In the early 1970's a small group of Christian people began to dream of using short-wave radio to share the peace of God with a troubled world. Station KNLS is the first link in a global network that will make that dream a reality!

     Oddly enough, the vision for station KNLS originated at the Yalta Conference as World War II drew to a close.  But that dream didn't begin to take form in July of 1976 when World Christian Broadcasting Corporation, which owns and operates station KNLS, was formed. A short eight months later, the dream briefly became a nightmare when two founding members of the Board of Directors died in a tragic plane crash.

     "Dr. Lowell Perry of Abilene, Texas and California businessman Ken Ferguson perished while searching for a site upon which to build station KNLS," recalls former World Christian Broadcasting President Dr. Bob Scott. "Since these two men were a driving force behind our efforts, their loss was sorely felt."

     Many feared that World Christian Broadcasting might die along with these great men, but ironically the accident seemed to give the project new life. With renewed purpose, the remaining board members continued their search for a broadcast site.

     Eventually, World Christian Broadcasting purchased three hectares of land located 180 kilometers south of Anchorage on the Kenai Peninsula just outside the small town of Anchor Point.

 

Construction Begins

     Here in the states, permission to construct a radio station must be granted by an agency of the U.S. government called the Federal Communications Commission or F.C.C. World Christian Broadcasting petitioned the F.C.C. for a building permit in October of 1981. That request was granted eight months later and construction began almost immediately.

     A mile of road had to be cut through the rugged Alaskan landscape just to reach the building site. Wells were dug, housing installed, the antennas erected, and the transmitter building constructed. Tragedy struck again just as this building neared completion.

     "A major disappointment was the morning I arrived to see smoke coming out of each end of the newly constructed transmitter building," remembers station manager Kevin Chambers. "Half of the building was destroyed by arson fire."

     The arsonist was never captured nor a motive revealed. Fortunately, the transmitter and other major electronic components had not yet been installed and insurance covered most of the loss.

     Chambers and his crew went back to work, hoping to complete reconstruction by the following summer.

 

Antenna & Transmitter

     Meanwhile, installation of the giant curtain dipole antenna continued. Manufactured by Technology International, the antenna measures about 120 meters square. The wire mesh curtain actually consists of sixteen separate dipole antennas strung together.

     A second wire screen, hanging just behind the antenna, pushes the radio frequency (RF) radiation towards the west. Using huge switches at the curtain's base, operators can slew the antenna - or aim it, if you will - at different parts of Asia and the Pacific Basin.

     A special counter weight system allows the antenna to survive Alaska's bitter winds, ice, and snow. "If high wind or heavy icing was to load all of the wires between the towers," says former Chief Engineer Francis Perry, "...concrete counter weights would come off the ground allowing the antenna to sag - which is the protective measure which prevents the tower from being loaded too much."

     Although the giant concrete cylinders weigh as much as a small car, Perry says he has seen them pulled fifteen centimeters off the ground by high winds or ice.

     Once the fire damage had been repaired, the New Life Station's 100,000 watt short wave transmitter could be installed. Purchased from the Harriss Corporation, the transmitter has operated with amazingly few problems since installation.

     The transmitter has two main power tubes; one for the modulator section and one for the power amplifier section. It uses a relatively new modulation technique called `Pulse Duration Modulation.'

     "The transmitter is relatively efficient," says former Chief Engineer Perry. "It's about 65% efficient. So out of all the electrical current that it uses, 65% of it is emitted as RF energy into the air."

     Efficient as it is, the New Life Station's Harriss transmitter burns more power in a single month than the average home would use in six years! When in operation, the unit gives off enough heat to warm the entire transmitter complex even on the coldest Alaskan day.

 

Automation System

    In 1991 station personnel completed the design, construction and installation of an automation system for the KNLS transmitter.

     The system turns the transmitter on and off, changes frequencies, moves the antenna slew, adjusts the various power settings, and takes meter readings, all without assistance.

     The New Life Station, KNLS - went on the air the twenty-third of July, 1983. The first broadcast day is a special time in the life of any radio station, but the opening broadcast of the New Life Station was especially memorable because it represented the sacrifice of so many people.

     Thousands of individuals donated funds toward its construction. Dozens of dedicated crewmen battled Alaska's harsh weather and difficult terrain to build it. Board members Perry and Ferguson made the ultimate sacrifice.

     Recalling the opening day ceremonies, station manager Chambers says, "We had a very special speaker there and he said things about the need for short-wave broadcasting and religious short-wave broadcasting that will stick with me forever and made it seem more than worthwhile; what we were doing."

     A special plaque unveiled during those ceremonies affirmed that station KNLS is, "...dedicated to helping others enjoy a NEW LIFE in Jesus Christ."

 

KNLS Programming

     KNLS broadcast only in Russian and Mandarin Chinese during those first months. English language programming was added in 1984. Japanese transmissions were added for about four years beginning in 1987.

     English Service Host Mike Osborne says the "on-air" personnel were quite scattered in those early days. "Our early programs were recorded in studios all over North America. We had shows coming from the states of California, Tennessee, Texas, Ohio, Alaska, and even one from Canada. It was a real nightmare trying to coordinate programming with everyone so scattered."

     Finally, in November of 1989, all production personnel were brought together at a new state-of-the-art facility in the city of Nashville in the state of Tennessee. In addition to the programming department, these new offices also house World Christian Broadcasting's President, Director of Development, Director of Follow Up Teaching and Director of Frequency Coordination.

     In the summer of 1992 WCBC completed installation of a programming automation system. Unlike most early program automation schemes which relied on computers to control analog devices, the KNLS system was totally digital. KNLS announcers record their programs directly into computer memory. The shows were edited digitally using a computer monitor and mouse. They were then stored in a digital library until needed on the air. After starting the system each day, station technicians can then walk away from the operation.  This system was upgraded in the summer of 2001 to include new digital software from Broadcast Electronics.

 

Radio One Programming

     On January 1, 1991, World Christian Broadcasting was given the unique opportunity of broadcasting the first ever regularly-scheduled religious radio program on the former Soviet Union's All Union Radio Network. This program, called the "Hour Of Reflection", was heard each Tuesday evening in virtually every city, town, and village of what are now the Commonwealth States.

     In its first year alone, the "Hour Of Reflection" generated nearly 30,000 letters to WCBC. The majority of those writing requested religious materials, usually a Bible and Bible correspondence course. In the spring of 1992, World Christian Broadcasting opened a response office in the city of St. Petersburg, formerly Lenningrad, to handle this overwhelming volume of mail.

      The All Union Network collapsed a few years following the demise of the Soviet Union.  Today, KNLS Russian language programming is heard on a number of local stations and regional networks within Russia.

 

A Unique Sound

     From the very beginning, listeners noticed that the "Hour Of Reflection" and the shortwave broadcasts of KNLS were different.

     An early letter from an Italian listener said, "I find the KNLS format particularly enjoyable because your programs seem friendly and varied, with nothing of the slight touch of pressure one sometimes feels from other (religious) broadcasters."

     From an Australian listener came this note, "May I say that, in my opinion, your approach to religious broadcasting is much more - shall I say enjoyable - than the usual Bible thumping."

     World Christian Broadcasting President Charles Caudill says that's exactly what he wants to hear. "We hope listeners will observe and see that we are Christians. However, at the same time, we are also interested in sports, in music, and we have families that are important to us. All of that, we believe, is part of life in Christ. Our desire is to share our faith with friends wherever they may live throughout the world."

 

Funding For KNLS

     The New Life Station's programming style isn't its only unusual feature. Station KNLS is also unique among religious broadcasters in that it never asks you, the listener, to donate money. It is a distinction the station is very proud of, but ironically the absence of financial appeals does sometimes make KNLS listeners suspicious. A communist journal once even accused the station of being supported by the CIA!

     President Caudill, says the truth is much less exciting. "Obviously, it takes money to make anything work and the money that it takes for World Christian Broadcasting to operate station KNLS comes principally as gifts from individuals and some churches. For the most part that funding comes from churches and individuals in North America."

     Any materials you might hear offered on KNLS come to you free and without obligation. All that KNLS wishes for from you is your continuing friendship.

     Should you have any questions about the New Life Station that have not been answered by this booklet, please don't hesitate to email KNLS or write. Send your questions to: Station KNLS, Anchor Point, Alaska - 99556 U. S. A.

     And now, from all your friends here at the New Life Station, may our Father in heaven grant you and your loved ones all of His richest blessings!

                     KNLS International, © 2001/2002 - Mike Osborne webmaster