Christian radio station now broadcasting in Highland

Christian radio listeners in the Highland area have a new option.

WJLY (W Jesus Loves You), which is headquartered in Ramsey, has constructed a translator to simulcast is programming locally at 94.3 FM.

WJLY features Christian programs from the Moody Broadcasting Network, including Focus on the Family and Turning Point.

“Moody is evangelical, Biblical programming that appeals to most all Christian denominations,” said Dick Wheeler, WJLY station manager.

The Highland translator is only 13 watts, so it has limited reach. The broadcast area can reach south to Lebanon, Trenton and Breese, but is limited to the north, about to Grantfork.

“It’s a very small station,” Wheeler said.

The signal drops, for example, in Marine. The east-west limitations are about from St. Jacob to St. Rose.

WJLY was founded by Henry J. “Hank” Voss. After working 40 years as a radio engineer at WMBI radio, Moody’s original station in Chicago, Voss wanted to start his own Christian station.

“He was a real humble man,” said Wheeler, who is also Voss’ son-in-law. “He wanted to get a station going in Ramsey, which is where his son was at.”

WJLY started broadcasting on Nov. 28, 1990 out of a trailer in Ramsey. Voss passed away on Dec. 21, 2008 at age 90, but his station has continued to grow.

“We’ve been trying to carry out his dream ever since,” Wheeler said.

Besides its home station in Ramsey (88.3 FM), WJLY has translators currently running in five other communities — Highland (94.3 FM), Mattoon (92.9 FM), Centralia (93.5 FM), Mount Vernon (93.1 FM) and Taylorville (102.9 FM).

The expansion has been a long process. In 2002, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put out an open call for stations to put in requests for additional translator signals. In 2003, WJLY put in its request. Fast forward 10 years; the FCC awarded WJLY its additional frequencies.

“It’s taken us almost three full years to get them all going,” Wheeler said.

The Highland translator, which is positioned on the radio tower near the entrance to Silver Lake Park, began broadcasting in late September. The Taylorville translator went online about three weeks ago.

WJLY is listener-supported. It does not sell advertisements, although businesses or individuals can give as underwriters. A gift of $7 covers a 30-second spot, which tells the community that the underwriter supports the station. An underwriter’s name, phone number and facts about the business can be mentioned, but “we cannot initiate people to take a commercial transaction,” per FCC rules, Wheeler said.

The station broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Besides its syndicated programing, the station also devotes 18 minutes every weekday to a local interview program, Lamplighter, which airs from 7:42 to 8 a.m.

“We talk about events pertinent to the Christian community, maybe personal Christian testimony,” Wheeler said.

For a week leading up to Christmas, the station will broadcast nothing but Christmas music, 24 hours a day.

The station will also broadcast community events at no charge for church and religious organizations. However, to get an announcement posted, users must have an approved account. Accounts can be registered for free on the station’s website. Announcements can be phoned in, mailed, emailed or submitted through the station’s website.

The station also has volunteer opportunities.

“We have all different types of volunteers,” Wheeler said. “It could look like anything — a couple days a month, a couple days a year.”

This story was originally published December 2, 2015 at 3:24 AM with the headline "Christian radio station now broadcasting in Highland."