POST FALLS - If there's a world of underground Christian radio, this may be as close as it gets.

KYMS (89.9 FM) operates in the basement of North Country Chapel's "old rock church" at the corner of McGuire Road and Seltice Way, formerly McGuire Wesleyan Church.

The nondenominational, noncommercial station, formerly owned by Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa, Calif., is now owned by the Post Falls nonprofit Legacy Broadcasting consisting of Kay Poland and Lee and Karla Lancaster.

"We feel called to serve North Idaho," Poland said. "We want the different nonprofits and denominations to be unified together and help serve the community."

Poland and Lee Lancaster, who served as managers under the previous ownership, said the new arrangement offers the opportunity to make KYMS a truly local station.

It is the only Christian radio station based in North Idaho and can be heard from Bonners Ferry to St. Maries and from Cheney to Libby, Mont. (Its translator in St. Maries is at 92.5 FM.)

KYMS sprouted in Post Falls two years ago when Poland, who was working at a station in California at the time, was asked to manage Calvary Chapel's new local station.

Poland jumped at the idea because she has relatives, including parents Allen and Anita Poland, who live in North Idaho.

"It was a God thing," Poland said. "I've been trying to get up here for 15 years, and it's never worked out."

About eight months later, the Lancasters, who knew Poland from previous radio jobs, moved here from Oklahoma. The Lancasters previously lived in Sandpoint and are originally from Texas.

The call letters KYMS have a history. In 1975, KYMS (106.3 FM) of southern California became the first contemporary Christian radio station.

It started during the Jesus Movement and featured many of the founding artists of contemporary Christian music, including Phil Keaggy, Second Chapter of Acts, Randy Stonehill and Keith Green. In 1995, the station was sold, its programming changed and the call letters went dormant.

But, in early 2009, the new KYMS was born. With the new KYMS, Poland and the Lancasters wanted to honor the legacy of its predecessor - hence the name Legacy Broadcasting - by featuring many of the classics of the original station while also playing contemporary music such as Casting Crowns and Third Day.

"KYMS had such an impact at that time that we want to have the same kind of impact on this community," Poland said.

Poland and Lee Lancaster are the only paid staffers. The station rents space from North Country Chapel, which owns the old rock church. The station operates on sponsorships and donations from local churches, nonprofits and other groups wanting their messages to be heard.

"We'll run announcements, but we don't take ads," Lancaster said. "We also don't do share-a-thons. Individuals may feel led to give, but we ask that they take care of their local church first. We never want to be perceived in competition with the local church. Forty percent of the people who listen to Christian radio don't have a home church, so we want to provide a service without asking for money all the time.

"We're working very diligently to get local churches on the air."

Station volunteers include Mike Slothower, the pastor of River of Life Friends Church in Post Falls, and Stormy Frederickson. They, along with Lancaster, make up the "Stormy, Mike and Lee" live morning show on weekdays from 5 to 7.

Lancaster said the station is called KYMS-The Bridge because it wants to help unify the body of Christ in the Inland Northwest.

"We have a group of pastors and Christian businessmen who meet once a quarter to make sure we're keeping on track financially and spiritually," Lancaster said. "We believe that accountability is relevant."

The station features or sponsors "The Exchange Today" topical call-in program for women on Saturdays; "Clean Country Sunday Morning" featuring Southern gospel and country music; "Raise Your Voice" worship night; "Friday Night Fusion" with a youth guest DJ; and programs featuring area nonprofits and leaders.

"It's great to say that we're a contemporary Christian radio station, but we also want to turn around and support the groups and churches," Poland said.