Ministry Mission/History
MISSION STATEMENT
Great Plains Christian Radio, KJIL/KHYM, exists to encourage all those in Christ, to be a light to anyone seeking Truth and Hope in Him.
30 Years Of Hope!
In 1983, Pastor Gene White moved his family to southwestern Kansas from Chicago. He had
enjoyed Christian radio for years, and was astonished at how much he missed the positive
influence of it when he scanned his dial and found no Christian radio signal in the Heartland. A
the short-term solution was enacted in April of 1983 when Pastor White along with local residents,
signed a contract with a local cable operator to rebroadcast the Moody Broadcasting network
through local cable television.
The vision for an actual radio presence was cast on February 25th, 1985, when a group of 43
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 GPCR. The Lord knew that this would be
hard work, so He gathered farmers and ranchers, pastors and business folks, the people who
know how to get things done, so it's done! 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.
Lots of hurdles as $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. (Those
bonds were paid off in only 3 years, after signing on the air!)
A new building was erected and offices opened in Meade, KS June 1st, 1992. On September 5,
1992, KJIL 99.1 FM took to the air at 1:46 pm. 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
the 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 prayers, the ministry was dedicated to God's will and direction.
As people on the fringe of the radio signal began hearing the faint programming, they began to
make known their interest in having the signal more widely available. GPCR has added
numerous translators and full-power signals to further serve the communities of the heartland.
In December of 1997, GPCR added KHYM at 100,000 watts, and its inspirational programming
to the airwaves. Today over 50 signals in four states, and online at kjil.com and khym.org,
share the good news of Christ! From Manhattan, KS to Enid, OK, from Emporia, KS to Dumas,
TX and from Lamar, Co, to Ft. Riley, KS, all around and in between, we are honored to serve so
many wonderful people!
Our professional staff members have been awarded dozens of times in categories such as news
and sports reporting, air personality of the year, editorial content, public service announcement
and more. KJIL has been awarded Station of the Year honors twice from the Kansas Association
of Broadcasters. 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 a Marconi award from
the National Association of Broadcasters as Station of the Year. We do our best for Him!
Looking back at the development and growth of GPCR, 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 at work with
each past and current KJIL & KHYM staff members He has called to serve. And we have been,
and continue to be, blessed by our wonderful listening family! Your prayers and support have
meant so much, to so many for these first 30 years. Our prayer each day is for each of you, to
be encouraged and blessed by what you hear on KJIL & KHYM, and that He be glorified and His
Kingdom be furthered.
Thank you, dear friends, for the opportunity to share each day with you!
To find out more about GPCR, visit kjil.com or khym.org and stream as well. GPCR is a non-
profit 501-C3 organization. Gifts are tax-deductible.