About Us
Our story is actually another success story from God. In 2002, a group of Christian men were inspired and called by God to form a non-profit foundation in order to seek out the possibility & feasibility of establishing a localized Christian radio station emphasizing LOCAL churches and LOCAL Christian events while playing a much bigger variety of Christian music and devotional programs. It's been a long 7-year journey for the Real Life Radio Foundation, having crossed many hurdles and jumped through several hoops with the IRS and the Federal Communications Commission. We received FCC approval and a Construction Permit on September 26, 2008. We began by initially streaming the station over the internet in March of 2009 while we completed the station construction buildout. We first signed on-the-air at 90.9 FM on Father's Day, June 21, 2009 and received our FCC License.
Along the journey, we've learned a lot about patience and we've really come to appreciate and stand in awe at God's incredible timing. It's easy to see that the hand of God has certainly been on this project all along, it is his success story. He has opened many doors and provided an FM frequency at 90.9 and a miracle tower we have leased with favorable terms in an ideal location near Wayne City, Illinois to initially get us on-the-air at 4,500 watts. Our name, "90.9 The Vine" is inspired from two bible verses in the 15th chapter of John. We believe that the radio station will be God's Vine to "branch out" and reach people in a positive way throughout the 10-county area we will serve. Amazingly, 90.9 The Vine is the first Christian Radio Station in the United States to be called "The Vine," which we filed a trademark to protect. God has now opened the door to enable us to increase our power to 11,000 watts and erect a new taller taller which has enlarged our coverage area to reach a population base of over 253,000 people. We completed our new tower near Dahlgren, Illinois and first began broadcasting with our expanded signal on May 19, 2011. (See Update Below)
God provided us with a zero-interest loan which provided the necessary seed money to buy the initial big ticket equipment items like the transmitter to get on-the-air in June of 2009. We continue to service that loan and broadcast our positive Christian format around the clock and we also continue streaming the station LIVE on the internet 24-hours a day so that it can be heard worldwide "on demand." The response has been very positive from the local communities and we are very humbled. At the same time, we realize and fully understand that God is working through us to fill a void that was missing on the radio dial in this area. Prior to "The Vine" this area did not have a Local Christian Radio Station to listen to with a local studio and local people. Everything else is very distant. We really appreciate your prayers and your financial contributions to this local radio ministry. If you would like to partner with us as a church, business, or individual, call us at 895-3030 or email us at thevine@wvyn.org and you might also like to become a Vine VIP
Because we are truly "Listener Supported," ongoing financial support from churches, businesses, and individuals is vitally important to maintain our monthly budget and pay expenses such as the electricity bill, building lease, phone bill, insurance, internet streaming, music royalties, as well as service the loan. Our staff completely volunteered their time for the first several months of operation and they are now working full-time hours at a part-time wage, but they are answering the call from God to serve in this important radio ministry. Our early financial contributions went directly into the engineering studies, legal work and the purchase of equipment and programming to put the radio station on the air. Volunteers also provided labor to build the studios in Wayne City--see construction photos. Please take a moment to contact us if you need more information, we would love to make a presentation to your church or business and share our vision of LOCAL Christian Radio with you while discussing the many ways that we can "partner" with you.
UPDATE: On August 30, 2012, WVYN began broadcasting from an updated studio at a new location (in the former Integra Bank Building in Wayne City). This move was made necessary after the passing of our landlord, Lowell Legg, and the desire of his surviving family members to use the original building for other purposes. We were given a notice to move by the Legg family, but God answered our prayer and blessed us with a larger, more modern location (above)that we now lease from the Village of Wayne City. Our new studio (in the former bank building) may very well be the largest radio studio in southern Illinois, featuring a unique curved wall and comfortable furniture to accomodate multiple guests. An Open House and Celebration Cookout was held on September 15th, 2012 and several hundred people attended.
Our mission is very simple: To carry out the Great Commission using Christian radio and internet streaming to strengthen the faith of current believers, while leading lost people into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. We are not ashamed of the Gospel, and we are not afraid to call our ourselves a Christian Radio Station. We pray that our words, conduct, music, and devotional programming will always reflect Jesus, and impact lives throughout southern Illinois in a powerful and meaningful way. We hope that you will tell everyone you know about 90.9 The Vine. If you would like to place a VINE sign in your yard or a window sticker on your vehicle, please Contact Us.
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