A federal bankruptcy judge has postponed a decision on the proposed sale of St. Louis community radio station KDHX to Educational Media Foundation, giving both supporters of the independent station and a competing Christian broadcaster more time to make plans.

On April 16, US Bankruptcy Judge Kathy Surratt-States scheduled a final hearing for May 13 on Double Helix Corporation’s motion to sell KDHX’s license and tower to the K-LOVE network operator. However, she clarified she would not issue a ruling that day and expressed concern over recent actions taken by the seller, including the unauthorized airing of K-Love programming on KDHX earlier this month.

Double Helix attorney Robert Eggmann admitted the content had aired in error.

Double Helix, which owns KDHX and filed for bankruptcy in March , has an agreement to sell the station to Tennessee-based K-Love for between $4.35 million and $4.8 million. A competing $5.5 million bid was submitted by Gateway Creative Broadcasting, which already operates two Christian stations in the St. Louis market, on April 14.

In light of that counter-offer, Double Helix is now asking the court to open an auction for the signal and its tower, in the hopes of gaining maximum value for its FCC license, per St. Louis Public Radio .

Both bids face mounting resistance from the League of Volunteer Enthusiasts (LOVE) of KDHX, a group of former hosts and community members arguing that the sale violates the organization’s founding mission and state nonprofit law. The group claims the board’s approval of the sale sidestepped required procedures and ignored a temporary restraining order issued in a separate lawsuit challenging changes to the station’s bylaws.

LOVE is not seeking to outbid the Christian networks but instead plans to submit documentation and financing proposals that it hopes will convince the court to reject the sale. The group has received offers of local support, including a $150,000 loan from area business leaders, and is working to develop a reorganization plan that could stabilize the station financially.

Eggmann pushed back on the group’s claims, emphasizing the need to resolve the station’s millions of dollars in debt. The May 13 hearing will determine whether the court accepts a sale to outside buyers or allows the community an opportunity to reclaim the station’s future.