Adam Spanier

The days and weeks following the successful Sharathon fund raiser at Good News Radio, KNGN 1360 AM, have been busy ones for new station manager, Adam Spanier.

He jumped into the Sharathon event with both feet, and only now has been able to begin pursuing some of the visions he has for KNGN.

Christian radio is a natural outlet for Spanier's passion for the Lord. "It is so exciting to know that a listener, just passing through the stations on the radio dial can hear the Word of God and the good news of the gospel," said Spanier.

Spanier is a graduate of Decatur Community High School in Oberlin and earned his Associate of Science degree at McCook Community College. He worked at Kansas University in Lawrence, Kan., before moving to Arizona where he attended the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences, where he received intensive broadcast training. From there he and his wife, Andrea, went to Denver where worked in radio, eventually becoming a systems engineer.

Accepting the position at KNGN is a dream come true for both Adam and Andrea, because it has allowed them to return to their hometown in time for the birth of their first child and it gives Adam the opportunity to "breath some new life into this radio station, and to play a part in making it what God wants it to be."

Among his many goals is to increase local programming, to find a place on the FM dial and perhaps to even host a morning call-in show.

"It depends on the listeners," Spanier said, "and the support.

"If God wants to do it, he'll do it," he added, saying, "I'm just here to do the work."

Some of the goals are more technical in nature and some more challenging. The lease on the current tower site expires in 2010 and a new site must be obtained as well as the funds necessary to move the tower. The broadcast equipment is also in need of some upgrades, with Adam noting that the current system is "cumbersome." With upgrades, he'll be able to add more local programming and will be able to produce quality underwriting promotions.

Adam is ably assisted by his on-air staff, Rea Smock, Nate McCarty and Jim Mitchem. With his training and talent in production, and their commitment and enthusiasm, the team is quickly coming up to speed.

In addition to music programming, KNGN offers a variety of programs, including Break Point with Chuck Colson, the James Dobson Family Minute, Joni and Friends with Joni Erickson Tada, Revive our Hearts and Adventures in Odyssey. A complete list of programs is available online at www.kngn. org. Recently added to the line-up on Wednesday afternoons is a local program "Dawn of a New Day." Spanier wrote the theme music and developed the weekly 5-minute program with this writer, the associate editor and weekly columnist at the McCook Daily Gazette.

KNGN is a non-profit, non-commercial radio station bringing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to listeners in Kansas and Nebraska. For more information, contact Spanier at (308) 345-2006 or via email at goodnews@mccooknet.com.