Sharon Sawyer fusses over her husband Forrest, arranging his headphones, as the two sit in the whitewashed, brick radio station on Hendricks Street. In the community, Forrest is known for his vocal activism, but in the studio Sharon is the boss.

"I'm not really the boss. I'm the director," said Sharon laughing.

The local radio personalities are preparing to celebrate their fifth anniversary as hosts of "Thy Brother's and Sister's Keeper" on WGFS 1430 AM.

For Forrest, the show's defining characteristic is to reach those looking for information in alternative ways.
"We want to...reach those who aren't reading or getting out," said Forrest. "We would like to think that we are informing people."

Initially, the show was only a 15-minute segment, but has now grown to a three-hour live broadcast every Sunday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. supported by several community churches.

Five years ago, a local person offered to pay for a month's worth of 15-minute segments to be aired every Sunday for the Sawyers.

Forrest declined and advised the person to ask someone else who might be interested.

"I said no and they said it's only [offered] to you. So, I accepted," Forrest said, noting he did so only after receiving permission from his pastor, Kenneth Williams of Early Hope Baptist Church.

"We wouldn't be doing any of this without the pastor's blessing," said Forrest.

During the first month, the show, originally called "Thy Brother's Keeper," aired from 2 to 2:15 p.m.
Forrest and his wife, Sharon, were not sure what to expect with their first try at hosting a radio show, but they stayed positive.

"We made the best of it," Forrest said.

After the first month was up, the Sawyers were offered to continue the show and their airtime was increased to a 30-minute broadcast.

"Thy Brother's and Sister's Keeper" plays gospel music, takes live calls, reports local and national news and hosts guests. Former Newton County commissioner Susette Monk serves as the show's political host. Forrest says that in five years, the show has hosted more than 200 on-air guests. The show has featured a wide variety of different guests like superintendents, superior court judges, local politicians, state senators and journalists.

However, Forrest says his favorite on-air guest was former Covington City Manager Frank Turner Sr., because Forrest was able to reminisce with Turner, who served more than 20 years as the city manager, implementing plans such as the groundwork for the local 911 system.

"We could go back down through the years from 1970 to present day," said Forrest. "They made a lot of plans that we have seen come into fruition now...We would like to think we had a part in this."

One of the most memorable guests that Sharon recalled was the youth choir from Covington that came to the station to sing Christmas carols on the show.

"It reminded me of how enthused the youths are still about Christmas," said Sharon.
Forrest says he would like to focus on and incorporate the community more in the coming years into the show. He says the show reaches an audience of 75,000 to 90,000 listeners in Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton and Rockdale counties.

Forrest said that the community gives plenty of feedback.

"They call us and let us know they are here and listening to what we say," he said.

Prominent members of the community and local political figures stop by to contribute to the show as well. Sharon said it was not uncommon for a mayor or a commissioner to pop in during the show. When they do, the Sawyers "stick them on the air."

One thing the show does that it will continue to emphasize is introducing new businesses to listeners.
"We welcome new businesses to come in and talk to us [on-air] to introduce them to the community," said Forrest.
Forrest hopes to reach out more to the community in the future by doing more remote broadcasts if funds allow in locations like local churches or political rallies.

"We want to be out in the community more," he said.

Sharon would like to see the station as a whole grow.

"When the station increases, we increase," said Sharon. "Hopefully, we can go on the FM channel and Sirius."

Sharon also looks to continue the apprentice program for local high students who are interested in broadcast. The intern gets 30 minutes every Sunday during the broadcast to relay local educational news.

Brandy Clark was the station's first intern from Newton County High School. She now attends Clark Atlanta University and is studying communications. The current intern, Tevin Norman, attends Eastside High School. After Norman's tenure, Sharon hopes that an Alcovy High School student will take up the position next, because she really enjoys "working with the youth."

While Forrest said he doesn't know what more the future holds, he is grateful he and Sharon have been on the air this long.

"We are not making any money. We are just serving the community," said Forrest. "We live a life of service. We are glad God has seen fit to keep us on the air."