Mark Burns

Mark Burns serves as General Manager and President. He oversees Great News Media which includes: Great News Radio, WLUJ Family of Stations, PrimeLife Times, and the various ministry opportunities that present themselves. Mark hosts a drive-time program, Mark & Friends. When Mark isn’t enjoying time with his lovely wife, Holly, and their daughter, Esther, he plays racquetball, enjoys reading, creating new radio projects, responding to listener mail, and walking nature trails.

Joyce Mancke

Joyce Mancke serves as Station Manager of the WLUJ Family of Stations. She joined the team in 2015 and has served as office manager, bookkeeper and prayer warrior. Joyce brings with her many years of office management experience and a plethora of talent, hard-work ethic, and God-honoring values. Joyce is active in her local church, and is also the director of a nursing home and seniors ministry that holds praise and worship services in 18 nursing homes (before Covid restrictions). Joyce and her husband, Verlin, live in the Springfield, Illinois area. They have 3 daughters, 11 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Joyce is a blessing to this radio ministry.

Holly Burns

As the Director of Creative Services, Holly is dedicated to serving at a moment’s notice, adeptly managing various tasks with efficiency and enthusiasm. Her responsibilities range from addressing frequent spontaneous requests from the general manager to meticulously handling bookkeeping, data entry, PrimeLife Times deliveries, and providing assistance wherever needed. Holly’s passion extends beyond the professional realm; she is a hard worker and plays an integral role in facilitating many events, offering prayers and encouragement to listeners along the way. Outside of work, Holly keeps busy tending to her vegetable and flower gardens and caring for her family pets, which include a guinea pig, chickens, and street cats. Above all, Holly cherishes her time with her husband Mark and their beloved son and daughter.

Butch Stilwell

Butch Stilwell has served in a part-time capacity at WLUJ since 2016, assisting with routine office duties, listener calls, donor relations, and you may hear him on the air too! He hosts the WLUJ Monthly Prayer Meeting from time to time. Butch is retired but keeps busy with gardening and riding his Harley! He and his wife, Nancy, have one son and a very big dog named Dottie!

Bethany Harrison

Bethany Harrison serves part-time as office assistant at Great News Radio. She is invaluable in helping take phone calls, interacting with the listeners, and filling in wherever needed. She enjoys working with children, baking, crocheting, and playing the piano.

Karen Harrison

Karen Harrison is the office manager for Great News Radio and handles a multitude of tasks behind the scenes. Karen has joyfully served in this position since 1997. She has a degree in education and loves her role as mom and grandma. She also enjoys hiking, gardening, music, homemaking, and missions.

Kate Freeman

Kate Freeman serves as Director of the Great News Media Theatre Troupe. She has degrees in both theatre and education. She and her husband, Huey, are blessed with 4 grown children and reside in rural Monticello. Besides quilting, reading, and walks in the country, Kate enjoys directing the talented actors and actresses in the area through radio drama and stage performances.

Paul Eastvold

After working over 41 years for the Illinois Department of Nuclear Safety and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, Paul assists with office responsibilities at WLUJ. You may hear Paul’s voice on the other end of the phone if you call the station on weekday mornings. Paul and his wife, Karilyn, have three sons and nine grandchildren. Paul serves as an elder and church treasurer at Springfield Bible Church.

Pastor Jason Schifo

Pastor Jason Schifo co-hosts the Friday edition of Mark and Friends and assists with other radio projects. He is the pastor of Community Evangelical Free Church in Mahomet. He is passionate about loving God, loving people, and enjoys studying, teaching, writing, and time with his wife, Tasha, and four children.

Nick Brzozowski

Pastor Nick Brzozowski is the editor-in-chief of the monthly PrimeLife Times publication. Nick is a church planter in Champaign, alongside his wife, Hannah. He moved here from Kenosha, Wisconsin with their dog, Albert back in 2019. Nick loves hiking and traveling and playing on his virtual headset. He’s a big Marvel fan and is slowly learning guitar. Nick absolutely loves to read and is honored and thrilled to work together with the amazing PrimeLife Times staff. In Nick’s words: “you are an exceptional team with creative ideas and a commitment to excellence and I hope to serve you however I can. Thanks so much for the opportunity!

Dee Chesser

Dee is the director of the Great News Media Children’s Choir, a choir for children ages 6 – 12. She is greatly loved by her choir members! Dee previously worked as an RN Director in Minnesota prior to moving to Illinois. She now enjoys being close to family and loves patio gardening, writing, crocheting, volunteering, hosting teas, and spoiling her grandkids and her dog Lucy!

C.J. Sizemore

C.J. joined the Singing Men in the summer of 1999, serving as the manager since 2006. He brings wonderful enthusiasm to his Singing Men leadership. C.J. established Sizemore Enterprises after retiring as a clinical social worker and manager for the Department of Human Services. He and his wife, Sharon, have two sons and two granddaughters. They love traveling! He has been to 28 countries, and all but one state.

Jim Miller

Jim Miller assists the radio ministry as a Project Manager. He puts his years of practical experience as an engineer, project manager, and homeowner to use helping Mark and the team solve problems with buildings, equipment, and grounds keeping. Jim loves to serve and use his gifts to further the Lord’s work. Jim also serves on our radio board and assists as treasurer. He is married to his beloved wife Nancy, and they have two grown children and five grandchildren. When Jim is not attending to radio projects to keep us on-the-air, he’s practicing Hebrew or watching sermons by his favorite preachers. 🙂

Other Super Support Staff:

Keith Craft: Director of the Singing Men of “GNN
Felix Chan: Singing Men Accompanist
Herb Ketchum: The Radio Servant
Duane Birkey: Programming Specialist
Rene Malaise: Data Base Designer
Fran Green: Accountant/Book Keeper
Donna Leland: WLUJ Morning Host
Jim Miller: Project Coordinator

Our Many Beloved Helpers
Our ministry is undergirded by the efforts of our important volunteers and support workers. These are not run-of-the-mill helpers—they are heroes and heroines in their extraordinary, behind-the-scenes work. From the well-loved presentations of the Singing Men members, and their sound and set-up crews, to the PrimeLife Times publication editorial team, sales team, graphic designer, and delivery teams, we say thank you. Thanks to our workers at our radio towers who brave rain or snow. Thanks to the talented teachers and staff of our conversational English classes. Thank you to the area-wide Tootsie Pop display deliverers helping get the word out about the ministry. To skilled carpenters and craftsmen who continue to donate time and expertise at our stations, we are indebted. Our event planners, food providers, and set up volunteers, including past Sharathon helpers, are an enormous asset. Much gratitude to the errand runners and all-purpose helpers who assist with clerical duties, phone detail or other various tasks. A huge thank you to the prayer intercessors. Thank you to the foresight of an incredible Board of Directors. For all those who continue to just pitch-in at a moment’s notice – we could never do it without you! Your importance cannot be overstated! Thank you!!

Great News Radio/ PrimeLife Times On-Going Super Volunteers
Jim Gunther
Roger Wisegarver
JD Davis
Darrold Kennedy
Mark Krugler
Rober DeGonia
Richard Birkey
Janeane Keller
Jerry Salfrank
Matthew Jenkins
Alaric Schaufele
Peggy Meier
Sharon Fernald
Cindy Wendell
David Lemons
Kay Lemons
Ruth Esry
Rob Siedenburg
Pastro Ray Pepple
Les Gioja

Since Great News Radio has fewer than 5 full-time employees,

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