About Us
The Beginning
KREJ went on the air April 22, 1990 as the result of efforts by Mike Henry (then pastor of First Baptist Church of Medicine Lodge), Mike’s brother Randy (a religious broadcaster from Titusville, Florida.), Stan Tedrow and Mike Shinkle (then pastors of Open Door Fellowship of Medicine Lodge), Price Construction, and many local supporters.
More Power
The new station (with mostly Moody network programming) was well received, but had limited coverage at 3,000 watts. Thanks to fund raising efforts led by Sam and Kathy Spicer of Hazelton, a new transmitter and antenna were purchased. Clarke Corp. of Medicine Lodge donated tower space on their 360 foot tower near Deerhead, Gary Gerber of Anthony climbed the tower, and on June 20, 1993 KREJ was broadcasting with 50,000 watts at 101.7 FM.
Translator and Satellite Stations
Responding to requests and with increased support, translator stations were installed in Woodward, Oklahoma in 1995 at 107.9 FM with the help of Glenn Culp and in Great Bend, Kansas in 1997 at 88.1 FM with the help of Walt Underwood, enabling these cities to be part of the KREJ coverage area.
The Great Bend station was converted to a regular station, KRTT “Keep Redeeming The Time,” in February 2011. Due to a lack of support, it was sold to Divine Mercy Radio Dec. 10, 2014.
The Woodward translator station ceased operations on Nov. 29, 2022, due to lack of support, and was later donated to Remembering Radio LLC.
On Oct. 11, 2011, KNJT “Kansas Needs Jesus Today”, Coldwater, Kansas, began broadcasting KREJ programming at 1,000 watts on 90.3 FM. Due to lack of support, it ceased operations on Nov. 29, 2022.
Two New Towers and KSNS
An ambitious undertaking began in 1998. Build two 300 foot towers on Gyp Hill Road four miles southwest of Medicine Lodge. One for KREJ and the other for an all music station, KSNS. Thanks to the efforts of our tower man Fred Heim of Great Bend, the donation of a tower site by Don Lonker, and generous support from our listeners, “New Song 91.5 FM” went on the air July 1, 2000 with 25,000 watts. It now broadcasts with 96,000 watts. KREJ moved to its new tower Jan. 13, 2001.
Changes
In July 2022, Mike Henry, the operations manager, moved to another state, where he continued to manage the stations remotely, in conjunction with his brother Randy. Unfortunately, Randy was diagnosed with an agressive and difficult-to-treat form of cancer. He entered Heaven on April 12, 2024.
Without Randy to provide the technical expertise needed to maintain the stations, complicated by the long distance from Titusville to Medicine Lodge, his wife, Carol, struggled to properly take care of the stations. In August 2024, she made the difficult decision to sell KREJ and KSNS, completing the sale to Smile FM in June 2025.
Today
KREJ and KSNS are now owned and operated by Smile FM (Superior Communications) a non-profit Christian ministry. KREJ 101.7 FM features Christian teaching, talk, drama, local programs, and a variety of music. KSNS 91.5 FM features contemporary Christian music provided by Smile FM. The stations are managed by Smile FM, along with a great volunteer staff of Mike Henry, Larry Martin, and Nancy Bell.
