Luda in Studio A, photo via assistnews.net

Missionary radio station KICY influences people in the Arctic

Missionary radio station KICY, located on Alaska’s frigid shore of the Bering Sea in Nome, has been the radio home to thousands of listeners across the frozen tundra for many years, and in fact, will mark fifty years of ministry Easter Sunday, 2010, reports Dave Oseland

special to ASSIST News Service.

Not only is the station the “inspirational home” to English-speaking listeners throughout Alaska, but due to the station’s unusual authorization by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and the International Radio Commission (IRC), KICY’s powerful 50,000 watt, 850mhz directional nighttime signal is heard over the vast stretches of Russia. As well, general manager Dennis Weidler reports that the station often receives reports from listeners in Japan, China, and Scandinavia as well as many other areas of Europe. KICY is the only U.S. AM station with this authorization, and its Christian programming in the Russian language is having a significant effect, especially in the cold Russian-Siberian north.

Several years ago, manager Weidler added Luda Kinok to the KICY staff. Luda is a vibrant, young Russian citizen and a dedicated Christian from a small village in Siberia. Prior to coming to the United States, Luda would often listen to the station in her tiny village in Siberia. After the fall of the Soviet Union and the harsh Communist regime, Luda made her way to Nome to visit the station and offer her assistance to the station which had provided her with many hours of Christian music and teaching. Weidler acknowledges that Luda was an answer to prayer, as he had been looking for one such person to help in the important Russian language division. Today, Luda directs the Russian language block of programming and hosts a number of programs.

One of the most listened-to programs Luda hosts in the Russian language is adopted from the English version KICY broadcasts earlier in the day. “CareForce” is a program devoted to prayer for the needs of the Russian listeners living in numerous towns and villages scattered over thousands of miles of frozen arctic tundra. With the advent of the computer, many Russian listeners and pastors are able to communicate with Luda their concerns and prayer needs, and together each night on KICY Luda shares the needs of fellow believers and goes before the Lord via the KICY microphone.

Recently, Luda traveled back to her home to renew her visa, and was amazed at the impact KICY’s programming was having. Everywhere she traveled, she was immediately known and given kind words of support for her radio efforts, even by the police and customs officials.

As this radio ministry nears 50 years of service, continued prayer is requested for its volunteer staff, missionaries, Luda Kinok, and the station’s general manager, Dennis Weidler.

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TAGS: USA Alaska Bering Sea Russia missionary radio station KICY Luda Kinok Dennis Weidler Christian music

[11/21/2009]

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