Kelly
Johnson '02
Broadcasting the Word
When Kelly Johnson '02 was
thinking of her career options before she graduated from Trinity, working
at a radio station was the furthest thing from her mind.
"I was set on not doing radio,"
Johnson recalled. "In fact, I was looking in a completely opposite direction.
My mind was focused on getting involved with a ministry or faith-based
service organization."
To some extent, she found
what she sought, since she works for a Christian radio station, The Refuge,
based in Duluth, Minnesota, and heard throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Iowa, and South Dakota. The native of Grantsburg, Wisconsin, started on
the midnight shift, and now she co-hosts the morning show and hosts the
midday program by herself. She also assists with public relations and promotions.
"Everyone here wears so many
different hats because we are a non-profit radio station. We can't afford
to hire a lot of people, so those of us here have multiple functions, which
creates an environment that thrives on clear communication and teamwork."
That structure is not unlike
what Johnson experienced as a Trinity student. She misses the times when
she could talk with a professor and develop friendships with them and her
classmates. She valued her classroom discussions because they reinforced
the close sense of community on campus.
"My classroom (instruction)
equipped me to work with people and influence today's culture with the
hope of Christ's redemption. Both faculty and friends helped to build a
sturdy foundation of values and ethics that I utilize in my daily decisions.
Trinity's class size and sincere faculty encouraged a sense of intimate
community that I greatly appreciated. With the small staff size at my job,
we experience that needed sense of community as we tackle large-staff goals
through God's grace.
"God has given me a platform
to share His truth through media. I try to connect with my listeners and
establish a relationship with them. They may not know me personally, but
I have a responsibility to be a source they can trust to bring positive
music and relevant information that is safe and fun for their whole family."
Johnson describes Duluth,
which borders Lake Superior, as a "very nature-oriented city that caters
to my enthusiasm for the outdoors." She is engaged to be married in August
2004 and lives with her two dogs, an English Pointer and a Springer Spaniel.
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