Mark Croom
Technical Engineer

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I'm the electronics technician who keeps the studios, transmitters, translators, and many computers running around the MICB network of stations.

I grew up in mostly in Southern Wisconsin, though my family did spend 18 months in Cedar Falls, Iowa when I was in third and fourth grade in elementary school. It was in Iowa that I "discovered" radio. I would lay awake at night with my transistor radio (under my pillow, of course), listening to stations from across the nation. While I thought radio might make an interesting job, I never thought I would "have what it takes" to succeed (I figured that was mainly a great voice and a lot of luck). As I reached my teens, my parents came to know the Lord, and at about 14 years of age, so did I. My parents sacrificed to send me to a Christian high school, where God called me to a life of vocational service. I didn't feel called to any specific area of service, just to direct my energies as fully as possible toward getting His message into hearts and lives in whatever way He might lead.

As I began studies at Pillsbury College in Owatonna, I thought I might end up teaching in a Christian School or perhaps working in a church music ministry. I began taking courses as a Music Education major, and at about the same time, I volunteered for a shift on the College radio station. It was't long before I found that I was enjoying what I was doing on the radio FAR more than the courses for my major. My voice teacher began to resent that I was spending more time at the radio station than in the practice room, leading to my decision to change my major to radio and continue toward a professional life in broadcasting.

My career began with 2 years of college radio, then spent 6 years at KTIG, in Pequot Lakes Minnesota. My boss there was Mike Heuberger, who was the first manager of KJLY, when the station was built in 1983. I used to tease him that he should have hired me for KJLY when I applied in the Summer of 1983, instead of waiting to "inherit" me as a staff member when he came to KTIG in Autumn of 1984. After Pequot I spent 13 months at WFRN in Elkhart, Indiana, then the Lord opened a door to work at what had become my "hometown" station, WNWC in Madison, Wisconsin.

After 11 years there, it was clear that the Lord was preparing us for some kind of transition, which we thought might be in technical missions overseas. As we began the process of joining a mission organization, the Lord clearly led us to the technical position here at MICB. We have a family joke that we're now missionaries to the "cornfields" (as opposed to "fornfields"). It's been a learning process, especially with a total of 20 sites that I'm responsible to maintain. I'd appreciate your prayers for me, especially if you turn on the radio and we're not there. That usually means I'm either at hard work or rapidly on my way to work!

I've been married to Janice for 20 years (as of May, 2003), and we have 4 children, ranging in age from 14 to 5. Janice teaches school at home, and, when she has a few minutes to herself, does scrapbooking as a hobby. We live in Elmore in a Victorian home (built in 1877), which we've been enjoying very much. The place definitely has "personality." We're also involved in the worship ministry at our local church, something we very much enjoy doing together.

We count it a privilege to be among those who serve the Lord at MICB.

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