The roots of KMHM go all the way back to the 1970’s, to a man named Harold L. Lawder of Murphysboro, IL. God had blessed his coal dock and sand business on the Mississippi River...until he lost his land lease.

At this point, while he was desperately asking God to reveal His will, Harold was reading "The Sword of the Lord," a Christian newspaper. A display ad caught his eye with the headline "Do You Want To Start Your Own Christian Radio Station?" He knew at that moment that God had answered his prayer.

After considering opportunities to buy already existing stations, Harold decided the best route to go would be to start fresh with a new station. The FCC reported that there was an opening at 103.9 FM near Ava, IL. Ava was just a few miles from Harold’s home, so he decided to take advantage of the opportunity, and went to work planning and building a radio station...something he had never done before!

All the hard work and money spent finally bore fruit in January, 1982, when full-time Christian radio station WXAN signed on the air. The music format included all kinds of Christian music, whatever was found in the box of records the station started with. That included everything from traditional hymns to Southern Gospel to Contemporary Christian music.

From the beginning WXAN was a "full-service" Christian radio station, with not only Christian music and talk shows, but also a healthy dose of news, sports, weather, market reports, obituaries, and even high school ball games. The theory was, "Why should a Christian be forced to tune in another station to find out what’s going on?"

In 1989 WXAN settled on one style of music...Southern Gospel. At this time the station became "The Home of Southern Gospetality." In 1991 WXAN was voted the Number One Southern Gospel Station in the Nation in an extensive contest conducted by the Southern Gospel Music Guild.

In the early ‘90’s Harold became aware of another new station possibility. The FCC had an opening at 104.1 FM in Lutesville, MO. He says this was a decision he did not need to wrestle with God over. He knew immediately that the availability itself was God’s call to expand the ministry and start a new station in southeast Missouri.

The planning and building was much easier this time around for the now-weathered radio veteran. In August 1995 the new "Home of Southern Gospetality" signed on the air from its studio location on Highway B between Marble Hill and Scopus, MO.

We want to thank the Lord for where He brought us from, and we hope you will join us in prayer that we will continue to follow His leading in the future. To God be the glory!