Few voices in Christian radio match the depth of experience and passion Dave Arthur brings to the mic. From his early days spinning records in Chicago to shaping stations and connecting communities across the country, Arthur has spent decades at the intersection of music, ministry, and storytelling. Now, in an exciting new chapter, he’s taking that calling to new heights—literally—through his partnership with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and the launch of Cockpit Karaoke, a unique in-flight interview and performance series featuring some of today’s most beloved Christian artists. With fresh episodes filmed high above the Tennessee hills and a renewed focus on sharing the Gospel in creative ways, Arthur continues to prove that when faith and music come together, the impact can reach far beyond the airwaves.
 
You’ve had a long career spanning both mainstream and Christian radio. Talk about your radio career so far and how it all started for you.
 
Being a radio broadcaster is something I’ve wanted to do since I was seven years old, growing up in Chicago in the ‘70s and listening to WLS. I’ve always loved music, and playing it on the radio sounded like so much fun to me. By the time I hit junior high school, I discovered Christian rock. I started buying up all the music from [Christian bands] Petra, DeGarmo & Key, Sweet Comfort Band, Archers, and Rez Band records I could find (and more). In 1982 and 1983, I would spend my Saturday afternoons at the local Christian AM station. They’d play music on Saturday afternoons, or anytime that time slot hadn’t been sold to a preacher. I learned how to do it all. Run the board, operate the transmitter, cue up the records and reel-to-reel tape machines, and record the tape carts. 
 
In January 1984, they had a weekend opening. I got it. Now I’m getting paid $3.35 an hour. There were very few full-time Christian music FM stations around the country, and certainly none in Boise, Idaho. I quickly advanced in my career and moved to mainstream Top 40 radio. Man, did I learn a lot. Programming, production, promotions, interviewing, how to tick off your competitors, and how to do good radio. 
 
I still loved contemporary Christian music (CCM) throughout. I helped launch a new Christian music FM station in eastern Washington in 1996. I got to program it and host the morning show. What a blast. I’d end up at Air1 in 2000 for a little over a year before I was part of the launch of [Christian music station] The Fish in Portland, Oregon, in 2001. I programmed that station and held down the afternoon show before returning home to Boise in 2012 to take on the morning show at [Christian music station] KTSY.
 
When you shifted to Christian music, what differences did you immediately notice in the culture?

It was great to return to the Christian radio market. Instead of seeking awards for being the first to play [certain mainstream songs] on the air, I focused on helping my community in meaningful ways. That included giving a new van to a widow who fosters special-needs kids and praying for healing with a listener for her melanoma in the Krispy Kreme parking lot. The next year, she called me to say she was cancer-free. 
 
The music was part of the glue that brought all of us at the station together with our audience. Sadly, I’ll also point out that listeners of Christian radio can be the meanest. I’ve been lambasted time and again by my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, to the point of being told I won’t go to heaven, just because of something I said, or even because something I said was misunderstood. Thankfully, they’re the minority. The sting just lasts a little longer than most. But our listeners are the best. I love it when parents come in with their kids to pick up prizes because I get to invite them in to see where it all happens. I hope it inspires the next generation of broadcasters.

Tell us about your new partnership with [Evangelical Christian organization] Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). And the story behind your interview series, Cockpit Karaoke.

I first learned of MAF at a Steven Curtis Chapman concert in Portland, Oregon. He told the story of missionaries, including Jim Elliot and Nate Saint, who were brutally murdered for their faith in Ecuador. Their story was inspiring. Then they introduced us to Mincaye, the man who had murdered them, now a follower of Jesus. 
 
Fast-forward to 2018, when I had a quick tour of MAF’s headquarters in Nampa, Idaho. The remains of Jim and Nate’s airplane, which had been torn apart in Ecuador, sat in the lobby. That was moving. I’ve always been interested in aviation, and learning how they use these planes to spread the Gospel around the world got me excited. 
 
At the end of 2024, I had just resigned from my position at KTSY, and my wife, Shauna, had been laid off. Within weeks, Shauna was hired by MAF as their Events Manager. With my newfound free time, I told them to let me know if there was anything I could help with. The joke in the office is that hiring Shauna was a “BOGO” (buy one, get one free). They got her and then got me for free.
 
The idea of “Cockpit Karaoke” had been floating around the MAF office before Shauna’s arrival. It involved taking artists up in an MAF plane to interview and perform from high in the sky. Given my connections with Nashville’s artists and record companies, and my experience interviewing, they felt I was a natural fit to host the series. I’m having a blast. Three episodes are already available on the MAF YouTube page, and we’re heading to Nashville to record eight to ten more episodes.

You’ve been around music for a long time and have talked with many artists. What are some common themes you’ve noticed over the years in those conversations?
 
[One common theme I’ve noticed is] That they have their heart in the right place. I love to hear them share the stories they are told or experience, whether from concertgoers or from those who just need that song of theirs that just played on the radio. The stories of camaraderie among the artists touring together. How God inspired them to write a song or complete an album. The impossible situations God got them through so they could serve Him in this industry. And the stories of their own personal struggles, we can all relate to on some level. 
 
Cockpit Karaoke is just getting started, and it’s so much fun. Tell us about the new series, who you’ve already spoken with, and what episodes we can expect soon.
 
I probably answered most of that above. The following Christian artists are scheduled to be filmed: Brandon Heath, Natalie Layne, Mike Donahey (lead singer of Tenth Avenue North), Evan Egerer (possibly with Jaci Velasquez, though not confirmed), The Afters, Mark Stuart (former lead singer from Audio Adrenaline) with Ben Calhoun (frontman from Citizen Way), Todd Smith (founding member of Selah), and David Zach (lead vocalist and guitarist from Remedy Drive). 

Any great memories so far from Cockpit Karaoke? Are any artists terrified of getting into a prop plane?
 
It never gets old to see how wide people’s eyes get the moment we leave the ground. We only fly up to about 5,000 to 6,000 feet, so you can really see the landscape. I love hearing people talk about the awesomeness of God’s creation as they look out the window. And the good news—no one has gotten sick. I have a running list of artists who said they’d love to fly but are too chicken to fly in a smaller plane. 
 
At the top of the bucket list is to get Steven Curtis Chapman on one of these flights, as I credit him with shining a light on this amazing ministry and doing so much to promote what they’ve been doing at MAF for over 80 years.
 
How can we be praying for you? Besides safety in the air.
 
Always for safety. Not just for these fun videos we get to air, but for the missionaries all over the world serving through MAF. For those sharing the Gospel and the pilots flying in and out of some of the craziest runways you could imagine. MAF planes take off or land every three minutes, providing vital medical evacuations, disaster relief, and support for missionaries and aid workers in remote areas. Also, that God would continue to supply for every need as the Gospel goes out through MAF.