Fifty-eight years ago, the first broadcast of the fledgling missionary radio arm of the SIM made its debut. Here's a link if you would like to listen to that inaugural program. Track 2 02 Unknown Album (1-30-2011 1-12-37 PM).wma
Winston Churchill famously said, "The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see", and as we think and plan and pray for the daunting challenges ahead for ELWA, it is wise and instructive to remind ourselves of how ELWA began with little resources, but great faith, and an even greater God!
SIM Archivist Tim Geysbeek, an ELWA MK and missionary, has done a remarkable job in preserving historical records. I found the following quotes and photos on the SIM website.
From the May, 1953 SIM publication, "The Sudan Witness", the beginnings of this new venture was announced:
"ELWA Begins Broadcasting!
January 18th, 1954 was THE day for the S.I.M., when Station ELWA (from Liberia, West Africa) went on the air. For several years the station has been planned for and prayed about. Now it is a reality,and the Gospel is being broadcast by this new S.I.M. arm of evangelism -- RADIO.
At present, daily broadcasting is for approximately four hours daily. As this issue of the Sudan Witness goes to press, it is being increased, but all will be dependent on additional equipment and buildings. We would call on our faithful prayer partners to remember the daily pressure of needs that are financial, physical and spiritual. ELWA at present is all long wave, with short wave equipment being sought and prayed in. Listener response has already been so overwhelmingly gratifying, that we are sure that ELWA is going to make a great spiritual impact on the people of Africa. Officials in government, business, education and many citizens have written of their appreciation of the broadcasts.
Present broadcasts include transcripts of Back to the Bible Broadcast, Old Fashioned Revival Hour, Heaven and Home, Word of Life, Children's Bible Hour, Songs in the Night, Jungle Doctor, Unshackled, and other broadcasts originating in the homelands plus live broadcasts originating in the ELWA studios.
But the work is far from completed. The present buildings, equipment and personnel are just a beginning for the projected Long and Short Wave broadcasts that will blanket Africa with the Gospel in all the major languages spoken in that great continent. This venture is a call to prayer for all our constituency. Make ELWA your special prayer item for the next month, and God will work and mightily bless."
As you listen to the familiar sign-on chimes of ELWA on the following link, Track 2 02 Unknown Album (1-30-2011 1-12-37 PM).wma , will you commit to partnering with ELWA as they seek to rebuild a new ELWA? Is God calling you to PRAY, to SHARE the needs, to GO and join the rebuilding team, or to GIVE? It is so exciting to anticipate the work that God wants to accomplish, and to have the opportunity to be a part of it!
I've gone through the SIM archives and put together in chronological order the clippings about ELWA and staff members. It's long, but inspiring!
simelwaarchivemay1954dedication.pdf
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