SECOND LIFE

writtenby: R.M. Colon
The Virtual World is a stage for performers in the real world as we have seen in the past few articles. As I explored the entertainment fields that are opening doors for real opportunities online, I came across a media that started online prior to entering the Virtual World. I met an individual who runs a Christian Radio station in Second Life. The owner is West Habercom. The radio is Bigloo Christian Radio, founded by West (Louis Rivera) in 1999. He shared with me how the name of the station came about which is rather humorous…
“Well, I was the webmaster for the group 4Him. I was at a 4Him concert in Indiana in 1999 and mentioned to the guys that I was going to start an internet station. Kirk Sullivan would always call me “Big Lou”, and suggested I call it “Big Lou Radio”. Andy Chrisman chimed in and said “yeah but be different, call it “bigloo”, igloo with a “b” in front of it.” So I took the name and used it. It took me three years to remember that a “loo” is also known as a toilet in England”. Though the name started as a joke it was a blessing. West stated: the name stuck, people became curious and listened.
West started in radio with the traditional radio (Terrestrial Radio) in 1979. “I fell into radio when a dj asked me to work with him as a “gopher”. That is when he began to learn. Within 6 months he sent demos to several stations and landed a few offers. I asked him how he transitioned into internet radio “I came across a website called Live365. It was free and started it as a hobby to listen to music. Live365 was just a place one can upload music files and listen, basically on an account basis. I started to get a listener base. Later I rented a few ShoutCast servers, contacted the industry about fees and thus began what is today – Bigloo Christian Radio.”
So why Christian radio? I asked about his faith in God. West Habercom: I was raised in a Catholic home. We went to church every Sunday... even wanted to be an altar boy, but never did it. I fell away from my faith in my late teens. One Sunday night (in my late 20’s) I was late getting home from work. I always wanted to watch Star Trek before going to bed...and I was about 10 minutes late. I turned on the TV, and it was on Channel 2. Star Trek was channel 11. I could have turned the dial backwards to get there quicker but instead I moved forward. When I got to channel 9, the Jimmy Swaggart program was on and for some reason, my hand would not move the selector...so I watched him preach. Then he asked that people repeat a prayer. I figured ok why not... so I did. I closed my eyes, repeated each word and began bawling my eyes out. When the program was over, I picked up a dusty bible and said “Lord, I do not know how to read this book... but if you are really there... point me to something that I can relate to” I closed my eyes... flipped the pages and placed my finger on a page to read … St. John Chapter 3 is what came out. The very next day after only 3 hours of sleep, I went to work and the Director of the bureau, who was a Jesuit Priest, stopped me. I will never forget his words to me, he said... “Oh my...you look as if the resurrection has entered you”, and he held me and prayed. I later went upstairs to the office and everyone just sort of stared at me and even though I only had a few hours of sleep... everyone said I had a glow about me. West returned to his faith in God in his late 20’s and today his ministry is through internet radio. As God reached him through technology, West has a ministry of radio which is reaching others about God’s grace and Salvation. Bigloo Christian Radio is non-profit and is brought to you out of love. Bigloo Christian Radio is a professional internet radio station. Tune into BiglooRadio.com. You will be blessed.