Adventist World Radio (AWR)

An institution of the General Conference devoted to international broadcasting of the gospel, particularly for countries where local broadcasting by the church is not possible. Adventist World Radio began broadcasting on Oct. 1, 1971, under the direction of the Radio and Television Department of the General Conference, using a 250-kilowatt transmitter leased from Radio Trans-Europa in Lisbon, Portugal. The initial broadcasts were supplemented by leasing time on Radio Mediterranean (Malta) in 1975 and Radio Andorra in 1980; both efforts were short-lived. AWR continued to lease time on Radio Trans-Europa until 1992, when broadcasts from Russia replaced its use. AWR -Europe releases broadcasts for Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States, North Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia. On Feb. 2, 1985, AWR activated a 12.5-kilowatt shortwave facility in Forli, Italy. In May 1991 AWR went on the air in Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, using a 300-watt medium-wave transmitter. In 1992 AWR -Europe became the programming partner of the Voice of Hope Media Center in Tula, Russia. Programs from Novosibirsk on Mar. 1, 1992, using a leased 200-kilowatt transmitter were the first Christian broadcasts to originate from within Russia for external broadcast. On May 3, 1992, broadcasts from Moscow, Ekaterinburg, and Samara increased AWR -Europe releases to 238 hours a week from Russia, 32 from Forli, and 84 from Mazara del Vallo, using 19 languages. General Managers: Allen R. Steele, 1971–1976; Ronald Myers, 1976–1981; Mike Wiist, 1981–1985; Greg Hodgson, 1985– . AWR -Latin America . On Aug. 17, 1979, the Central American Union began broadcasts from Union Radio in Guatemala City in shortwave, AM and FM. The shortwave operation was transferred to AWR -Latin America in 1979. In 1986 AWR -Latin America headquarters were transferred to Alajuela, Costa Rica, and on Oct. 22, 1986, began transmissions. In 1990 additional transmitters were purchased at Cahuita, Costa Rica, and new antennas installed. AWR -Latin America operates three 50-kilowatt and two 20-kilowatt transmitters at Cahuita, a 5-kilowatt transmitter at Alajuela, and a 10-kilowatt transmitter at Guatemala City, all of them shortwave. It broadcasts 322 hours a week from Costa Rica and 57.5 hours from Guatemala, using five languages. General Manager: Dave Gregory, 1986– . AWR -Africa began broadcasting in October 1983 using time on a 250-kilowatt transmitter of Africa One, a station located in Gabon. AWR -Africa has responsibility for the continent of Africa south of the Sahara and broadcasts seven hours a week using French and English. General Manager: Daniel Grisier, 1985– . AWR -Asia: In 1985 the General Conference session offering launched a major initiative to begin broadcasts that would reach China. As a result, AWR -Asia was established on Guam, using the call sign KSDA. Broadcasts began on Mar. 6, 1987, using two 100-kilowatt shortwave transmitters and four curtain antennas. In 1993 AWR -Asia purchased a third 100-kilowatt shortwave transmitter. AWR -Asia broadcasts to China, East and Southeast Asia, Burma, and India. The major language used is Mandarin (nine hours a day). AWR -Asia broadcasts a total of 235 hours a week in 19 languages. General Managers: Allen R. Steele, 1985–1992; Ben Sumicad (acting), 1992–1993; Gordon Retzer, 1993– . AWR -Russia was established in 1992 to manage the release of programs from Russia. AWR -Russia is a programming partner of the Voice of Hope Media Center located in Tula, Russia ( see AWR -Europe above). The Voice of Hope has contracted for the use of two 250-kilowatt and two 200-kilowatt shortwave transmitters. AWR -Russia broadcasts 238 hours a week in 19 languages. General Manager: Peter M. Kulakov, 1993– . The Global Mission Committee of the General Conference has requested AWR to assume responsibility for broadcasting in more than 80 languages, each spoken by more than 10 million people. By 1993 AWR was broadcasting more than 900 hours per week in 31 languages and was authorized to increase to 1,100 hours and 43 languages. Until October 1990, AWR operated in conjunction with the Radio and Television (1971–1972) and Communication (1973–1990) departments of the General Conference, under the control of a board whose membership included all division presidents, North American lay representation, and General Conference leadership. Stations were operated by local boards, with representation from the divisions being served. In 1990 the AWR board assumed direct control of all its stations, with the AWR director appointed by the board and serving as chief executive officer. Area broadcast committees provide for planning and programming within the divisions. The 1992 Annual Council established AWR as an institution of the General Conference, with a president/executive director appointed by the board. AWR is funded through General Conference appropriation, an annuual worldwide offering, and donations that come largely from North America. Directors: James J. Aitken, 1971; Walter Scragg, 1971–1975; Carol Hetzell, 1975–1977; James Chase, 1977–1980; Tulio Haylock, 1980–1990; Walter Scragg, 1990–1992. President/Executive Director: Walter Scragg, 1992– .