KXEG

As the times changed, KHEP sought to remain relevant. In 1972, it aired a special program on “Solving the Drug Problem”; that year, it also began hosting a daily radio program, “Tips for Teens,” hosted by Rev. Mel Johnson. It also began offering community hymn sings at [[Encanto Park]].{{Cite news|title=Radio Station Sponsoring Hymn Sing at Encanto Park|date=April 28, 1973|work=Arizona Republic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31370791/}}

As the times changed, KHEP sought to remain relevant. In 1972, it aired a special program on “Solving the Drug Problem”; that year, it also began hosting a daily radio program, “Tips for Teens,” hosted by Rev. Mel Johnson. It also began offering community hymn sings at [[Encanto Park]].{{Cite news|title=Radio Station Sponsoring Hymn Sing at Encanto Park|date=April 28, 1973|work=Arizona Republic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31370791/}}

In 1977, KHEP celebrated its 20th anniversary. General Manager Jack Willis—who also served as president of the [http://www.azbroadcasters.org/ Arizona Broadcasters’ Association] and vice president of the Western Religious Broadcasters Association—told the ''[[The Arizona Republic|Arizona Republic]],'' “We were one of the first Christian stations in the country to develop a complete range of programming, not just recorded ministries and [[gospel music]]. To the best of these, we added news, features and interviews, and blended them together to create a full spectrum of service for our listeners.”{{Cite news|title=Radio Station Celebrates|date=September 17, 1977|work=Arizona Republic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31370829/}}

In 1977, KHEP celebrated its 20th anniversary. General Manager Jack Willis—who also served as president of the [http://www.azbroadcasters.org/ Arizona Broadcasters’ Association] and vice president of the Western Religious Broadcasters Association—told the ''[[The Arizona Republic|Arizona Republic]],'' “We were one of the first Christian stations in the country to develop a complete range of programming, not just recorded ministries and [[gospel music]]. To the best of these, we added news, features and interviews, and blended them together to create a full spectrum of service for our listeners.”{{Cite news|title=Radio Station Celebrates|date=September 17, 1977|work=Arizona Republic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31370829/}} During this period of time, KHEP and [[KXXT|KXEG 1010 AM]] were co-owned. The call sign KXEG was derived from sister station [[XEG-AM]].{{Cite book |last=Roland Lindblade QSL Verification Collection |url=http://archive.org/details/nrcverification-lindblade-AZ-KXEG |title=NRC Verification: Lindblade AZ KXEG}}

Jack Willis left in 1983 and was replaced by Herm Gebert; around that time, Grand Canyon Broadcasters changed its name to Christian Communications. In 1985, [[Arbitron]] ratings showed that the station failed to garner sufficient audience to even appear in the ratings.{{Cite news|title=KTAR tops Arbitron ratings again; KDKB tumbles to 11th spot|last=Wilkinson|first=Bud|date=January 14, 1985|work=Arizona Republic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31370868/}} Soon after, it began to call itself “inspirational” rather than “religious,” and sought to expand its signal in order to reach more people. New shows in the late 1980s included “Topic,” hosted by KHEP [[Program director#Broadcasting|program director]] Will Ray, “People to People,” hosted by Bob George, and "Open Mike with Mike Lish" an Arizona centered interview program with guests such as [[John McCain]] and [[Evan Mecham]].

Jack Willis left in 1983 and was replaced by Herm Gebert; around that time, Grand Canyon Broadcasters changed its name to Christian Communications. In 1985, [[Arbitron]] ratings showed that the station failed to garner sufficient audience to even appear in the ratings.{{Cite news|title=KTAR tops Arbitron ratings again; KDKB tumbles to 11th spot|last=Wilkinson|first=Bud|date=January 14, 1985|work=Arizona Republic|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31370868/}} Soon after, it began to call itself “inspirational” rather than “religious,” and sought to expand its signal in order to reach more people. New shows in the late 1980s included “Topic,” hosted by KHEP [[Program director#Broadcasting|program director]] Will Ray, “People to People,” hosted by Bob George, and "Open Mike with Mike Lish" an Arizona centered interview program with guests such as [[John McCain]] and [[Evan Mecham]].