commitment to Christ? Is it as visible as my amateur radio hobby? Is the Lordship of Jesus Christ in my life clearly
evident in my speech and actions? I hope that my Christian faith is even more obvious to those around me than my interest in amateur radio!
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Some time ago, deputation travel took me to California. While there, I spent a Sunday evening in Oakdale with Art More, KE6TU. Art's father was spending a few days with him. Although not a licensed operator, the elder Mr. Moore enjoys monitoring the amateur bands. He said that he had discovered globe-spanning networks of ham operators. During visits to Art's "shack," he had listened to amateurs from 90 countries.
We believers form another network, the Church of Jesus
Christ. That came home to me recently. I heard that someone I haven't seen in years often prays
for Barbara and me by name in a men's prayer breakfast. I believe that man's prayers make a
difference in our lives and ministries. Like ham operators, the church forms a global support
network. I'm glad I'm a part of that net!
-- Howard
Culbertson, N0FOL
The mobile unit in my car was working erratically. I had earlier "jerry-rigged" the power connection at the fuse block. I figured that was my problem. So, I re-routed the power wire through the firewall, properly connecting it directly to the battery.
Then I flipped the "on" switch. Nothing. I checked the in-line fuse. It was good. Oh, no. Had something gone wrong inside the radio?
After sitting and staring at it for a while, I decided to re-check the ground. It was faulty. My trouble had not been with the power connection after all. I thought of the King James Version translation of Ephesians 3:17, where Paul urges us to be "grounded in love."
It reminded me that having good connections to all kinds of
spiritual high voltage is not enough. We must be grounded as well.
-- Howard Culbertson,
N0FOL
When Barbara and I became missionaries, one of my former college professors began bugging me about getting my amateur license. Then years went by. Finally, I started the process. As I worked from Novice to General, he encouraged me, even lending me some code practice tapes.
I just learned he's no longer an active amateur. That stunned me. He had been so enthusiastic, even to the point of recruiting me. No more. Now he's caught up with computers. His radio equipment gathers dust under a stairway.
To us amateurs, he obviously "lost his first love." That can also happen spiritually. Remember Revelation 2 and the Ephesian church?
The American Thanksgiving celebration is coming up soon
(the Canadians have already had theirs!). My interest in amateur radio may-- like my professor's
-- die away. As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm praying that I will never lose my
spiritual "first love." That's infinitely more important than my fascination with radio.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Recently, I was snaking some coax through my attic from a vertical antenna to a 2M base unit. I was off in the far corner of the attic. Suddenly, my rechargeable flashlight went from bright to nothing.
It was dark up there. I wished there had been someone to call for help. But I knew I was all alone in the house. Slowly and gingerly, I felt my way across ceiling joists and insulation back to the access hole. I managed to do so without tripping over HVAC ducts or electrical conduits or falling through the ceiling.
Jesus said we were to be the "light" of the world. "Let your light shine," he said (Matthew
5:14-16) It can get very dark in some corners of life. Let's be a certain, unfailing light to those
who need it.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
More on "letting our light shine"
Jonesboro, Arkansas. It was Sunday afternoon. I was relaxing in a hotel room, waiting for an evening missionary rally. The phone rang.
"This is KB4GI," the voice on the other end said. "Can I come over?"
Carlos and his wife had driven from Tennessee to be in the evening service. We'd never had an eyeball QSO. Still, through the NARF nets, we'd become good friends. When he came over that Sunday afternoon, I was glad to put a face with the voice.
I know Carlos was blind. That Sunday afternoon, we discussed many things, including how he lost sight. As we talked, I sensed that, while he didn't have physical sight, he had sharp spiritual eyes.
Being blind spiritually is the worst type of sight defect, isn't it? Isaiah spoke of spiritual blindness when he said: "The eyes of those who see will no longer be closed" (Isaiah 32:3)
Whatever the condition of your physical eyes, may your
spiritual sight always be clear and keen.
--
Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Nazarene General Assembly is an exciting event. There's always lots of activity going on. As a result, one summer in Indianapolis, I found myself occasionally wanting to be in two places at once.
During most of the balloting for the two new General Superintendents, I was working in the World Mission exhibition area. NARF members inside the Hoosier Dome relayed the results of each ballot to the NARF base station. Over in the exhibition hall, I listened in with my Kenwood 2600. The word spread quickly that I had communications with the dome. So every time ballot results were transmitted, I had a crowd gathered around me.
I have other news that's more important to share. Lord, lead
me to and make me sensitive to those who are hungry to hear the Good News you have
transmitted.
-- Howard Culbertson,
N0FOL
We had just returned from Mexico City. With 142 people, it was at that time the largest Work & Witness group ever. Organized by Southern Nazarene University, that mission trip was the first of what became an annual event known as Commission Unto Mexico.
The size of the group and the multiplicity of project sites across Mexico City made coordination difficult. Several times I found myself saying: "If only we had taken time to find a way to put a ham operator with 2-meter equipment with each 15-member team."
"If only." What sad words those can be.
They're sad when used in the spiritual realm:
Let's ask the Lord to help us avoid those sad if
only's.
-- Howard Culbertson,
N0FOL
"I couldn't make out one word," the visitor to my ham shack said. "How did you do that?"
There was some QRM that day. The distractions crowding in on my frequency so disoriented my shack visitor that he completely missed understanding my contact that day. Though I chewed the rag for several minutes, my shack visitor had not caught even one word from the other end. His reaction surprised me. Like most radio amateurs, I had learned to concentrate, to somehow bore a tunnel through enough interference to make successful contacts even on heavy traffic days.
It can be like that spiritually. The many voices of life crowd in on heaven's frequency. They can distract you and keep you from hearing that "still, small voice" God often uses. As a Christian, I must learn to concentrate on understanding the divine signal.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
My XYL, Barbara, took her novice test in Haiti under the direction of a couple of Wesleyan missionaries. Now KC4CHB, she recently upgraded to Tech.
Something special happened the day she upgraded. New lines of communication opened between us. Among other things, it meant we were able to talk together on 2 meters.
That's similar in a way to Christian couples. There's something special between them not
shared by those families in which only one spouse is Christian. When only the husband or the
wife is a Christian, some profound things cannot be fully shared by the other. Barbara's
upgrading to a tech license made me remember to pray a lot more for those couples we know where only
one is a Christian.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
"CQ CQ CQ CQ " How often have you heard that universal call and turned away without responding? Sometimes I'm in a hurry and need to leave. So, I turn off the radio. Sometimes I have a schedule with someone else. The other ham never knew I was there. So, I sneak past the CQ to another frequency.
It doesn't bother me to ignore a radio "CQ." I hope I don't do the same for spiritual "CQs." people do put out that kind of call in life. They reach out, asking for somebody to respond, to acknowledge. Sometimes I allow life's busyness, as well as the press of close friends, to push me past those little calls.
Today, my prayer is, "Lord, help me to be sensitive to life's
CQs. Help me to hear with discerning ears. Don't let me ignore potential Mayday calls."
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
When natural disasters occur, two organizations start popping up immediately: amateur radio
operators and churches. In the aftermath of hurricanes,
earthquakes, and floods, the news media often feature stories of ham operators providing vital
communications support. There'll also be stories of churches opening their buildings to house
those hit by tragedy. There will be clothing and food drives sponsored by Christian groups.
Compassion and an urge to be of help. You see those qualities in Christians. You see them in
most ham radio operators. What a combination when a person is both an amateur operator and a
Christian! A Christian ham operator. He can make a life-saving and life-changing difference.
-- Howard Culbertson,
N0FOL
It was a great idea: Barbara, KC4CHB, would take our little HT to a Junior High Bible Quiz meet across Oklahoma City. She could then alert me as to when our daughter would be quizzing. The clock ticked away, and I heard nothing from her.
When she got home, she wondered why I hadn't answered her call. We discovered that the HT's tiny microphone had gone bad. She could key up the repeater, but that's all. The microphone had to be replaced.
Jesus wants to use us to
communicate with a rebellious and often hurting world. Let's keep our spiritual equipment in top
shape so that when He wants to use us as His mouthpiece, we'll be ready.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Invariably, when someone gets interested in amateur radio, it's because of someone who already holds a ham license. An experienced amateur radio operator becomes an "elmer," offering everything from encouragement to technical expertise, advice on buying that first radio, and even getting out and putting up and testing an antenna.
It's the same way with the Kingdom of God. Most often, people come to the Lord and
mature in the Christian walk through someone else's influence, "a bridge of God," as Donald
McGavran calls our friendship and kinship webs. My influence counts for a great deal, whether it
is interesting people in amateur radio or influencing them to enter the Kingdom.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Scott, N5ASD, wasn't very enthusiastic about my dream of a tall tower and a beam antenna. "You get some pretty stiff winds there in Oklahoma," he said.
In spite of Scott's cautions, I still want to put up that tri-bander. Though I see beam antennas around Oklahoma, I think I see more wind damage elsewhere in the country. Maybe with all the winds we have, we Okies know we have to build to withstand a lot.
In our spiritual lives, let's not merely hope that calm weather bracing will be enough. Let's build our inner spiritual strength so that it can withstand ANY worst-case scenarios.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
The 2M rig in my car was dead. I opened the hood. I checked the electrical connections. Everything looked okay. I stuck my head under the dash. I didn't see any problems. I opened the hood again and rechecked THE connections. Nothing. I'd not seen smoke or fire. Still, I began to fear that it had blown completely.
Finally, I checked the in-line fuse. That was the problem. It was something simple. But I had not started there.
Trouble in your spiritual life? Check the simple stuff first. Jesus got right to the point with
Peter: "Do you love me?"
-- Howard Culbertson,
N0FOL
A loose soldered connection. What frustrating problems it can cause. My soldering jobs usually give way when I neglect to make a good mechanical bond first.
It can be that way spiritually. If I don't hold tightly to Jesus, my connection to His strength and power weakens. It may even break. God is still there with all power. I'm still the same instrument He's used before. Yet, nothing happens.
Prayer: Jesus, remind me to hold tightly to you so that all your power can flow
through the soldered connection made by your Holy Spirit.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
When Larry Wilson was in Haiti, he used a car battery as a power source for his HF unit. Living in the mountains above Port-au-Prince, Larry's house did receive power from the electric company of the capital city. However, the city's power generators were very unreliable. So, the power would often go out without warning. There were also all kinds of surges on the lines. So Larry (who was HH2WL back then) used a car battery that he kept at maximum power with a trickle charger.
I'm thankful the Holy Spirit is our power source. He is predictable, not affected by the
offs-and-ons, ups-and-downs, and ins-and-outs of life.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL [ e-book onHaiti ]
When a fellow ham puts through a phone patch for me, I'm always somewhat humbled. People who I do not know spend their time and tie up their equipment for me. What motivates them to do that? Why do they reach out to someone they do not know (actually, two people they do not know)?
How much stronger, of course, should be our motivation to
reach out as Christians. How much more willing we ought to be to put ourselves out, to spend
time meeting people's needs.
-- Howard
Culbertson, N0FOL
During a 15-meter net, I heard someone check in with whom I needed to talk. We aren't supposed to tie up net frequencies with rag-chewing. So he said: "Go to 390 and up. At a quiet place, I'll call you."
Isn't that similar to what the Lord says to us every day?
Sometimes, we're tempted to spend too much time on the busy frequencies of life where the
action seems to be. Then comes the gentle voice from the Lord: "Go to a quiet place, and I'll call
you."
--
Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Bill Porter offered the use of his ham shack in the mountains above Caracas, Venezuela. He tuned up his equipment on a net frequency, then had to leave.
When net control asked for check-ins, I pushed the mike button on the desk mike and gave my call sign. I couldn't feel the button give under my thumb, but the transceiver did transmit.
While waiting for net control to acknowledge me, I felt around on the microphone but didn't see any other buttons. So, I pushed on everything in sight as I responded "no traffic" when net control called me.
Finally, I realized that the microphone must be voice-activated.
We also have a voice-actuated mike to transmit to the Lord. No buttons have to be be pushed when we want to talk to Him. That's good
news.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Some people think you have to be in some special place to talk to God. Not so. God is an "extra class" license holder. He's not limited like a novice or a tech license of amateur frequencies. God can talk anywhere. He will find you where you are, no matter how remote the frequency may be. Certainly, some places and times are better. But none is impossible for Him. Isn't that good news?
I was stuck in a hotel room in another country. Feeling lonely, I wanted to call home. But there was no telephone. I thought of a missionary friend's "ham shack." But it was an hour away.
It's not like that with God. Some folks do think a church building is just a heavenly "ham
shack" where you need to be if you want to talk to God. That's not so, of course. As far as God is
concerned, we always have an HT with us that can reach right to the very throne of heaven. We
can talk to God anytime, anywhere. Isn't that good news?
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
"He faded out," the voice on my ham shack speaker said.
It was one ham operator talking to another. They were talking about me. I could hear them. They just couldn't hear me. For some reason, my signal had faded out.
Dear God, I don't want to fade away when I talk to you.
Show me how to keep my antenna always pointed your way so that my signal will be strong and
clear.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
I had a Kenwood 210B two-meter rig in my jeep in Haiti. One day the number "2" button on the microphone's keypad fell off. In terms of quantity, it didn't seem too great of a loss. After all, I still had fifteen other buttons. A full ninety-four percent of the buttons were still there and working fine.
However, the first time I turned that microphone over to use my auto phone patch, I realized how significant the loss of just that one tiny button had been. The three-digit code I needed to key up my patch included the number "2"! My patch was useless without that one little button.
It caused me to think about losses in the church. The loss of somebody may be more significant than is immediately apparent.
Lord, help me to be as concerned about missing church members as I am about my missing keypad button.
-- Howard Culbertson, N0FOL
Amateur or ham radio has a rich history that dates back to the early 20th century. It began as a hobby for radio enthusiasts who built and operated their own radio stations. They experimented with wireless communication long before it became mainstream. The term "ham" was initially a derogatory term used by professional radio operators to describe amateur operators. The amateur radio community later embraced it.
In 1912, the U.S. government began regulating the airwaves, and amateur radio was officially recognized, with enthusiasts assigned specific frequency bands for experimentation. Over the years, ham radio operators have played vital roles during emergencies, providing communication when other systems fail, such as during natural disasters. The hobby has evolved with technological advancements. It now incorporates digital modes and satellite communication while continuing to foster international goodwill, technical skill, and a spirit of experimentation.