Our Story

The Past...

In the late 1970’s, a group of pastors in Grand Junction prayed for the establishment of a Christian Radio station in the Grand Valley. Those prayers were answered when KJOL went on the air April 24, 1982 under the direction of Pastor Howard Owen and the Columbus Evangelical Free Church in Grand Junction. The Church operated 90.3 KJOL for nearly three years, and then sold the station to Western Bible College, now known as CCU. 

               KJOL stands for "The Joy of the Lord."
In March 1985, Ken Andrews assumed the position of Station Manager, and served in that capacity until October 2000. In the 15+ years KJOL was owned by the University, a great deal of expansion occurred, with translators added to provide coverage to an area 125 miles in every direction from Grand Junction. In August, 1995, KDRH, Glenwood Springs went on-air as a sister station operated from Grand Junction, simulcasting programming to the Roaring Fork Valley and the I-70 Corridor.
Over those years, many fine employees served faithfully in various capacities and made significant contributions to the success of the ministry of KJOL and KDRH. On October 5th, 2000, Colorado Christian University sold KJOL and KDRH (along with sister station KWBI, Morrison/Denver) to Educational Media Foundation of Sacramento (known as KLOVE.) The former KJOL and KDRH as well as 18 translators are now part of the satellite network of KLOVE. 
Meanwhile... Dick Dean, Dave Hinson, and others at MBC Grand Broadcasting felt led to answer the outpouring of calls for community Christian radio in the Western Slope and Eastern Utah. Ken Andrews was approached to take charge, the call letters (KJOL), were reacquired, and a non-profit organization was formed, called United Ministries. 

Through the cooperative efforts of the owners and management of MBC Grand Broadcasting, AM620 was purchased, a small staff re-hired, and efforts began in mid April of 2001 to restore the programming of the former KJOL and KDRH. KJOL-AM620 became a reality on July 1st, 2001.

Some Further Milestones

  • 2003 › KJOL was purchased from MBC Broadcasting. United Ministries takes sole ownership of KJOL.
  • October of 2004 › KDTA, now KJYE, Delta @ 1400 AM was added, simulcasting 24 hours a day.
  • 2007 › The loan for KJOL & KDTA (now KJYE) are both fully paid-off.  They now operate debt free!
  • Mid-2008 › An FM translator possibility in the Grand Valley is realized, authorized, then utilized! You can now hear KJOL on K258BP in stereo sound, at 99.5 FM in the Grand Valley.
  • 2010 › A full service FM station is added at 91.9 FM in Montrose.
  • 2011 › An FM translator at 91.3 begins simulcasting KJOL to Paonia/Hotchkiss.
  • 2012 › KDTA Delta becomes "KJYE" Delta.
  • 2016 › KJOL begins streaming online, to reach the Western Slope "and beyond." 
  • 2017 › KJOL acquires translator K233DF, 94.5 in Delta, to serve Delta and Olathe on the FM dial.
  • 2018 > Station Manager, Ken Andrews retires from his position January 1st; and the United Ministries board appoints Dave Andrews KJOL Station Manager, retaining Ken Andrews in position as Vice-President.  

The Future...

The staff at KJOL still have a real heart for the people and communities of Western Colorado and Eastern Utah; and we are truly excited about what God is doing through this ministry! Acquiring new signals in the terrestrial realm is very hard these days; but we are constantly amazed at the new avenues of ministry that keep opening to KJOL...often in ways we don't expect.  

We continue to be determined to be a powerful vehicle to minister the Gospel to those on the Western Slope who do not know Christ personally, and a vital force in the region to build and nurture the Body of Christ. That means both individual believers and the whole Body of Christ. It was the prayer of Jesus that we “may be one, as we (He and the Father) are one.” (John 17:11,22) This can be accomplished only through the energizing power of the Holy Spirit. And, we WILL have opposition from the adversary. We need your prayer support!
Share by: