The South New South Wales (SNSW) Conference team have come up with a unique way to raise awareness and engagement with Faith FM.
Called the Faith FM Strongman Challenge, it features a custom-built trailer where participants are invited to test their strength and fitness in various challenges. The trailer was recently rolled out at a mega agricultural event in the state’s south-west attended by over 50,000 people.
Over the course of three days, more than 600 competitors took part in “Strongman Challenge” activities, including grip strength tests and pull-up contests, cheered on by thousands of spectators. Not only did the activity encourage fun and fitness, it also enabled pastors and church members to actively engage with curious onlookers in the crowd.
South NSW pastor Huston Ford shared how the event created valuable connections within the community.
“I spoke with several people eager to know the frequency for Faith FM,” Pastor Ford said. “It’s a fun, straightforward way to introduce ourselves while enjoying some physical activity. It opens the door to spiritual conversations faster than any other program I’ve been part of.”
In addition to individual challenges, a special team challenge was organised for local service groups including the State Emergency Service (SES), Rural Fire Service Association, army and ambulance teams, to see which team could claim the title of being the fittest. The SES team emerged victorious.
But the real triumph was the boost in Faith FM’s brand perception and community awareness, according to Kyle Morrison, Faith FM and communication coordinator for the SNSW Conference.
“The event fostered a strong sense of community and camaraderie, with many visitors returning to the trailer multiple times throughout the week to check their standings on the leaderboard,” he said.
Pastor Roger Afele said the event organisers were very appreciative of the positive atmosphere they helped to create. “They are looking forward to having us back again next year,” he said.
Faith FM’s national content and promotions manager Pastor Robbie Berghan praised the initiative.
“Thanks to funding from the South Pacific Division and Australian Union Conference, we hope to continue to support conferences and churches in building our listener audience right across Australia with these kinds of community-connecting events,” he said.
“A recent national survey conducted by McCrindle found that 7.4 per cent of Australians tune in to Faith FM at least once a month. This is a testament to the impact of initiatives like the Strongman Challenge that engage communities in a meaningful, relatable way while introducing them to Faith FM.”
During the event, attendees were encouraged to download the Faith FM app and subscribe to their YouTube channel. The results: 301 new YouTube subscriptions and 348 downloads—further expanding Faith FM’s growing audience.
