Adventist World Radio is the international broadcast ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its mission is to broadcast the gospel to the people of the world in their own languages. AWR broadcasts more than 1,000 hours a week via shortwave and AM/FM radio and the Internet. Its programs are produced in locally-operated studios, in nearly 70 languages.
Dr. Benjamin Schoun
John 12:32
Adventist World Radio is the international broadcast ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Its mission is to broadcast the gospel to the people of the world in their own languages. AWR broadcasts more than 1,000 hours a week via shortwave and AM/FM radio and the Internet. Its programs are produced in locally-operated studios, in nearly 70 languages.
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AWR’s mission is to broadcast the Adventist hope in Christ |
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| Our Purpose |
Adventist World Radio is the mission radio arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. We use AM/FM, shortwave, satellite, podcasting and Internet broadcasts to carry the gospel to people who are difficult to reach because of political restrictions on religion, cultural barriers to Christianity, and geographic barriers. |
| What Makes AWR Unique? |
The Adventist Church has a rich tradition in media ministry. Today there are numerous local, national, and international broadcasters active in radio and television evangelism. AWR’s ministry is unique in several ways: |
| Priority Broadcast Areas | One of AWR’s main objectives is to share the gospel with people living in the 72 countries within the 10/40 window. This area is located between 10 and 40 degrees north latitude – a region spanning North Africa, the Middle East, and part of Asia/Pacific. More than four billion people – two-thirds of the world’s population – live in the 10/40 window, and less than two percent of them are Christian.
AWR also broadcasts radio programs in Africa, other parts of Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and satellite coverage extends to North America and northern Australia. It is a challenge to calculate the exact number of countries that AWR reaches, since signals fluctuate and numerous radio stations access our downlinks throughout the year. |
| Broadcast Languages |
AWR currently broadcasts in more than 70 languages, thousands of hours each day, and we are preparing to add more. For example, our schedule includes programs in Amharic for people in Ethiopia, Kirghiz for residents of Kyrgyzstan, and Malayalam for listeners in India. |
| Production by Native Speakers |
AWR does not create a central collection of programs in English and have them translated into various languages. Instead, we work with local producers in about 75 studios around the world. Producers are chosen from the same language and cultural group as the target audience so that the topics and illustrations will truly connect with listeners. For example, programs in Nepal include agricultural information and updates, which are appreciated in a society that has a largely agricultural economy. |
| Programs for Non-Christians |
Preparing interesting, uplifting, and relevant programs for non-Christian listeners is AWR’s purpose. The programs encourage listeners to grow into a personal relationship with Jesus. Segments include short sermons, Bible lessons, interviews, and dramas. AWR also airs programming for children, medical advice forums, discussions on family matters, musical presentations, and more. |
| Media Selection |
AWR carefully selects the broadcast media that is appropriate for each region. This traditionally has meant shortwave radio, but more recently has included local AM/FM broadcasts and also Internet broadcasts, which can be accessed anywhere in the world. |
| Shortwave's Far Reach | Shortwave radio broadcasts can easily travel thousands of miles, and some go almost around the world. The waves bounce off the ionosphere – several hundred miles above the earth’s surface – enabling them to travel extremely long distances.
In contrast, AM and FM signals only cover local areas. AM radio waves follow the ground as they travel, while FM waves follow a line-of-sight pattern. |
| Global Use of Shortwave | Since its launch in 1971, AWR has broadcast many hours on shortwave radio because it is the most widely-heard broadcast vehicle in the world. Because the signals can travel for thousands of miles, unlike AM or FM radio waves, our programs can be broadcast from outside a country and yet reach into areas that are closed to religious broadcasts in local media.
More than 2.5 billion people around the world, using 1.5 billion shortwave radio receivers, tune in to shortwave on a regular basis. Research shows that shortwave listeners are growing globally, with penetration at its highest level in developing countries. For example, 98 percent of households in Zimbabwe have shortwave radios. People in North America don’t listen to shortwave as much because of the widespread availability of local AM and FM stations. |
| Listener Feedback | AWR receives well over 100,000 letters, phone calls, and e-mail messages from listeners every year. We know that there are many more listeners than the number we actually hear from because they are prevented from contacting us due to security issues, illiteracy, poverty, and lack of mail service. AWR maximizes its potential listening audience by broadcasting during the high-volume morning and evening hours, and by producing programs in local languages. |
| Listener Support | Each message or inquiry from a listener receives a response from the program speaker or a caring, knowledgeable correspondent at the local production studio or Bible school. Listeners who contact AWR with an interest in learning more about Christ are sent free Bible study guides. Where possible, arrangements are made to put them in touch with Adventist church members, who can personally nurture them in their walk with God. |
| Results | Tens of thousands of people around the world have accepted Jesus as their Savior as a result of AWR’s programs. New churches and house churches have been organized in many countries; in areas where there are no Adventist pastors, listeners tell us that AWR serves as their pastor. A large number of listener clubs have also been created, where people listen to and discuss the messages presented in AWR programs. |
| Financial Support | All gifts made directly to AWR go to advance the broadcast ministry. The majority of AWR’s annual budget comes from individuals who believe in the importance of this ministry and partner with AWR through generous gifts. Operating expenses are covered by appropriations from the world church and other sources of income. |
| Contact | AWR Headquarters: 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, Maryland 20904 USA Phone direct 1-301-680-6293 1-301-680-6293 |
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