By Clare BruceThursday 10 Mar 2016Hope BreakfastStation NewsReading Time: 3 minutes
Listen: Dan Widdowson announces his big news…
Hope Media’s long-time Breakfast announcer Dan Widdowson today announced that he’ll soon be leaving Hope 103.2 to become a full time pastor on the NSW Central Coast.
The announcement is, for Dan, a dream come true and the culmination of many years of combining radio work with youth ministry.
But it’s with sadness that he will say goodbye to his much-loved breakfast audience.
“I became a youth pastor in 2006—funnily enough, they trusted me with this,” he said. “And I loved it, and thought it would be good to do full-time ministry one day. Being presented with this opportunity, to do that well means I will have to let go of other commitments – including Breakfast at Hope 103.2.”
A Youth Pastor At Heart
Dan first became a youth pastor at Coast Community Church in 2006, and in 2011 he answered a call to Norfolk Island, where he set up a youth ministry called ‘Unit Youth’ for five churches on the island.
When that mission seemed complete and strong enough to run on its own steam, Dan then returned to his hometown on the Central Coast to resume youth pastoring there, and to “the Den” at Hope 103.2 to take the chair as breakfast host once more. Here he has co-hosted with Aaron Wright, followed by Dwayne Jeffreys, and now Laura Bennett.
Still Part Of The Hope Family
While he’s sad to now be leaving the announcer’s role, Dan will keep in touch with the Hope 103.2 family.
“This station is really unique, in that we are family here, and you listening are part of our family as well,” he said on air this morning. “So I don’t feel like I’m leaving the Hope family at all, because I’ll still continue to support Hope.”
April 7 will be Dan’s last day hosting the breakfast show with Laura, and today he reminisced on some of the great times they’ve had together.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed trying to find you a husband, travelling to Nepal with you, and dropping you 27 metres from the Goliath Swing,” he said.
Laura responded by saying that she’s looking forward to finding a new co-host who wears shoes and deodorant.
Listeners Outpouring Of Sadness And Support
Dan’s listeners and fans poured out their responses on Facebook, with comments like this from Toni McGuinness: “Just heard Dan’s news on Hope Breakfast…absolutely gutted…so happy for you Dan (an unbelievable opportunity/mission)…but devastated you’ll be leaving Hope Breakfast. Thanks for the joy, humour, wit & spontaneity that you have brought us over the years, Dan. You will be sadly missed. ? ”
And this, from Rachel Keyte: “Oh Dan! So happy for you and most especially for the youth of your community, who are so blessed to have you and are now doubly blessed to have you full time.
Thank you for making mornings what they’ve been with you – bright and energetic and full of laughter, even in peak hour traffic! I wish you and your family every blessing, and will miss you greatly!”