MOUNT VERNON – WNZR 90.9 FM, a broadcast ministry of Mount Vernon Nazarene University, is preparing to celebrate its 35th anniversary.
WNZR began broadcasting in fall of 1986. In the past 35 years, the station has seen many forms of growth, including a digital studio upgrade in 2004, the purchase of a station vehicle in 2009 and a power increase in 2010. Most recently, WNZR set a record with its annual fundraiser, Lifeline, which brought in over $83,000 in 2021.
“We are so thankful to our WNZR listeners and supporters as we celebrate 35 years,” said Director of Broadcasting Joe Rinehart. “We are blessed to have the ability to keep WNZR active, vibrant and available as a key learning platform for our MVNU students. God gets all the glory.”
To celebrate the 35th anniversary on Oct. 1, 2021, WNZR will be hosting a day of prayer and praise. From 6 a.m. through 4 p.m., the WNZR staff will be sharing prayer requests and praises on air. Listeners are encouraged to share their prayer requests and praise reports by visiting www.wnzr.fm and clicking on the Prayer Request banner.
In addition, WNZR is requesting stories of how the station’s ministry has impacted Knox County over the last 35 years. Anyone with a story of how God has used the ministry of WNZR to impact his or her life can submit a 15-second audio recording using the “Open Mic” feature of the WNZR app. The WNZR app can be downloaded from Google Play or the App Store. Anyone who submits audio for WNZR’s anniversary will receive the special WNZR anniversary T-Shirt and be entered into a drawing for one of five overnight stays at the Mount Vernon Grand Hotel. The deadline to submit audio and be eligible for the drawing and T-shirt is 11:59 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30.
"It is such a blessing to celebrate this 35th anniversary with our faithful listeners and donors,” said WNZR Station Manager Marcy Rinehart. “Their support has enabled us to serve this community for over three decades with continual growth in our outreach endeavors. We look forward to new and exciting opportunities to be a lifeline to families, especially with the growth in technology. WNZR can now be found on your radio, cell phone, TV, computer or any device that has access to the internet. We can't wait to see where God will lead us in the future."
WNZR broadcasts contemporary Christian music, family-oriented programs, sports, news and weather 24 hours a day. For more information on the station’s ministry, visit www.wnzr.fm, or call WNZR at 740-392-9090.
Mount Vernon Nazarene University is a private, four-year, intentionally Christian teaching university for traditional age students, graduate students, and working adults. With a 327-acre main campus in Mount Vernon, MVNU emphasizes academic excellence, spiritual growth, and service to community and church. MVNU offers an affordable education both in-seat and online to more than 2,100 students from 42 states and nine foreign countries.
