The GPCR Story
Look How Far We've Come
First Steps
A short-term solution was enacted in April of 1983 when Rev. White along with local residents Dick Unruh and Galen Friesen signed a contract with a local cable operator to rebroadcast the Moody Broadcasting network through cable television.
A Vision Defined
It became clear that those who could receive the audio by cable were profoundly influenced, but the agreement affected such a small area of Southwestern Kansas that the vision for an actual radio presence was cast. On February 25th, 1985 a group of forty-three individuals met to discuss the possibilities of Christian radio for the Heartland. This meeting led to the development of the first Board of Directors for Great Plains Christian Radio.
Three years of discovery would take place before an application was made to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in August of 1988 for a 100,000-watt station with a 1,000-foot tower.
The Next Phase
Three more years would pass before FCC approval was granted. In 1991 the GPCR board began a search for a General Manager to help move the vision forward. By September of that year Don Hughes had accepted the challenge to move the idea of Christian radio from paper to an audio presence. By December, Hughes had moved his family of six from Pennsylvania to Southwestern Kansas.
Hurdles
$750,000 was an incredible sum of money to raise when the vision is something that is yet to be realized. Only a third of the money needed was raised in various fund-raising projects. After much prayer the GPCR board opted to accept a loan through a bond issue. People in Southwestern Kansas purchased the majority of those bonds.
If You Build It...
A new building was erected and offices opened at our present location on June 1st, 1992 and within 24 hours of the completion of tower construction, KJIL took to the air. The first words transmitted occurred at 1:46 p.m., September 5th, 1992. A fitting launch to the ministry was the song "Find Us Faithful" by Steve Green. The first passage of Scripture heard on KJIL was, "I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within valleys, I will turn the desert into pools of water, and parched ground into springs...so that people may see and know, may consider and understand that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy of Israel has created it" (Isaiah 41:18,20). With these words and prayer the ministry was dedicated to God's will and direction.
Like Cold Water to a Weary Soul
Long-term staff positions were filled as Michael Luskey arrived from Oklahoma as Director of Operations in November of 1992. Doug Wedekind came from Nebraska as Production Director a month later. As listeners began to tune in they also understood the vision of Great Plains Christian Radio and they found themselves enthusiastic supporters of the long-term viability of the ministry.
"Like
cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land" (Proverbs
25:25). As people on the fringe of the radio signal began hearing the
faint signal they began to make known their interest in having the
signal more widely available. The first translator for KJIL was erected
in Gruver, Texas in October of 1994. Today nearly 50 translators in four
states repeat the Good News found on Great Plains Christian Radio.Our signals go beyond their regions to touch a total of six states.
Vision Expansion
Shortly after KJIL made its first impact in the region the GPCR board saw the need for a second full power station. Application was made for what would become KHYM. Five years after KJIL took to the airwaves a construction permit was issued for KHYM and broadcasting commenced on December 23rd 1997. In God's faithfulness the debt for KJIL was completely taken care of prior to KHYM's debut. KHYM has branched out with four translators located in Ulysses and Elkhart, Kansas as well as Guymon and Woodward, OK.
In 2009 KJIL put a new full power station on in Boise City, OK and KHYM added a new translator in Felt, OK.
In 2010, KJIL will add a new station in Guymon, Oklahoma and KHYM will move frequencies in Guymon as the network continues to expand. Late in the year we added a new station in Scott City, KS. KHYM expanded to frequencies in Scott City, Healy and Dighton.
A Matter of Trust
On New Year's Eve 2006 an ice storm came through the region. In it's aftermath a 200 + foot section of the tower that is used to broadcast both KJIL and KHYM lay on the ground following a devastating collapse. A matching grant from the Forrest Lattner Foundation allowed the tower to be completely rebuilt.
An Award Winning Staff
The GPCR staff has been awarded dozens of times in categories such as news and sports reporting, air personality of the year, editorial content, public service announcement, website design and more.
KJIL
has been awarded Station of the Year honors twice from the Kansas
Association of Broadcaster. KJIL has also been honored with a rare trio
of awards; Focus on the Family Station of the Year, Gospel Music
Association Station of the Year and National Association of Broadcasters
Station of the Year. Most recently they received the National Religious
Broadcasters (NRB) award for station of the year.
A New Phase
In the spring of 2011 Michael Luskey accepted the role of President/GM for Great Plains Christian Radio following the resignation of long-time advocate of Christian Radio in the Heartland, Don Hughes.
The Future
Great Plains Christian Radio continues to follow God's leading in the development of radio stations and translators, but we are also aware of the many changes in distribution methods for audio content. This is why we have developed Internet audio streams for KJIL, KHYM and KJRL.
Reflections
Looking back at the development and growth of Great Plains Christian Radio it’s easy to see God’s footprints as He walked with those who served on the Board of Directors. We also see God’s hand in those called to vocational Christian service through Great Plains Christian Radio as well as those who responded to the financial needs by supporting this outreach.