WMTC (Winning
Men to Christ) Radio
started out on June 30, 1948, as a 1,000 watt station in an old log
cabin. The radio voice of Kentucky Mountain
Holiness Association, WMTC, located in the town of Vancleve, KY was on the air approximately 50 hours per week. In 1981, we upgraded to 5,000 watts and broadcast 65-70 hours per week. Surveys were done over rugged mountains trails, many times on foot, to make this change in power. The tower had to be dismantled and moved from the campus of the Kentucky Mountain Bible College to a hill near the studio. A second tower was donated to the radio; that tower was dismantled and moved from Chattanooga, TN. What a joy to be able to have more power and bring the gospel to more people!
In November of 1991 WMTC-FM began. The call letters remained the same, but the meaning changed to Winning Many to Christ. This would greatly expand the listening audience and the number of gospel programs to the mountains. All programming was simulcast, with the FM running 24 hours a day, and the AM from sun-up to sun-down.
We have gone from playing programs and music live on the air from reel-to-reel, records, and cassette tapes, to putting CD’s and cassettes into the computer and letting the automation system play them. This has increased our production time and cut down on the amount of time that the staff actually spends on the air. Since we don’t have many staff members this has been a big help. We receive student help from Kentucky Mountain Bible College, which helps make it possible for us to function.
WMTC staff live by faith. There is no salary attached to working at the station. Housing, utilities, and food items are furnished.
The first General Manager was Wilfred Fisher, who held that job from 1948 to 1978. Sheldon Short became General Manager in 1978. Seldon started working at WMTC as a student in November of 1951. He and his wife, Janet, came on as full-time staff in 1958. Janet retired in 1998, and Sheldon was involved in a near-fatal auto accident on December 8, 2003. He has endured many nights in the hospital, several surgeries, and reh
ab
as a result of this accident. Because of complications from
this accident he retired in July 2006.
Kenneth Amspaugh worked at the station almost since its beginning as engineer. He has taken some time off to serve in the military, and to serve on the mission field, but has been part of WMTC since 1948. He retired from his job as Chief Engineer due to his ongoing battle with cancer. In August 2009, Kenneth went Home to receive his reward. He is greatly missed at the station. His wife, Faith, is also a former member of the WMTC staff.
Jennifer Cox came on as staff in August of 2002. She has two boys, Dustin, who is 18, and Brady who is 16. She brought some secretarial skills with her and became office manager and program director. Jennifer was named Assistant General Manager after Sheldon’s accident. Upon Sheldon’s resignation, Jennifer was named General Manager.
Dennis and Theresa Kerley came back on staff in April of 2003. They had previously worked here June 2001 to August 2002. Dennis is Assistant Engineer and Computer Technician. Theresa worked in the mornings as DJ on WMTC FM. They have a 12 year old son, Dennis IV, and have a one year old second son, Donavan. The Kerley left Mountain Gospel in December 2009 in order for Dennis to persue more education.
Seth Stevenson is a full-time staff member at Mountain Gospel. Seth came in October 2008, and works as Program Director. He is responsible for making sure that programs are airing correctly and finding new programs for our listeners.
Tigist Mesfin also is a ful-time staff member. She joined us in
January 2009 as a secretary and commercial manger. Tigest
recently graduated from Kentucky Mountain Bible college in
2008,
and has come back this to be a part of WMTC. Tigest is a native of
Ethiopia, and her cheerful spirit is a real blessing to the station.
The newest member of WMTC is Coral Sue. She came in October 2009, a few months before the Kerleys left, as a part-time staff member. She replaced Theresa as dj in the 11 to 12 hour. She also performs various other tasks at the station.
Through the music and programs have changed down through the years, the message has remained the same. The goal is to bring quality Christian programming to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. If you have not yet listened to us, turn your AM dial to 730, and FM dial to 99.9 for all your favorite Southern Gospel music. Mountain Gospel operates under a board of directors that oversees the format.
Holiness Association, WMTC, located in the town of Vancleve, KY was on the air approximately 50 hours per week. In 1981, we upgraded to 5,000 watts and broadcast 65-70 hours per week. Surveys were done over rugged mountains trails, many times on foot, to make this change in power. The tower had to be dismantled and moved from the campus of the Kentucky Mountain Bible College to a hill near the studio. A second tower was donated to the radio; that tower was dismantled and moved from Chattanooga, TN. What a joy to be able to have more power and bring the gospel to more people!
In November of 1991 WMTC-FM began. The call letters remained the same, but the meaning changed to Winning Many to Christ. This would greatly expand the listening audience and the number of gospel programs to the mountains. All programming was simulcast, with the FM running 24 hours a day, and the AM from sun-up to sun-down.
We have gone from playing programs and music live on the air from reel-to-reel, records, and cassette tapes, to putting CD’s and cassettes into the computer and letting the automation system play them. This has increased our production time and cut down on the amount of time that the staff actually spends on the air. Since we don’t have many staff members this has been a big help. We receive student help from Kentucky Mountain Bible College, which helps make it possible for us to function.
WMTC staff live by faith. There is no salary attached to working at the station. Housing, utilities, and food items are furnished.
The first General Manager was Wilfred Fisher, who held that job from 1948 to 1978. Sheldon Short became General Manager in 1978. Seldon started working at WMTC as a student in November of 1951. He and his wife, Janet, came on as full-time staff in 1958. Janet retired in 1998, and Sheldon was involved in a near-fatal auto accident on December 8, 2003. He has endured many nights in the hospital, several surgeries, and reh
ab
as a result of this accident. Because of complications from
this accident he retired in July 2006. Kenneth Amspaugh worked at the station almost since its beginning as engineer. He has taken some time off to serve in the military, and to serve on the mission field, but has been part of WMTC since 1948. He retired from his job as Chief Engineer due to his ongoing battle with cancer. In August 2009, Kenneth went Home to receive his reward. He is greatly missed at the station. His wife, Faith, is also a former member of the WMTC staff.
Jennifer Cox came on as staff in August of 2002. She has two boys, Dustin, who is 18, and Brady who is 16. She brought some secretarial skills with her and became office manager and program director. Jennifer was named Assistant General Manager after Sheldon’s accident. Upon Sheldon’s resignation, Jennifer was named General Manager.
Dennis and Theresa Kerley came back on staff in April of 2003. They had previously worked here June 2001 to August 2002. Dennis is Assistant Engineer and Computer Technician. Theresa worked in the mornings as DJ on WMTC FM. They have a 12 year old son, Dennis IV, and have a one year old second son, Donavan. The Kerley left Mountain Gospel in December 2009 in order for Dennis to persue more education.
Seth Stevenson is a full-time staff member at Mountain Gospel. Seth came in October 2008, and works as Program Director. He is responsible for making sure that programs are airing correctly and finding new programs for our listeners.
Tigist Mesfin also is a ful-time staff member. She joined us in
January 2009 as a secretary and commercial manger. Tigest
recently graduated from Kentucky Mountain Bible college in
2008,
and has come back this to be a part of WMTC. Tigest is a native of
Ethiopia, and her cheerful spirit is a real blessing to the station. The newest member of WMTC is Coral Sue. She came in October 2009, a few months before the Kerleys left, as a part-time staff member. She replaced Theresa as dj in the 11 to 12 hour. She also performs various other tasks at the station.
Through the music and programs have changed down through the years, the message has remained the same. The goal is to bring quality Christian programming to the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. If you have not yet listened to us, turn your AM dial to 730, and FM dial to 99.9 for all your favorite Southern Gospel music. Mountain Gospel operates under a board of directors that oversees the format.