January 1948
Radio Beginnings
In January 1948, Faribault's brand-new radio station — KDHL, AM 920 — started broadcasting. Seeing an opportunity to spread the Word of God, a small group of forward-thinking members from Trinity Lutheran Church put together a plan to broadcast Sunday services.
No funds were asked from the congregation. Members personally funded the effort and solicited donations from church members. Equipment was purchased — microphones and a mixer — and a direct phone line was installed between the church and the station in downtown Faribault.
In late April 1948, the first church service went out over the air. We've been on the air nearly every Sunday since.
Mid-1980s
Video Services Begin
Faribault received a new cable television system in the mid-1980s, opening local channels to churches and organizations. The Radio Club built a camera system centered on an RCA camera with a homemade pan/tilt system controlled by a TRS-80 joystick.
Services were recorded to VHS, played on the local cable channel, and then physically transported to each of Faribault's nursing homes by volunteers — one tape making a four-week circuit through the community.
1998
Expanding the Video Ministry
In 1998, the Radio Club made a major investment: adding a second Panasonic camera, expanding to four VCRs, and installing a titling system to overlay information on the broadcast. This allowed nursing homes to receive a direct copy the same day the service aired — a significant improvement for shut-in viewers.
2002 & 2014
The NewTek Era
In 2002, the club upgraded to a NewTek VT4 production system with a third and fourth camera, enabling much more professional-looking broadcasts.
In 2014, the VT4 was replaced with a NewTek TriCaster TC1 Mini. A DVD copier was added to produce multiple copies simultaneously for nursing home distribution. Services were also being uploaded to a YouTube channel, reaching viewers around the world for the first time.
2016–2017
Live Streaming Launches
In 2016, the club added live internet streaming capability — a milestone that opened up Sunday services to anyone, anywhere. Viewership has continued to grow ever since.
In 2017, the original Panasonic camera from 1998 was retired and replaced with a new high-definition camera, while DVD delivery to nursing homes and FCTV cable broadcasts continued.
Today & Beyond
The Future Is Bright
Today, Trinity Lutheran Radio Club operates a full multi-camera HD video production with live streaming, cable television broadcast on FCTV, AM radio on KDHL 920, YouTube, and DVD delivery to nursing homes.
The mission has never changed: "We want to get the Word out to as many people as we can."