Tom Quick is a third generation Salvationist who worships at The Hespeler Salvation Army in Cambridge Ont. He is a volunteer with a multi-cultural community radio station in Kitchener-Waterloo and broadcasts both classical and Salvation Army Music on Sunday and Monday nights.Tom grew up in the English Coastal Resort Town of St. Ives Cornwall. He was a qualified builder and in 1972 left the shores of England to settle in Australia. One evening he was listening to classical music and became aware that a classical public radio station was starting. Interested in being involved, Tom contacted the station and became a member of the Society (that is now known as 4MBS-FM) and presented programs of classical music.

While traveling through Canada on his way to St. Ives for Christmas, Tom met up again with Betty Ann. He later immigrated to Canada, married Betty Ann and settled in her hometown of Kitchener. A few years later Tom was approached by CKWR when a time slot became available for a program of classical music. This became his Monday evening concert.

In 2000, Christmas Day fell on a Monday. Tom thought it would be a good idea to invite the Salvation Army to use his broadcast as an opportunity to say thank you to their supporters and to wish them a joyous holiday season. In keeping with this original idea, he continues to broadcast a three-hour program of Christmas music each Christmas Eve.

Tom began the process in partnering his passions with the Army by approaching his Corps Office Major Sterling Snelgrove who contacted the Public Relations Department and the ball started rolling. This Christmas program helped to spin-off another broadcast entitled, "Let There Be Praise," a weekly half-hour program of Salvation Army music, prayer and inspirational meditations sponsored by the Ontario South West Division public relations department. The broadcast continues to run every Sunday evening under the direction of Major Ken Ritson, divisional public relations secretary with support from Major Snelgrove. Officers from the P.R. department who have hosted Let There Be Praise have been Major George Patterson, Major Stan Carr and Majors Gary and Marion Venables.

Since "Let There Be Praise" started, there have been many requests for Salvation Army music. To meet these requests, Tom prepares and presents a two-hour program of Salvation Army music on the last Monday of every month, which is sponsored by corps and family services in the listening area of YOURFM 98.5.

Tom is also a volunteer with Faith FM in Kitchener, www.faithfm.org and presents a two-hour broadcast of Sacred music every Wednesday night, which includes Salvation Army music.

Tom testifies to the mysterious ways in which God opens doors for him to bring his two passions of music and radio together. While being a witness of God’s blessing upon his life with these opportunities to present the Gospel through Salvation Army music, Tom presents artists in such a way that their music is given every opportunity to minister to those who are listening.

At the moment these broadcasts reach the geographical areas of nine Salvation Army corps (churches).

Many bands, songsters, and musical groups from around the world support this ministry through their generosity of supplying CDs and sharing the news that these broadcasts can be heard.

Great credit goes to two Salvationists in Holland, Steef Klepke and Pieter vanHorssen for turning a local Salvation Army broadcast into a worldwide ministry. The website is a gift from Steef and the broadcast is recorded every month from the Amsterdam West Salvation Army by Pieter.

For more information about this wonderful ministry visit Tom at www.salvos.com/tomquick