The Birth of a Vision
In 1949, two students at Wheaton College in the United States, William Watkins and Abe Thiessen, were preparing to become missionaries. During this time, they developed a deep concern for Africa.
As they prayed and reflected on the continent, they began to see a new possibility. They believed radio could play a major role in reaching Africa with the Gospel. They later described their vision: “Radio would play a big part in emerging Africa, and that God wanted us to use this channel to give out the Word of Life.”
They thought about the many unreached people across Africa. They also considered the small number of missionaries serving the continent and the limited time available to reach its people.
Furthermore, they faced a major question: How could missionaries reach so many people with so few workers and resources?
Radio seemed to offer an answer. Missionaries had already used radio successfully in other parts of the world. Therefore, Watkins and Thiessen began to ask, “Why not a gospel radio station for Africa?”
Formation of WABA and Partnership with SIM
In April 1950, Watkins and Thiessen formed the West African Broadcasting Association (WABA). Soon afterward, they decided to establish the organisation in Liberia.
At the time, Liberia was the only African country where they could operate an independent missionary radio station. This made it the natural choice for their project.
By March 1952, the WABA pioneers recognised a strong connection between their vision and the work of the Sudan Interior Mission (SIM). As a result, they decided to merge the two organisations.
The station operated from Monrovia, Liberia, while SIM’s headquarters in Jos, Nigeria, provided oversight. Gordon Beecham, an SIM missionary who had served in Nigeria for many years, became the station’s first manager.
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Birth of Radio ELWA
The new radio station received the call letters ELWA. The name eventually became associated with the phrase “Eternal Love Winning Africa.”
On January 18, 1954, Radio ELWA broadcast its first programme from the site that later became known as Radio Village.
With that first broadcast, Radio ELWA became the first Christian radio station in Africa. More importantly, it introduced a new approach to Christian evangelism on the continent.
Radio quickly became a powerful tool for missionaries and African evangelists. The station helped create what became known as the era of radio missionaries and evangelists in Africa.
The station expanded its language offerings rapidly. By March 1955, Radio ELWA was broadcasting programmes in French, Arabic, Hausa, and Yoruba.
Impact and Notable Broadcast
Some of the most popular programmes were the broadcasts of the radio sermons of popular American evangelists like Billy Graham’s “Hour of Decision,” Charles Fuller’s “Old Fashioned Revival Hour,” Theodore Epp’s “Back to the Bible,” and Walter Maier’s “The Lutheran Hour.” One of the most beloved voices on Radio ELWA was that of Howard Jones, the first African-American evangelist on Billy Graham’s team and pastor of Smoot Memorial Alliance Church of Cleveland.” He had seen an advert by Radio ELWA, in Christian Life magazine, requesting for tapes of negro spirituals produced by black church choirs. Jones immediately put his choir together and they recorded tunes such as “Every Time I Feel the Spirit,” “Deep River,” and “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”
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Howard Jones and Cultural Resonance
This immediately resonated with the audience, and soon Jones was asked to include a short message with the songs, which would be aired on the station’s prime time. Jones’ programme was usually introduced with the line, “This is Howard Jones, a Negro pastor from Cleveland, Ohio, in the United States.” His short sermons, designed to “transcend culture” boomed over the radio with a stirring appeal. The ways in which people adapted Radio ELWA broadcasts were endless. First drawn by the novelty of the “talking box” speaking their own language, thousands were brought to Christ by a simple presentation of the gospel of Christ which followed. Radio ELWA truly revolutionised evangelism in Africa. By mid-1971, the station had a staff strength of about 200 Africans and 60 expatriates.”
Date: 23rd August 2022
Title: ETERNAL LOVE WINNING AFRICA -Nigeria’s First Gospel Radio Station
Source: A Heritage of Faith: A History of Christianity in Nigeria
Author: Ayodeji Abodunde