Troy Edwards walked into the Glen Burnie offices of WFBR last year with a simple question. He left with his own radio show.

Mr. Edwards, 37, saw an ad from the small AM station posted at Holy Trinity Church, where he works. The station was offering to sell time on the air waves, and Mr. Edwards went to check it out. Once he got there, he and the station manager at the time talked with Mr. Edwards about his love of Christian rap and his desire to reach out to youth. Though he had no background in broadcasting, "3 Hours of Power" was on the air soon after.

"The kids are basically bored with church, that's why they're not going....