TUNING IN: CHRISTIAN RADIO STATIONS FIND LOYAL LISTENERS, SUPPORT IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI

KMHM 104.1 FM Disc Jockey Sheri McKnight worked in the studio located near Scopus.

Listening to the radio changed Brad Brock's life.

Two years ago, Brock wouldn't have believed he would be working at a Southern gospel radio station in Southeast Missouri.

But he does. Brock is a deejay for KMHM 104.1 Southern Gospetality in Bollinger County.

"People talk about having a window of opportunity but this was just the work of God," he said.

Brock was driving home from work in the St. Louis area listening to an all-talk station on his radio and contemplating a career move after an argument with his boss. Aggravated by the talk show host, he switched the station to one his wife enjoys. That station, WXAN in Ava, Ill., plays Southern gospel music.

"They advertised a job and I called from the car and got an interview," he said. "I never even dreamed of radio."

Now Brock is assistant manager at KMHM, the sister station of WXAN. Both stations play Southern gospel music.

Like other listeners, Brock never really envisioned himself as a Southern gospel fan, but he said the music is captivating and entertaining.

"People are looking for good clean, family entertainment," and the station provides just that, he said.

Many Christian music fans like the message found in the songs.

"There's something for everybody to listen to," said Wayne Elfrink, a deejay at KUGT 1170 AM, a Jackson radio station. "It's positive. These are tough times and you need something that can help you get through the day."

KUGT plays a mix of adult contemporary and inspirational music. On the weekends, the station broadcasts local church services.

Originally the station began as a southern gospel format but switched to adult contemporary about three years ago. "We didn't feel like we were reaching the baby boomers," said Jan Whitehouse, station manager.

Now the station focuses on reaching younger adults and youth in the 13-33 age range.

"It used to be that people smirked when you said you listened to Christian music," Elfrink said. "Now it's cool."

Over the years, Christian radio stations have combated a stereotype of slow hymns and endless hours of preaching.

Neither KMHM nor KUGT fit that image.

And Christian music isn't just hymns with a faster beat. Christian music has grown in popularity and both KUGT and KMHM help bring concerts to the area.

The music has a good beat and people don't mind listening at work, even if they aren't Christians, Whitehouse said.

Brock agreed. "We have a lot of businesses that listen. It's not really slow hymnals and it won't turn you off like rock. It's just good, solid gospel."

KUGT has sponsored Phillips, Craig & Dean and Kathy Troccoli in recent years. The station hopes to bring Rebecca St. James and Al Denson to Southeast Missouri in February. KMHM has cosponsored the Kingsmen, Southern Brothers and others in concert recently.

Both stations find it sometimes difficult to get a concert commitment from artists. The problem has been that Cape Girardeau isn't usually a tour stop.

"Many times they will go to Paducah or St. Louis instead," Whitehouse said. But Christian music's popularity has grown and there are more places to hold the concerts now, she added.

"The focus at the station has always been ministry. We will support a concert and if people are saved that's just as much a part of ministry as sending money to missionaries overseas."

Neither KMHM nor KUGT are in competition for listeners, they say. "It's a ministry," Whitehouse said. "We are one Christian helping another."

"What we do is a ministry with a lot of teamwork," Brock said.

"You have to rely on the feeling that this is a calling."