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KICY Strengthening Reach into Russia
NOME, AK (December 14, 2004) - A blossoming ministry to Russians, a special
trip to a remote community and a ministry to locals during stormy
weather are three
things that KICY radio has to shout about during recent months,
according to general manager Dennis Weidler.
The Russian ministry has been going on for many years, but few knew
about it, said Weidler. However, a more concerted effort was made in
2001 to send a directional signal and since January this year, 50,000
watts have been beaming programming to that country. And, according to
recent information given by a number of sources, the response
has been noteworthy.
"We've heard spotty reports and when the 'Ice Curtain' came down during
Reagan's administration, we realized we had a tremendous opportunity,"
said Weidler. "Now
that we're being more intentional in doing ministry, we're finding out."
A new face to the radio station, Luda Kinok, has been an important
figure as KICY expands its Russian ministry. She grew up in a small
Russian far east village in the Chukotka Peninsula. Before moving to
Nome, she was serving a church in Provideniya, a
village of 2,500 that is only 160 miles from Nome that is considered
Nome's sister city.
"She knows them and they know her," said the general manager about
Kinok. "She's youthful, has a lot of enthusiasm for Christ and knows the
value of what knowing Christ can do for communities. People are very
hungry for the gospel and she is able to articulate it. And, in
addition, she has been able to start a daily prayer request program
because she knows so many of the pastors."
KICY's special trip – this time to Savoonga in September – has become a
regular ministry for the radio station. This one was especially helpful
as an encouragement as the village has experienced numerous suicides in
recent months.
The KICY staff flew into the village of 650 (located 200 miles from Nome
on St. Lawrence Island) and cooked spaghetti for those in attendance.
The event, held at
a local school, also included a four-hour sing-a-long at a nearby
Presbyterian church. As an added touch, CDs were made for individuals
free of charge.
Of course, KICY's on-site presence is also beneficial to the region. A
series of storms in Nome has made it difficult for local residents – an
estimated $12 million in damages throughout the region - and the radio
station was an important contact point for emergency units of all kinds.
"We had a lot of damage," Weidler said about the area. "One area about
20 miles away had a bridge going across a safety inlet. The bridge was
lost during the first storm and the second storm took out all of the
(repair) work they had done from the first one."
KICY will host its daily CareForce prayer request radio program during
the Evangelical Covenant Church's Midwinter Pastor's Conference in
February. Representatives are organizing a host of salmon dinners in the
Chicago area and also in Wisconsin and the Twin Cities during the weeks
following the annual event.
In upcoming months, KICY will learn if the Federal Communications
Commission will approve an application to further increase its power by
increasing the height of the station's antenna. If approved, KICY will
be able to reach many more people in the city of Nome (population 3,800)
and extend programming to outlying communities, Weidler said.
To learn more about KICY and the location of the Midwinter dinners, call
Weidler at 907-443-2213 or 800-478-5429. To learn more about KICY's
programming, visit the station's website at www.kicy.org.
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