Arcola resident Daneli Rabanalez Hernandez helps launch new Hispanic Christian radio station

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BOURBONNAIS, IL (03/03/2014)(readMedia)-- Born in Chiapas, Mexico, Daneli Rabanalez Hernandez - an Arcola resident - came to the United States with her parents when she was five years old. Even though that move was difficult, today she sees how it was part of God's plan. Not just for her life, but for the lives of thousands of Hispanic people eager to hear Christian radio in their heart language.

Launching on March 3, 2014, Brilla.FM is a Hispanic radio ministry of the Shine.FM network and Olivet Nazarene University. Listen live at http://www.shine.fm/listennow

Hernandez, an Olivet communication major, has worked closely with Brian McIntyre, network general manager for Shine.FM, to make this a reality. She is the music director and also a program host.

Shine.FM is committed to building stronger families and stronger communities. In addition to the 160,000 listeners who listen weekly through stations in Chicagoland, northwest Indiana and Indianapolis, thousands more stream Shine.FM, Brilla.FM, Shine Worship and Shine RX3 online or through their mobile apps.

Brilla.FM's mission is to collect, organize and broadcast Christian music of the Spanish culture. Broadcasting online, it will reach the entire Latin culture, not just the people of one specific country.

"In the U.S. today, the Hispanic population is now larger than the African-American population," McIntyre said. "God is using Brilla.FM to reach not only that group, but also people in Latin America and the Spanish-speaking world with the message of Christ - in the language they speak."

Programming reflects the current focus of Spanish Christian music and is about 70 percent worship songs. These are performed in Spanish by Spanish artists. Music styles represented include salsa, norteño, bachata, rock and contemporary.

The playlist features well-known Hispanic Christian music artists, such as Marcos Witt, Danilo Montero, Marcela Gandara and Jesús Adrián Romero, with new artists being added all the time. Many are from Mexico with Spain and other Latin American countries also represented. Music by some English-speaking artists - Kari Jobe, Hillsong Young and Free, and Hillsong Global Project - in Spanish are becoming more popular.

McIntyre has gathered a team of inspired and dedicated broadcasters for this new station. Joining Hernandez are program hosts are from a variety of Hispanic countries, as well as the U.S., including:

• Griselda Guzman, an Olivet communication major from Joliet, Ill.

• Marcelo Fretes and Viviana Perez (morning team), who are youth pastors in Argentina. Viviana is originally from Ecuador.

• Juan Manuel Fernandez (midday host), who is a youth pastor in Washington State. He grew up in Costa Rica as the son of missionaries.

"Radio impacts the lives of many people," Hernandez said. "Seeing this happen for speakers of my native language is dear to my heart."

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 100 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet has one main campus in Bourbonnais, Ill. - just 50 miles south of Chicago; three additional sites: Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Ill., and Hong Kong; and more than 100 School of Graduate and Continuing Studies learning locations throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year, whether through study abroad opportunities or worldwide mission trips.

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Contact:

Laura Warfel

Public Relations Specialist

Olivet Nazarene University

Bourbonnais, Ill.

www.olivet.edu

815-928-5403

lwwarfel@olivet.edu