Helping call screeners to become "fishers of men"

The Goal: Landing some live calls

Our call screeners speak for us to our callers.

People show that they have been hooked by calling to give a question or an intention. It's up to the call screeners to bring the callers on board the boat.

Practical wisdom

The questions we would like to explore with you are:

• What has worked for you in persuading a caller to go on the air with us?
• What hasn't worked?

Points to ponder

The following material is not something to read to a caller. It is meant for you to help you find the right words to say at the right time to help someone overcome their fears and anxieties.

Please let me know what you have found helpful or not, especially if you have some new ideas to add to this page.

Thanks for your service to God, to our callers, to the station, and to today's moderator and priest. We couldn't do the show without you. You make all the difference in the world to us. We love you and we pray that you will be blessed as you talk with the children of God on our behalf.

Talking on the air is fun for everyone

"Our moderator and priest would love to hear you express your needs in your own voice. It's more fun for them, and better for our other listeners. They've asked me to say, 'Pretty please with sugar on top?'"

"You'll have fun, too. Maybe not while you're waiting or in the first few seconds, but as the call goes on and afterward. You will feel a great sense of accomplishment if you overcome your hesitancy and decide to make this sacrifice for the Lord and for His children."

You will go from last to first

"If you leave your question or intention with me, it will go to the end of the line of things we have received today; if you can stay on the line for just a few minutes, you will be next. As you are waiting, you will hear the show over the telephone. If you can't stay on the line, we can't guarantee that your question or intention will get on the air today."

"Our moderator and priest love to feel that at least one person is actually listening to what they are saying and really cares about the answer or the prayer. You are in a position to give them a great blessing today by being that person."

We can ask Father to be nice to you

"Fr. Moleski knows that he gets carried away some times, and that it might make people afraid to talk to him. If you are one of them, we will put a special mark next to your question to remind him not to terrorize our callers. Father would much rather have a subdued conversation with a live listener than hearing a moderator re-read what I send in on your behalf."

You know what you want

"Even though we try really hard to figure out what your question or prayer request is, it is very hard to put your tone of voice and everything that you mean into a few words. If Father has any trouble understanding what you mean, you can make it clear in just a few seconds on the air; when he is dealing with a written question or prayer request, he can only make educated guesses. I type up your question or prayer request as best I can to help father get started, but it is no substitute for you. If 'a picture is worth a thousand words,' a live call is worth at least ten thousand."

Please offer it up

"I know it is harder for you to stay on the line than to have me relay this for you, but your reward will greater, too."

It is OK to be nervous

"Yes, I know you are nervous, but after a few seconds you will realize that it is just like having a phone call with some new friends. You are talking on the telephone with me right now; it won't be any harder than this to talk with the moderator and priest on the air."

"Everybody is nervous at first. That's normal, and it's not a big deal. Let your love reign over you, not your fears."

"I know how you feel"

It would be lovely if every call screener would at least one call to a live show themselves for two reasons:

1. They will know what it is like to be on the other side.

2. They will be able to talk from experience about what it feels like to overcome fear.

Your reward will be great

"Virtue, like muscle, is acquired by practice. Overcoming your fears about talking on the air will make you a stronger person."

Call me back afterward, if you wish

"We would love to hear what you thought of your experience in talking on the air. Please feel free to call back to talk about it, or send an e-mail to cac@thestationofthecross.com. Thanks!"

No threats

I am not suggesting that our callers should be told that they must go on the air if they want their question or petition to be heard.

We don't want to shame them or make them feel bad in any way if, even after hearing the best possible pitch that you can make to them, they decide to slip away. If you can help them get over their fears, great; if not, that's OK. That's why they call it "fishing" instead of "catching."

No pushing

People will resent it if they feel they are being pushed over the edge. They do have the right to remain silent. This is an invitation to grow in love, not a command under penalty of law.

The Warm Good-bye

"Thanks so much for your question or intention. We really appreciate it very much. I'll put it in the lineup right way. We prayed for you before the show, I'm praying for you now, and we will remember you afterward, too. Please do call us again. God bless you!"