|
|
|
Original Call Letters: WCIF |
|
Originally Licensed: Jan 1, 1980 |
|
Original City of License: Melbourne |
|
Original Frequency: 106.3 |
Origin of Call Letters: Slogan; Where
Christ
Is
|
|
Original Power: 3,000 Watts |
|
Original Location: 702 E. New Haven Ave |
|
Original Format: Religious |
|
|
Owner(s): |
1980- |
History of Call Letters and Formats: |
WCIF-1980-Religious/Bible Teachings/Christian Talk |
|
| From
the WCIF website: In 1971 the new pastor of First Baptist Church of Melbourne, Dr. J. Leland Hall, was asked to speak to the Brotherhood men. At the conclusion he presented things he would like to see happen. Included in that list was a idea that the town needed a good Christian voice over the airwaves. The immediate enthusiasm for the idea was capped with a stranger leaving a $50 bill in the pastor’s hand saying, “I’d like to give this to show how much I feel we need that radio station.” That money started a fund that eventually grew to many thousands of dollars and a debt free station in early 1980. A committee was appointed to begin a study of this possibility. A visit was made by the group to a Christian station in the state to learn facts related to the operation of a radio station. This resulted in two of the people from that station presenting a report to our church members. Cecil Jones, a new member to the community with an interest in Christian radio, was elected as Chairman of the Radio committee. The church approved proceeding with a study of the possibilities. As the church voted to proceed with an application, an FM channel allotment opened in the area. Local station’s opposition was dropped when it was learned the church’s interest was in non-commercial broadcasting. Charles Castle, Vero Beach engineer, ran studies while the committee did volumes of paper work to meet the station’s application requirements. Perhaps the most difficult problem was locating a reasonable place to put a tower. A Washington lawyer was obtained who made a trip to Florida and helped in a survey of sites. Many months were spent waiting for FCC approval of the tower site. Then a station application in Avon Park delayed the progress. Finally all obstacles were cleared and a construction permit was received. Russ Latch became the new Radio Committee chairman organizing committees to carry out planning for studio facilities, programming, transmitter building, equipment and engineering. God sent a creative retired man Ed Hurt to install the new station and serve as engineer. A budget was set to operate the station and a search began for a manager. Dr. Ken Klingler who was pastoring in Ft. Lauderdale Florida was selected to manage the station. When Dr. Klingler accepted a call as pastor of a West Virginia church in the fall of 1981 WCIF continued under the direction of the WCIF Radio Council. In May, 1983 Mr. Lee J. Martinez became the manager of WCIF. Through Lee’s tenure as manager many additions were made to the programming and operation of WCIF. One of the stations charters is: “Involve other Christian churches as much as possible in the WCIF ministry through broadcast promotions and making available station facilities. Maximize the impression that WCIF is open and available to all Christian organizations in the listening area.” WCIF is a 24 hour operation with increased coverage. WCIF has the opportunity to reach many with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To God be all the Glory! |
|
Thanks to Marc Tyll for more history of
WCIF. WCIF began broadcast service on January 1st 1980 after the First Baptist Church of Melbourne applied for and received a construction permit to build out the 106.3 class A frequency. The call letters – WCIF – were chosen to reflect Where Christ Is First. Lee J. Martinez was appointed the first station manager and remains in that position today (2007). WCIF’s format is religious consisting of inspirational music, Bible teaching and Christian talk programming 24 hours a day. In the late 1980s, WCIF increased its power from its original 3,000 watts to 25,000 watts, enhancing its signal towards |
|
|
|
|
|
Ed Hurt-1980-Chief Engineer (He built the station and became its Engineer)-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
|
|
|
|
|
Martha Root-1983-2023-General Manager/Operations Manager-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
| Cliff Lethbridge-1989-Midday/Evenings-weekdays-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
|
Jim Grossman-1989-Chief Engineer-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
|
Scott Terry-Air staff-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
| Mark P. Patterson-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
| John Norczyk-1998-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
|
Curt Parrish-Chief Engineer/Announcer/Consultant-First Baptist Church, Inc. |
|
|
 WCIF studio 1980 courtesy of Dave Edwards |
|
|
Sounds |
||||||
