The 50,000-watt Hereford-based FM station, which bills itself as Positive and Inspirational 100.5, opened its doors in 1998 as a business, a way for Peeler and his wife, Alva Lee, to support themselves.

KNNK plays mainstream religious music with no radio preachers and no talk shows.

Peeler started primarily with compact discs produced by Bill Gaither, then added other artists like Dennis Jernigan, Australian Darlene Zschech , Alvin Slaughter and Ray Bolz.

People regularly request the music of Lynda Randle, a Gaither concert regular, and the Cathedrals Quartet, which no longer exists, he said.

"Also, our audience loves the Gaither entourage, so we play lots of selections from a huge variety of Gaither CDs," Peeler said.

Daytime programming is devoted to inspirational music. At 7 p.m. daily "Melodies for Moonlight," which is instrumentals only, plays, and after midnight, "Music Through the Night" from Moody Broadcasting plays.

Alva Lee Peeler has spent her life singing, playing the piano and teaching the same in Hereford and Muleshoe.

"Music is the main way I worship," she said.

She tapped into that to come up with the Christian music format for KNNK.

"Buddy thought I was crazy when I suggested this," she said.

Peeler's background is in secular radio, and he expected to go that route again with his new station, but Alva Lee Peeler was persistent.

"I was desperate. I felt like it would be a total waste of our life to do another country and western format," she said.

"I kept praying about it. I felt like God was saying, 'Step out in faith.' "

Peeler, who knew "just another station" was a treacherous investment, listened to his wife, and the couple never talked again about the format.

The Peelers deliver a fair amount of local news, including obituaries from area towns.

They also promote events from area towns, such as Vega, Canyon, Dimmitt, Friona, Olton and Muleshoe.

"We feel it's as important to recognize a couple's 50- or 60-year anniversary, or give lip service to the local sports team or 4-H Club or forensics team, as to cover the city commission or county commissioner's court," Peeler said.

"I kept praying about it. I felt like God was saying, 'Step out in faith.' " Alva Peeler

"We try to cover obits, particularly in the neighboring towns that might have only a once a week newspaper, just so they'll be aware of a funeral they might wish to attend or send flowers or a note," he said.

They also point out another salient fact.

"We also say 'Real Live Radio Mistakes and All.' This is kind of a lighthearted way of saying that we're downhome and real, even to the point of making a fair amount of mistakes, which we acknowledge. We're just plain folks, native West Texans, with a staff of five people and mom and pop making up 40 percent of the work force," Peeler said.

What started out as a job has probably evolved into calling, he said.

"I worked in secular radio for 11 years in my hometown of Muleshoe, then in Hereford for 27 years, and I had reached a point of asking myself what is my purpose in life? I had reached a point of wanting change and greater fulfillment but really not knowing that was what was in store with this new venture," Peeler said.

"I had to find my own way of relating to the audience, as I'm not real comfortable trying to be a typical Christian announcer, so I just try to be myself and let the music speak to the audience."

Jack Patterson of Rhea has known Buddy and Alva Lee since shortly after the station opened.

"I'm a regular listener; I wouldn't have it any other way."

"The main thing I like about it is it's a Christian station to begin with. The good sacred songs they play for us and what have you and letting us know what's happening in the local area - Friona, Bovina, whatever," Patterson said.

"I'm from the old school. I believe in the old heartfelt salvation and really knowing Christ and being real in this thing and not make believe."

Buddy and Alva Lee Peeler are Methodists, though they identify themselves as being of the family of God.

Apparently, listeners consider themselves part of the family.

Alva Lee Peeler showed a sheaf of e-mails from readers. They came from Trinidad and Tobago, Marseilles, France, Jamestown, N.Y., Chicago, Vernon, B.C., Rome, Italy, Wamberal, Australia, and Cape Town, South Africa, plus Texas cities.

"Thank you for a great station," wrote the Rev. Jeff Blanton of Lentegeur Bible Baptist Church in Cape Town. "You are now on our favorites list. It is good to hear great music."

Other writers mention a Texas connection or offer words of encouragement to the Peelers.

"We've really met some wonderful people through this," Alva Lee Peeler said.

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