LIFE ISSUES NO. 39-30

DR. WILLKE’S FAREWELL

To all of you dear and faithful listening friends, this is my last 5-minute program.  I’ve been privileged now, for over 18 years, to share thoughts with you daily—in fact, almost 5,000 different times.

But the time has come for me to cut back.  I’m 78 years old and healthy but getting a bit tired.  My dearest wife Barbara, who has walked with me for 55 years, will be glad to see me at home a little more.  We’ve been generously blessed with 20 grandchildren, and we both want to spend more time with them.

Our six children, of whom I’m immensely proud, have been badgering me for years to slow down and even maybe write the history of the pro-life movement.  My answer has always been that we’re too busy still making history to stop and write it.  But now – who knows.

But I’ll not be completely off the air, as my one-minute Life Jewels, in English and Spanish, will still be heard on almost 1,000 stations in the U.S., as well as over 500 in South America in Spanish and Portuguese.  Further, I’m still editor of Life Issues Connector, and also the Cincinnati Right to Life and International Right to Life newsletters.

Our new book, Abortion Questions and Answers—Love Them Both, has just been published, so there will be enough speaking engagements to keep my honey and me busy.  The transfer of my five-minute to my partner Brad Mattes’ one-minute on current events should be a major, positive step.  Instead of my more in-depth commentary on happenings that have occurred days or weeks ago, he’ll be bringing you a daily, one-minute report on that very day’s events.  And we’re ready to proceed with state-of-the-art satellite capabilities that will make this possible.

So you’re not just losing Dr. Willke, you’re gaining Brad Mattes, and you’ll be getting the same value-laden information.  The difference is that this information will come to you on the same day it happens.  My freed-up time will enable me to expand my outreach more, particularly internationally.  And I’ll still join Brad from time to time, when needed.  

So this parting is bittersweet.  I’m glad to be relieved of this daily duty, but sad at not being able to continue to share my thoughts with you the way I have for so long.  But seasons change, and my autumn moves on progressively. 

So it is with real sadness that I say to all of you dear and faithful listeners, goodbye and may almighty God bless each one of you abundantly.

[04/18/03]