KFI Jesus Making New Waves on Radio Stations Nationwide

By Eryn Sun, Christian Post Reporter Friday, March 04, 2011

Jesus has just reached another milestone – he is now broadcasting on over 50 radio stations across 35 states.

Rest assured, this is not the same Jesus who turned water into wine, fed thousands with a few loaves of bread and fish, healed the blind, and resurrected after three days. Well, not exactly.

No, this "Jesus," is a six-foot-four, 240-pound punk rock Latino man with a handful of tattoos and a goatee. Not exactly the kind of Savior we envisioned.

Get Our Latest News for FREE

Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know.

Subscribe

In fact, he's no Savior at all. He's just Neil Saavedra, a radio talk show host of KFI-640 AM's "The Jesus Christ Show."

For three hours every Sunday morning, Saavedra assumes the persona of Christ, answering calls and questions from a mainly downtrodden group of listeners who seek encouragement and advice. Biblical doctrine and theology are also occasionally examined and dissected.

Speaking in first person, "Jesus" responds with his usual air of compassion and patience, replying to many with a series of stories or parables, just the way Jesus had 2,000 years ago.

Before ridding the show as blasphemous and cultesque, the host does not claim to be the risen redeemer.

The program starts with an announcer reciting, "2,000 years ago, he walked this earth; preaching, teaching and preparing to make the ultimate sacrifice. What if today, you could talk with him, laugh with him, cry with him, not only through prayer, but through the radio?"

Multiple times throughout the broadcast the announcer makes it clear that the "holy host" does not claim to be Jesus Christ. "The Jesus Christ Show" is merely an interactive radio theater designed to help Christians and non-Christians alike learn more about the historical person of Jesus.

Referring to himself as a self-taught lay apologist, the "KFI Jesus" starts every show with a 15-minute to hour-long monologue, or sermon, and then receives calls from listeners.

"In the agreed setting between the listener and me, I am going to pretend to be Jesus, historically to the best of my ability, theologically to the best of my ability. I do it in a controlled environment," Saavedra explained to LAWeekly. "I am not Jesus. I don't think I am Jesus. I don't want his job."

He explained to Media Life, "I do the show because, as corny as it sounds, I sincerely love people. Much as they piss me off on the freeway, I love people. More often than not, the callers are seeking compassion rather than logic."

"Christ wasn't a real 'Sit down, shut up, let me tell you what to do' kind of guy."

Using 1 Peter 3:15 as his banner, he shared, "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."

The idea for "The Jesus Christ Show" originally developed when Bill Handel invited Saavedra to join him for an Easter program on his show, with the condition of him playing the role of Jesus, without irony or kitsch.

"There was no question he could not answer," Handel told Daily News. "Out of that evolved what I consider to be the most unique show in radio."

Saavedra recalled to Media Life, "My original feeling was 'Is this going to be blasphemous? Would we be doing it just for yuks?'"

But after speaking with many of his apologist friends and much research, he found that no one could give him an intellectual response to why it was blasphemous.

He agreed to host the show, originally for one hour on Sundays, with the condition that he could choose which call to answer and which calls to end.

"For three hours, I'm forced to act how I should the rest of the week," he shared with Biola students at chapel. "[The show] means something to me only if it affects people, helps them, gives them insight and is moving for the cause of Christ. If it doesn't do that, I don't need to do it."

Off the air, the holy host is the first to admit that he is not perfect nor does he pretend to be. He, like every other believer, struggles.

"Do I feel qualified to answer any of this stuff? No way. But sometimes the people are so desperate for help, my God, I've got to do something," he told Daily news.

"Elijah was suicidal; Isaiah preached naked. Job went bankrupt; John the Baptist ate bugs. These [were] not perfect people. It wasn't about them having any flaws. It was about God using them, seeing in them the passion and intensity for the word of God."

Using the Bible, biblical commentaries on the Old and New Testament, and his own notes, the host counsels every caller with appropriate biblical references and comforts with thoughtful advice.

Saavedra studied Catholic apologetics at Saint Pascal's Day School, Protestant apologetics at Chalcedon Christian Academy, and has taken supplemental courses on the cults, Hebrew, the Trinity and general apologetics at schools such as Greenleaf University and School of the Oaks.

Though Saavedra was raised Catholic, he became Protestant at the age of 17. He fell in love with Protestant apologetics and saw how it opened up answers and helped him understand God better.

While visiting an apologetic radio show at the age of 19, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in radio, hoping to engage listeners by talking about God in a more interesting way – more palatable to everyone, according to Biola University.

"Saavedra often sees a lot of 'spiritual blood and guts,' people who have been frustrated by God and hurt by the church. He feels his background and rebellious instincts help him understand real human pain and frustration," wrote Jenna Bartlo of Biola.

While the show attracts its own slew of criticisms, the program continues to make an impact on a number of confused and hurt callers, dispelling myths with what both Jesus' would call the truth.

"The Jesus Christ Show" can be heard on such affiliates as KFI-AM/Los Angeles, WGST-AM/Atlanta, WFLA-AM/Tampa, and others.

The show continues to remain on the number one spot on KFI-AM/Los Angeles and has just reached its 50th affiliate milestone, announced by Premiere Networks.

Saavedra produces the radio show and occasionally lectures and teaches at various churches and schools, hoping to share with others what some have kindly shared with him.