THE

STORY

THE MUSIC, THE MINISTRY, AND THE MIRACLES

The K-LOVE Story is the true, miraculous journey of how God grew a single signal in Santa Rosa, California, into the largest Christian music radio network in the world.

OUR HISTORY

HIS STORY

It was the fall of 1978, and Bob Anthony Fogal was in his home office daydreaming and roughing out sketches for a brand-new Christian radio station. At twenty-eight, Fogal—known on air as Bob Anthony—had realized his dream of working for the No. 1 Top 40 station in San Francisco, the award-winning KFRC. But he also realized his need for God. This sent the young DJ—and new father—on a journey of surrender. What it would cost him, he didn't know. But he was certain about one thing: God had given him a vision.

K-LOVE Founder, Bob Anthony

The vision was for a Christian version of KFRC—a station that exclusively played "Jesus Music," which was just emerging in Southern California at the time; and a station that boasted on-air personalities who maintained the same high level of professionalism Fogal had experienced in mainstream radio.

He scribbled down three elementary rules on his notepad:

No Christianese.
Operate like a professional Top 40 station.
Only voices who are major market talents will be allowed on the radio.

K-LOVE Founder, Bob Anthony

TIMELINE

in K-LOVE history

'80s

'90s

'00s

'10s - Present

DJs Over the Years

the voices behind the mic

Bob Anthony Fogal

Dick Jenkins

David Pierce

Ed Lenane

Mike Novak

JD Chandler

Larry Wayne

Julie Williams

Jon & Sherry Rivers

Greg Brown

Joe Michaels

Eric Allen

Kip Johns

Amy Baumann

Kelli Caldwell

Scott Smith

Lisa Williams

Sterling

Chuck Pryor

Morgan Wood

Lauren Lee

Ty McFarland

Amanda Carroll

Craig Westoff

Mike Kankelfriz

Troy West

Monika Kelly

Skip Mahaffey

Randi Tyler

Alex Taylor

Lauree Austin

Carlos Aguiar

See all current DJs

One of my favorite moments with K-LOVE was when I released a single called 'Better Than a Hallelujah.' I had experienced a long drought with Christian radio not playing my music. Honestly, I didn't have any expectations, but I knew the song was special; and while I didn't write it, I loved the song and thought it had an important message for people. I was honored to carry the song to the world. When K-LOVE supported the song, it meant the world to me, personally, but also with their help, the song reached Top 10 on radio overall and, hopefully, has been a lifeboat for those who listened. Over the years, it's been a pleasure to host some industry events at my farm for K-LOVE, and I love that they have been a positive influence on a hurting world."
~ Amy Grant

"Having had the privilege to be around for a couple decades of music, I've gotten to see how K-LOVE has grown from a few cities to literally covering the entire nation. Honestly, it is a miracle to see how massive this thing has grown. I can remember just going to different little K-LOVE broadcasting places to, now, talking to the entire nation at once. It's been pretty amazing. They're continuing to grow and have become such an incredible voice for the love of God and a light in dark places across our country. It's been such a fun thing for me to see the impact of my songs through this radio network. I would never dream my songs could have the impact they've had, but it takes a great partner like K-LOVE to do that. I'm so grateful. Who knows what's coming down the pike and where K-LOVE's going from here."
~ Chris Tomlin

40 SONGS

that defined K-LOVE history

"I've heard countless stories from people who've told me they were listening to K-LOVE and heard the announcement when we tragically lost our youngest daughter in 2008. They've told me that the DJs on the air stopped the music and began to pray for me and my family. It still brings tears to my eyes to know how loved and lifted up we were in that unimaginably dark moment. I will forever be grateful to my K-LOVE family for that gift."
~ Steven Curtis Chapman

MINISTRY IMPACT

more than music

ONE THIN DIME

My husband, Kevin, grew up in an incredibly abusive home. All throughout his childhood, his dad repeatedly told him, "You aren't worth one thin dime." Those words haunted my husband into adulthood—so much so that he got to a place where he couldn't figure his life out, and he left my son and me for a while.

At the time we had two vehicles. I had a little Honda, and he had this big crazy van. One day I had a meeting, and he came to pick up our son. Kevin had to take the Honda, so he left me the van. When I got in the van, the radio and the CB were on. I turned them both off and headed home.

Kevin called me the next day ranting and raving that I had done something to his radio. He said, "It's stuck on that K-LOVE station!" He was livid, thinking I had damaged his radio. He'd tried to turn the dial and push the buttons, and nothing would change the station. It was stuck, and it stayed stuck on K-LOVE for months and months.

My husband and I worked through things and reconciled, and he came back home. A while later, our neighbor convinced him to sell him the van. The next day, he was blasting rock music from the van. My husband asked him, "What did you do to fix it?" and he said, "I don't know. I just turned on the radio!"

Kevin and Athena

After a couple weeks, our neighbor decided he couldn't afford the van, so we took it back. My husband drove it around for about one day before it was stuck on K-LOVE again! Finally, he gave in. If he wanted to listen to music, he was going to listen to K-LOVE.

Eventually, you could hear him start to whistle the tunes. I really felt like that radio station had brought us back together.

Years passed. Kevin was re-baptized, and we had another baby together. The van finally broke down, and he decided to get rid of it . . . but he kept the radio. When he took it out and started fiddling with it, he saw something lodged inside.

Stuck down beneath one of the preset buttons was one thin dime. My husband's dad told him he wasn't worth one thin dime, but God said he was. Same words. From his dad it meant, "You aren't worth anything." But from God? It meant, "You're worth everything."

LISTENER STORIES

“As a single mom of two, there are many days where I feel it's all I can do to keep my head above water. A couple months ago, after dropping my daughter off at school, I started to have an anxiety attack. I didn't know what to do, so I turned on your station for encouragement. The song that played filled me with a peace I've never had before. It was like God was right there with me, telling me, 'It's OK. I've got this.' Your station gets me and my kids through so many hard days. I don't know where I'd be without you guys.“
~ Mary, Knoxville, TN

“I have listened to K‑LOVE from the day I was born. Now I am 25 years old, married with a son, and am so grateful for how K‑LOVE has always been there through the ups and downs of life. My wife and I realized we spend a certain amount on streaming services, but we spend more time listening to K‑LOVE than anything else, so we decided to take a step of faith and start giving. We hope K‑LOVE continues to make a difference for others just like it has for our family!”
~ Dallas, El Paso, Texas

“It's been a joy for Melody and me to include K‑LOVE in our estate planning so when we pass away, there will be a significant gift that will help K‑LOVE continue this incredible mission of impacting the world around them with media and entertainment. We already know the Lord, and by God's grace our children know the Lord, but we now have three grandchildren. You know, we're older. We have generations of kids coming behind us. We have hope for a better future for them, and K‑LOVE's a big part of that. We want to invest in something that ensures they get the choice of accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Is there a greater legacy that we can leave? We don't think so.”
~ Verne & Melody, Diablo, CA

“I've been a K‑LOVE listener for about twenty-five years. I have you playing in my home all day, not only for my own sanity and focus, but to have those songs being sung over my kids throughout the day. I've also been a monthly giver for about twenty years, but I had to pull my pledge when I went through a divorce several years ago. Recently, the Lord has so abundantly blessed me, and I have not only been able to resume my monthly pledge, but now I'm able to actually BUMP UP my giving! Thank you, K‑LOVE family, for all you do. My family and I are touched and moved by this ministry!”
~ Rhonda, Monterey, CA

“I found myself lying in a jail cell bed, unable to sleep. In an instant, my once comfortable life was in shambles from a foolish mistake. I would likely be spending nine to twelve months in prison, losing much of what I had worked so hard for. I had always known the Lord, but now I had lost hope and faith. I just wanted to quit life somehow. The jail had small, portable radios available. I asked a guard passing by for one. When I received it, I turned to K‑LOVE, desperately seeking solace. After a few songs, I couldn't stop asking God to pick me up and hold me, to let me sit in His lap. I soon began to feel a calmness from within my heart and soul. God was telling me that He would walk beside me through the process and help me build an even better life than I had—a life filled with His love. Thank you, K‑LOVE!”
~ Mike, Austin, TX

“I was in my car one night and came up to this bridge with rushing water under it. I sat there for thirty minutes or so, and everything in me said, 'Drive as fast as you can off this bridge; no one will miss you.' I had K‑LOVE playing in the background. Just as I was about to hit the accelerator on my car, the song, 'Fear Is a Liar,' by Zach Williams came on. It was like Jesus was saying, 'I'm here with you right now. I won't leave you.' I broke down in tears. When the song finished, I pulled away from the bridge and gave my life to Christ. Thank you, K‑LOVE, for playing the right song at the right time!”
~ Jacob, Savannah, GA

Partnerships with Charities

K-LOVE by the numbers

Convoy of Hope

K-LOVE and its generous listeners partner with Convoy of Hope to bring food, water, clothing, and other basic necessities to communities in need. Often following a crisis or natural disaster, K-LOVE's on-air, social media, and digital channels provide listeners a chance to help fund Convoy efforts. K-LOVE listeners have raised $7 million and provided more than 200 million meals.

Convoy of Hope Truck

David Crowder at Hits Deep Tour

Awakening Foundation

K-LOVE's longtime relationship with the Awakening Foundation began in 2004. A large- scale partnership was formalized in 2015 with the launch of TobyMac's "Hits Deep Tour."

Since then, K-LOVE has launched the seasonal "K-LOVE Christmas Tour" and sponsors more than 200 live events each year, headlined by everyone from Chris Tomlin to Crowder.

David Crowder at Hits Deep Tour

Two of those dates happen every August when "K-LOVE Presents LIVE at Red Rocks." With back-to-back evenings of music, the multi-artist event has become an annual tradition for Christian music fans, many of which fly in from all over the country to see some of their favorite Christian artists perform at the legendary amphitheater right outside of Denver, Colorado.

"Any musician wants to play at Red Rocks, and then to be able to point people to Jesus while being in such an iconic venue, it was just really cool," reflects Jack Williams, drummer for Casting Crowns, who headlined the event in 2021.

Beacon of Hope

One signal at a time

"K-LOVE is a beacon on a hill and a lifeline of encouragement to so many in the community of faith. Their support of Christian music and the artists and companies who produce it has been so instrumental in touching hearts and lives with the Gospel. They have my deepest respect and gratitude for the work they do."

—Peter York, Former Chairman and CEO, Capitol Christian Music Group

We're Just Getting Started

K-LOVE looks to the future

From the beginning, K-LOVE has been innovative. In this season, the world's largest Christian radio network continues that tradition by investing in other forms of media to further broaden its reach. K-LOVE CEO Bill Reeves, a thirty-plus-year veteran in Christian and family entertainment, is leading the charge.

"They've hired the right man. I think Bill is tremendous. He's absolutely the best choice of CEO that the board could have made," affirms former CEO Dick Jenkins. "If you take the board's vision, and you plug a person in there who's going to make it happen, Bill's the guy."

Rendering of new K-LOVE Headquarters

Reeves, who's been at the helm since 2019, is quick to downplay the compliment. "When you run an organization, you receive a lot of accolades and a lot of attaboys, but it always feels disingenuous for me to accept those things because it isn't me," he insists. "It's the people I'm honored to work with and those who have worked for this ministry who are not even here anymore. I couldn't do this if our founders hadn't led the way, and I think of people like Devona Porter, our longest-running employee, who has been faithful all these years."

The unwavering faithfulness of people prayerfully committed to the power of Christian radio has enabled K-LOVE to step into this chapter, filled with exciting endeavors that resource listeners with a variety of multimedia platforms to engage with throughout their day. Areas of growth in the form of in-person events include the K-LOVE Fan Awards, the K-LOVE Cruise, "K-LOVE Presents LIVE at Red Rocks," and more than two hundred concert dates each year in partnership with the Awakening Foundation that bring K-LOVE artists to cities across the country.

Rendering of new K-LOVE Headquarters