CRISTA Ministries’ KCIS 630 AM Radio has been bringing the Gospel and solid, Biblical teaching to the Puget Sound region for 70 years. Marv Mickley has worked at CRISTA Media for more than 50 years, and he shared the following history recently:
In the early 1950s, CRISTA Ministries founder Mike Martin hosted a radio program on one of the Seattle area stations. When the station told him they were canceling the program, Mike sensed that God was leading him to apply for a license for CRISTA’s own radio station. That step of faith laid the foundation for CRISTA’s three radio stations today.
AM 630 KGDN (Kings GarDeN) began broadcasting from King’s Garden (the former name of CRISTA Ministries) in November of 1954. Instead of Mike having a few hours of Christian programming each week on a secular station, now the Gospel was broadcast all over Seattle for many hours every day on the CRISTA station.
In 1960, 105.3 KGFM (Kings Garden FM) began simulcasting with KGDN. Soon after, KGFM developed its own programming specializing in music, very well suited to the FM band with its higher fidelity. In 1984 the call letters KBIQ were changed to KCMS “Christian Music Station” and later developed the moniker “SPIRIT 105.3.” Also in 1984, KGDN was renamed KCIS, “Christian Information Station,” continuing to broadcast biblical teaching and more traditional Christian music and hymns.
Over the years, many thousands of people have been drawn to Christ or to a closer relationship with Him through CRISTA Media. AM 630 KCIS has been sharing the Gospel every day for 70 years; 105.3 FM has been on the air for more than 64 years; and PRAISE 106.5 has been sharing hope for 43 years. God has been faithful through these many decades, and businesses and generous listeners have provided funds to make it possible.
CRISTA Media’s three stations now reach over a half million listeners every week with the message of Hope in Christ from South Puget Sound to Southern British Columbia. When radio is combined with streaming and podcasts, we touch people’s lives around the world 25-30 million times a year.
For more information on KCIS Radio’s 70th anniversary and a video about the station go to Celebrating 70 Years of Ministry at KCIS | KCIS 630.