About

The Sitting Room:

The Sitting Room began in the heart of its host Kathy Chiero.  Raised in a Christian home and spending many years in Christian ministry – Kathy discovered that life didn’t always turn out the way it was promised.  Life could be difficult and God was sometimes silent.  Kathy also began noticing that there was a large sub-culture of “unchurched” believers – men and women who love God – but couldn’t find a place in His church.  Their lives had not followed the “permissible” trajectory expected of Christians.  Maybe there was a divorce, an addiction, a failure of self or family member, an unacceptable life choice.  Feeling rejected by the church – many of these individuals also assumed rejection by God.   As Kathy began find her own way back to God through His grace, she began to have a heart for these men and women and a desire to let them have a voice – to speak opinions on traditional ‘church’ topics in a non-traditional way. Kathy met Curtis in 1977 through a Christian coffee house ministry in which they both participated.  They were close friends but parted ways – to pursue school, marriage, and separate lives.   In 2009 Curtis and Kathy were reacquainted through a 30-year reunion of the coffee house ministry.  Kathy was in the process of developing “The Sitting Room” and recognized Curtis’ gift  to listen and hear the “words between the words” – and to intelligently voice opinions from his own background as a husband, divorced father, and Master Carpenter.

The name “The Sitting Room” came from Kathy’s real estate career.  While showing houses, Kathy began noticing that many homes had a room that was always perfect,clean, and unused.  If the homeowner were to be asked about this room it would be said that it was “the sitting room.”  And what is it used for? Meeting with friends, quiet conversation, a place of non judgment – where everyone enters with complete acceptance and leaves having been heard. How often is it used?  Almost never. We’re too busy to stop and listen.

So, welcome to our Sitting Room.  Where we’re not too busy to stop and listen.  And you are the welcome guest.

Kathy Chiero:                 kathy@sittingroomradio.com

Host and Executive Producer

Kathy was raised in a Christian home with six brothers and sisters.  She has an extensive background in journalism, radio and television communications. She began writing for a local newspaper at age 17 and worked for almost 20 years for the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) in Virginia Beach, Virginia.  While at The 700 Club Kathy served as a Senior Producer, News Anchor and Reporter, and occasional co-host of The 700 Club television show.   Kathy is innately curious and finds everyone fascinating.  She has often said that she could do a one hour show on any name she pulled from the phone book – because behind every person is a story…a gift… a purpose for which God created them. She left full-time television in 1996 to begin a career in real estate.  She and her husband, Jim  built one of the top selling teams in Ohio while they raised three children.  Today, Jim and Kathy live in Columbus, Ohio where Jim cheers for the Buckeyes and Kathy dreams of retiring to the south.

Curtis Rowan          curtis@sittingroomradio.com

Host

Curtis was born into a Christian home with a legalistic “climate”. He loved God but didn’t like the temperature in the room.   Curtis  tried to continue his walk with God by studying to be a minister in college but never quite fit into the proselytistic nature of organized religion.  He set it all aside and drank a beer. A whole bunch of life happened …some good and some bad.  But the hunger to know God and feel His love lingered.  It was through the birth of his children that Curtis understood for the first time a Father’s heart. He began to grasp the truly unconditional love of God – where the love never ceases even though there are lessons to be learned and instructions to be followed.  Curtis lives in Norfolk, Virginia is a single Father to Amy and Curt, Jr. He lives for Sundays in the Fall when he can cheer for his beloved Washington Redskins. The Sitting Room is Curtis’ way of inviting you to dinner - a plate of grace without the side of guilt.

Lisa Kelch Fought               lisa@sittingroomradio.com

Research Assistant

Lisa is an only child. She grew up in a Christian home and went to  Christian schools, but has been saddened by watching many of her friends “obey the rules” while in school, but walked away from their faith after school. Lisa knows that none of us are perfect…we are all God’s “projects” – dealing with our issues as we allow others to see and help us with our imperfections.  Lisa has a journalism background and worked at a newspaper and several radio and television stations in Phoenix, Arizona and in Columbus, Ohio.  She is a Home School Mom, married to Mike and they have three amazing kids.  Lisa’s hope is to have a marriage which can encourage others and to raise kids who love God and want to serve Him with all of their life and not just obey the rules.