It all started on an early foggy morning in 1934, when Paul Myers, a former Los Angeles radio personality and station manager of leading radio stations woke up near a wharf in San Diego. Hungover, he heard the sound of a ship’s bell ring out eight times at 4:00 a.m., signaling “all’s well.”

Only one month later, Myers would be back on the radio, but this time, sharing his newfound faith in Jesus. What happened in between is the extraordinary story of how Myers would go on to found a Christian radio program that continues till this day. At that point, it was called “Haven of Rest,” and Paul Myers would endearingly become known as First Mate Bob. Now, 90 years later, that ministry is called Haven Today — the very same ministry publishing this podcast.

Hear Paul Myers tell this story in his own words. It’s also our story here at Haven Ministries. We pray this episode will serve as a reminder that the Lord is in the business of redeeming sinners and using them to go on to do great things for the Kingdom.

More Related to First Mate Bob

View the 90th Anniversary ZOOM Celebration with Charles Morris, David Wollen, and Joni Eareckson Tada.
Listen to samples and request the newest Haven Quartet Album featuring all-about-Jesus hymns from various eras of the quartet’s history.
Rediscover archived albums from the Haven of Rest Quartet.
Listen to Haven’s anniversary radio series that traverses the last several decades of ministry.
Read more about Haven’s story and mission here.

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If you liked what you heard, please write a review and help new listeners discover the show!

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Did you know that Haven Ministries is celebrating 90 incredible years of ministry?

If you missed our live 90th anniversary celebration, no worries! You can catch all the highlights and heartwarming moments in the video below. Be encouraged as David Wollen, Charles Morris, Joni Eareckson Tada, and more reflect on Haven’s rich history of sharing the gospel for 90 years … and counting!

All About Jesus Hymns (CD)

A good hymn has the power to catch your ear, warm your heart, and fill your soul with truths about God and His Word. Haven’s 90th anniversary album All About Jesus Hymns seeks to inspire this through foundational anthems of the Christian faith, including “Softly & Tenderly,” “How Great Thou Art,” “I Surrender All,” and more.

Allow the familiar voices of Steve Ragsdale, Paul Sandberg, Truitt Ford, and other vocalists through the years to lead you to Jesus in a deeply personal way. This hand-selected collection brings together 20 of the Haven Quartet’s greatest recordings in a new 90th anniversary album that includes a commemorative booklet on Haven’s rich legacy from 1934 to the present day.

This commemorative album includes an accompanying booklet featuring the rich history of Haven Ministries! Go back in time with photos of First Mate Bob, the Haven Quartet, Charles Morris, and more.

David Wollen and Charles Morris met up recently to look back on how the Lord has led and sustained Haven’s gospel-focused ministry for 90 years. In this video that features early footage of Paul Myers and the Haven Quartet, David and Charles also discuss how the relevance of Jesus’ invitation to anchor our weary souls in His “Haven of Rest” is needed just as much now as it was in 1934.

Every day, Haven Ministries reaches countless souls with the assurance that yes, He can set things right. But we can’t do it alone … Haven depends on generous gifts from friends like you to keep this all about Jesus ministry on the airwaves.

Would you consider supporting the transformation of people’s lives through the faithful preaching of Christ and His Word with your fiscal year end gift today?

My Gift for Haven’s Fiscal Year End

As Haven enters its 10th decade of ministry, we are faced with a sizable task—sharing Christ boldly and faithfully in a deteriorating world. Even as we celebrate God’s goodness in Haven’s rich 90-year legacy, we must fix our eyes on the future.

Today, Jesus’ invitation to anchor our weary souls in His “Haven of Rest” is needed now more than ever. This is the message Haven shares daily throughout North America, Cuba, and much of the Latin-speaking world … But we need your help to raise $952,272 by June 30th to carry out this vital mission and finish the year on budget. Would you stand with Haven in this critical moment?

Just as each listener is important, every single gift given to sustain this gospel-focused ministry matters. Together, let’s sow seeds of hope for the future. With your help, more people will experience the life-transforming grace of Christ—many for the first time.

Experience what it was like in the early days of the Haven of Rest as First Mate Bob leads us on a behind-the-scenes tour of the Good Ship Grace. This recently discovered archival footage offers a rare glimpse of how the Haven of Rest radio program was originally produced, recorded, and delivered.

Make Your Year End Gift to Haven

Haven Ministries is committed to shining the light of Christ with a weary world through daily Christ-focused programs, biblical devotions, and life-giving resources. But this couldn’t happen without the loving support of our listeners and readers — people who, like you, have been impacted by this work.

Today, we are asking friends of Haven Ministries to help us fulfill this mission by making a year end gift by midnight December 31. Will you give now to help us finish strong?

Through your support and desire to make Christ known, we can help even more people experience Jesus — many for the very first time. As we approach the end of the year, will you partner with Haven Ministries to provide vital hope for weary souls?

If you recognize the urgency to share Christ to this weary world … please give now.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
—1 Thessalonians 1:2,3

How often do we overlook the words of thanksgiving that the Apostle Paul writes to the churches in Asia Minor? Bob Bowman and Charles Morris believe that we too often race past them. And so as we approach Thanksgiving in the United States, we’re bringing back a classic conversation from 2004 on giving thanks.

For anyone who has been around Haven any length of time, Bob Bowman is a name you’ll be very familiar with. A founding member of the Haven Quartet and founder of Far East Broadcasting Company, Bob was also the Friday Speaker for Haven from 1967-1984. On this episode, you’ll learn more about this history, as well as what both Bob and Charles were thankful for in 2004.

This episode also serves as a window into the past. Haven Today sounded much different in the early 2000’s. From the opening jingle to the quartet music that Bob hand-selected for this episode, this is truly a Thanksgiving blast from the past.

As you ponder what you’re thankful for this year, we hope this episode points you to all you have in Christ.

More on Bob Bowman

Learn more about the history of the Haven of Rest now known as Haven Today by reading through Our Story. You can also listen to the Great Stories episode featuring the testimony of our Founder First Mate Bob here.
Learn more about the history of FEBC and Bob Bowman’s role in bringing the gospel into hard-to-reach parts of Asia.
Listen to some of the best music the Haven of Rest Quartet every sung and composed when you get the 85th Anniversary Bundle of CDs.

You can also find the podcast on …

If you liked what you heard, please write a review and help new listeners discover the show!

Sign up for the Great Stories Podcast newsletter to get a weekly update on new episodes each Wednesday.

For five decades, the Haven Quartet have sung classic songs of the Christian faith, along with many originals. Their version of “Mary, Did You Know?” is something in between. Written in 1984 by Mark Lowry, this moving rendition by Haven elevates the modern classic in a way that stirs the heart and inspires the listener to reflect on everything Jesus came to do.

The Best of Christmas by Haven

The Definitive Collection of Haven Quartet Christmas Songs

Decades of worship and musical excellence define the legacy of the Haven musicians. On this 2-disc collection, there are 32 tracks spanning 5 decades. Each track was hand-selected as the “best of the best” by Haven’s own Paul Sandberg.

For those who love the music of Haven, here is the best — the “Best of Christmas” by Haven — and what a musical treasure it is!

Founded in 1934, Haven Ministries has always had a simple mission: to tell the world all about Jesus. Today, the daily broadcast—called HAVEN Today—airs on more than 650 stations in North America and around the world with a daily listenership of over 500,000.

Like Paul Myers—Haven’s first speaker—Charles Morris started his career on radio. In this brief intro, Charles tells his story and reveals the origin of Haven’s famous tagline: “Telling the great story … it’s all about Jesus.”

Haven Ministries, the host of the All About Jesus blog, was started by an unlikely sort, an L.A. radio star named Paul Myers. He was an alcoholic who ended up homeless, found Christ, and then came back to radio to share his new good news on the Haven of Rest broadcast. That show is now called Haven Today.

The word “haven,” the name of the ministry’s devotional, “Anchor,” and the sailboat logo all point to images of the sea, maybe a storm, a boat riding the waves, and a safe harbor. This analogy is no accident, as it is found all over the Bible. We are all riding on a stormy sea now, and Jesus is the only haven, in this life and the next.

But this week, I found another place where the truth of our lot in this sin-filled world is made clear through this analogy. In Charles Wesley’s hymn, “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” we see a tempest and a storm turn into healing streams and an eternal fountain of life.

Jesus, lover of my soul,
let me to thy bosom fly,
while the nearer waters roll,
while the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior,
hide, till the storm of life is past;
safe into the haven guide;
O receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none,
hangs my helpless soul on thee;
leave, ah! leave me not alone,
still support and comfort me.
All my trust on thee is stayed,
all my help from thee I bring;
cover my defenseless head
with the shadow of thy wing.

Wilt Thou not regard my call?
Wilt Thou not accept my prayer?
Lo! I sink, I faint, I fall-
Lo! on Thee I cast my care;
Reach me out Thy gracious hand!
While I of Thy strength receive,
Hoping against hope I stand,
dying, and behold, I live.

Thou, O Christ, art all I want,
more than all in thee I find;
raise the fallen, cheer the faint,
heal the sick, and lead the blind.
Just and holy is thy name,
I am all unrighteousness;
false and full of sin I am;
thou art full of truth and grace.

Plenteous grace with thee is found,
grace to cover all my sin;
let the healing streams abound,
make and keep me pure within.
Thou of life the fountain art,
freely let me take of thee;
spring thou up within my heart;
rise to all eternity.

Memorizing hymns such as these can be a powerful way to shore up your faith when you are low, to preach to yourself when you need help, and to pray to God all day long and all your days. Those who would believe in Him, consider Jesus, lover of your soul and the one who will harbor you now and forever.

Lindsey M. Roberts is the editor of the All About Jesus blog. After seven years in secular journalism, she is thrilled to explore how everything—even doing the dishes—is an opportunity to meet and glorify God. Lindsey lives with her husband and newborn son in Virginia.

This year, Haven Today celebrates 80 years since its founder, a radio personality, first found Christ and started a program seeking to give its listeners the only rest there is: eternal rest for the here, now, and hereafter. Many of you remember listening to Paul Myers, or the three following speakers of Haven: Paul Evans, Ray Ortlund, and now, Charles Morris. Here we have Peggy Campbell, president of Ambassador, recalling her lifelong story with Haven.

I still remember the day Jon and I met Charles and Janet Morris. At the time, Charles was being invited to consider joining Haven Today—it’s hard to believe that’s been well over a decade ago!

I have heard my parents recount the story of Haven’s remarkable founding many times—a once well-known radio personality whose life ended up in shambles, coming to Christ in a hotel room with a Gideon’s Bible. A homeless alcoholic, Paul Myers was transformed spiritually—and just a month after his salvation, the Haven of Rest with First Mate Bob was launched.

It was my own privilege to know the two speakers who preceded Charles—our beloved hosts Ray Ortlund and Paul Evans. Their ability to bring inspiration each day, woven between musical selections, made Haven one of the staples of Christian radio. The music of the Haven Quartet filled our home as it did the airwaves for more than seven decades. The artistry of the Quartet and a variety of remarkably talented musicians—men such as Paul Sandberg, Truitt Ford, Steve Ragsdale and others—brought encouragement more times than I could say.

Even the Haven building for many years was memorable—I recall meeting with the ministry in its iconic ship-shaped (literally) building in Los Angeles (sold long ago) … and, of course, the classic ship’s-bell opening that was part of the program for many, many years.

When you arrive at 80 years of history, it seems most appropriate to do some reflecting. And that’s exactly what you’ll be hearing on Haven this week as Charles looks back at God’s grace over eight decades.

At the same time, let me just say that there’s no time like the present either. I’m so glad that Haven hasn’t depended on the past to empower its future. Led by Charles Morris, this ministry that is all about Jesus is continuing to provide vibrant, timely, biblical content every day. Haven Today is just that!

So enjoy reflecting on God’s providence. And then let’s give thanks together that as great as the past has been … we’re looking to a future impact in even greater dimensions!

Want to learn more about Haven’s history? Check out an early film we found of First Mate Bob and the Haven Quartet. And then listen to song clips of the Haven Quartet’s best-selling album: A Cappella.

This week, Haven Today’s radio programs are highlighting Christians you should know, but may not already. One of those is the president of Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif., Dr. Carol Taylor.

Turns out, as we saw on Vanguard’s website, that Taylor grew up listening to the original Haven Today, called Haven of Rest. And in another of life’s happy coincidences, three of the members of the original musical group on Haven, the Haven Quartet, are Vanguard alumni.

Listen to the program to hear about Taylor’s Christian walk so far, and tune in to hear Vanguard students speak about the struggles of being a Christian and a college student.