World Christian Broadcasting
Encyclopedia
World Christian Broadcasting is a non-profit Christian organization that operates international shortwave radio
station KNLS. The station’s transmitters are in Anchor Point, Alaska
, and all of its programs are produced at the company headquarters and broadcast operations center in Franklin, Tennessee
, a suburb of Nashville.
officer Maurice Hall prepared shortwave transmitters for the Yalta Conference
for use by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
and his staff so they could keep up with news from Washington. Hall began to realize that if shortwave radio could transmit political news across long distances, it could also broadcast Gospel messages to large parts of the world.
Dr. Lowell G. Perry, a communications professor at Abilene Christian University
, served as the first president of World Christian Broadcasting. In 1977, Perry died in a plane crash as he and others sought a location for the station’s transmitter. Two years later, a site in Alaska was selected and construction began.
KNLS signed on the air July 23, 1983, broadcasting ten hours a day in Mandarin Chinese and Russian and reaching roughly one-third of the world. English broadcasts were added later. As the Soviet Union’s empire fell apart, listeners from those countries began writing and requesting Bibles and other religious materials. In 2005, the station signed on a second 100 KW antenna in Alaska.
In 1991, World Christian Broadcasting presented a program called “The Reflection Hour” from Moscow over Russia’s All-Union Radio network. The program reached all 15 republics of the former Soviet Union.
, news commentary, health and family tips, travelogues, and other family-friendly
programming. Interspersed throughout the hour are teaching segments with Gospel messages or Biblical topics. Most of the air staff are journalists or broadcasters by training. Programs are culturally sensitive and geared toward a secular audience, although Christian listeners may also enjoy the content. Some segments focus on hymns but most of the music is secular and is checked for lyrical content so that it is wholesome and positive. Every hour also includes an announcement encouraging listeners to write for their very own copy of the Bible.
KNLS never asks listeners to send money to support the station. World Christian Broadcasting is funded by interested individuals, churches and other groups. Also, the Bibles and other materials that listeners can request are sent free of charge.
KNLS is currently on the air a total of 20 hours each day: ten hours in Mandarin; six in Russian and four in English. All programming is produced at the station’s Operations Center in a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee
. Programs are presented in a magazine-style format and provide Bible and religious teaching segments and reports about life in America as well as music. The station receives messages each month via email and postal mail from all over the world.
with a targeted start-up date of early 2010. The new station will offer programs in Arabic in addition to the current schedule of English, Mandarin and Russian. Information in various African languages will be available on the station website, with English-language broadcasts targeted toward African and Indian audiences. Other plans include the addition of Spanish and Portuguese broadcasts.
World Christian Broadcasting is overseen by a board of directors who serve on a volunteer basis.
Shortwave
Shortwave radio refers to the upper MF and all of the HF portion of the radio spectrum, between 1,800–30,000 kHz. Shortwave radio received its name because the wavelengths in this band are shorter than 200 m which marked the original upper limit of the medium frequency band first used...
station KNLS. The station’s transmitters are in Anchor Point, Alaska
Anchor Point, Alaska
Anchor Point is a census-designated place in Kenai Peninsula Borough, in the U.S. state of Alaska. As of the 2000 census the population was 1,845. Anchor Point is the westernmost point in the North American highway system.-History:...
, and all of its programs are produced at the company headquarters and broadcast operations center in Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin, Tennessee
Franklin is a city within and the county seat of Williamson County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 62,487 as of the 2010 census Franklin is located approximately south of downtown Nashville.-History:...
, a suburb of Nashville.
History
Although World Christian Broadcasting was formed in 1976, the idea came about 30 years earlier when Army Signal CorpsUnited States Army Signal Corps
The United States Army Signal Corps develops, tests, provides, and manages communications and information systems support for the command and control of combined arms forces. It was established in 1860, the brainchild of United States Army Major Albert J. Myer, and has had an important role from...
officer Maurice Hall prepared shortwave transmitters for the Yalta Conference
Yalta Conference
The Yalta Conference, sometimes called the Crimea Conference and codenamed the Argonaut Conference, held February 4–11, 1945, was the wartime meeting of the heads of government of the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union, represented by President Franklin D...
for use by President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
and his staff so they could keep up with news from Washington. Hall began to realize that if shortwave radio could transmit political news across long distances, it could also broadcast Gospel messages to large parts of the world.
Dr. Lowell G. Perry, a communications professor at Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University
Abilene Christian University is a private university located in Abilene, Texas, affiliated with Churches of Christ. ACU was founded in 1906, as Childers Classical Institute...
, served as the first president of World Christian Broadcasting. In 1977, Perry died in a plane crash as he and others sought a location for the station’s transmitter. Two years later, a site in Alaska was selected and construction began.
KNLS signed on the air July 23, 1983, broadcasting ten hours a day in Mandarin Chinese and Russian and reaching roughly one-third of the world. English broadcasts were added later. As the Soviet Union’s empire fell apart, listeners from those countries began writing and requesting Bibles and other religious materials. In 2005, the station signed on a second 100 KW antenna in Alaska.
In 1991, World Christian Broadcasting presented a program called “The Reflection Hour” from Moscow over Russia’s All-Union Radio network. The program reached all 15 republics of the former Soviet Union.
Programming
World Christian Broadcasting’s approach to programming is different from many religious broadcasters. There is no preaching or regular minister on the programs. Most of the hour is filled with popular musicPopular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
, news commentary, health and family tips, travelogues, and other family-friendly
Family-friendliness
Entertainment or information is called "family friendly" if it is considered suitable for all members of the average family. In particular it means that it is not considered inappropriate for children, which may imply restrictions on engagement in, or depiction of, nudity, sex, violence, horror,...
programming. Interspersed throughout the hour are teaching segments with Gospel messages or Biblical topics. Most of the air staff are journalists or broadcasters by training. Programs are culturally sensitive and geared toward a secular audience, although Christian listeners may also enjoy the content. Some segments focus on hymns but most of the music is secular and is checked for lyrical content so that it is wholesome and positive. Every hour also includes an announcement encouraging listeners to write for their very own copy of the Bible.
KNLS never asks listeners to send money to support the station. World Christian Broadcasting is funded by interested individuals, churches and other groups. Also, the Bibles and other materials that listeners can request are sent free of charge.
KNLS is currently on the air a total of 20 hours each day: ten hours in Mandarin; six in Russian and four in English. All programming is produced at the station’s Operations Center in a suburb of Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Programs are presented in a magazine-style format and provide Bible and religious teaching segments and reports about life in America as well as music. The station receives messages each month via email and postal mail from all over the world.
Future plans
World Christian Broadcasting’s second station is being built on an island in the Indian OceanIndian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
with a targeted start-up date of early 2010. The new station will offer programs in Arabic in addition to the current schedule of English, Mandarin and Russian. Information in various African languages will be available on the station website, with English-language broadcasts targeted toward African and Indian audiences. Other plans include the addition of Spanish and Portuguese broadcasts.
Leadership
Following Dr. Perry’s death in 1976, Dr. B.E. Davis became president of World Christian Broadcasting. He was succeeded in 1980 by Dr. Robert E. Scott, who led the company for 13 years. In 1993, Charles H. Caudill was appointed as World Christian Broadcasting’s fourth president and chief executive officer. Andy Baker is Vice President of Development and Dr. Gayle Crowe is Vice President of Programming. Ben C. Powell serves as Chief Financial Officer.World Christian Broadcasting is overseen by a board of directors who serve on a volunteer basis.
External links
- www.worldchristian.org - World Christian Broadcasting’s official company website
- www.smzg.org – KNLS Mandarin website
- www.knls.net – KNLS Russian website