Why ELWA?
Radio Station ELWA has been a beacon of light in Liberia for over half a century and touched the lives of people all over the world. Their ministry extends beyond radio to medical, education, and outreach to the entire country and beyond. Though Liberia and ELWA have passed through turbulent times, the light is still shining and the focus today is in four main areas:
ELWA Radio Today
ELWA Radio today broadcasts for 18.5 hours each on both FM and Short Wave. The broadcasts are in English and in seven Liberian languages: Grebo, Bassa, Kissi, Gola, Kpelle, Krahn, and Kru. Plans are to add the remaining 8 Liberian Languages as resources allow in the future. ELWA radio is currently supported by 17 staff members. In July, Judy Slater interviewed Radio Director Moses Nyantee and asked about the impact that EMAUSA has had on ELWA radio.
Current needs include:
- Digital camera
- CD players
- a control console
- external hard drives for backups and to store program files
- digital recorders for the Language staff to use for recording outside materials
- digital equipment to facilitate the process of the switch over from analog to digital broadcast
- children's programming--CD's or tapes (possibly Focus on the Family Odyssey series).
- any old recordings in the various dialects, Aunt Clara, etc (all of the recordings were lost when the studio was destroyed).
Prayer Points:
- Restructuring of programs to effectively reach our target listeners and to attract other potential listeners as well. [Currently, our program line up include preaching, teaching, drama and counseling]
- Logistics for the Liberian Language men to travel upcountry to connect with their language group outside of Monrovia and to collect fresh program materials
- Annual operational cost - $77, 992.82 divided by 12 months will equal $6,499.40/month. [This amount is from the most recent fiscal budget.]
History of ELWA (Eternal Love Winning Africa)
ELWA is a multi-faceted ministry that has served the people in Liberia and West Africa for more than 56 years. The ministry began with radio as a way to effectively spread the gospel in the mid-1950s. Today ELWA occupies a campus of 133 acres that contains an elementary school and a hospital as well as the radio station. The campus is located just 11 miles outside of Monrovia, the capital city, and is well-known by the local people for its broadcasting, educational and medical services. From its beginning SIM (originally Sudan Interior Mission, now known as Serving in Missions) has been the principal mission organization that has organized, supported and financed ELWA.
The outbreak of civil war in 1990 deeply affected SIM's ability to run the ELWA ministries. Over a million dollars in equipment was lost, and many of the buildings on the campus were destroyed by three waves of warfare. After the 3rd wave of fighting, SIM felt that it could no longer adequately support ELWA. Following this decision, a team of Liberians assumed leadership, and SIM continued to provide assistance to ELWA even though fighting continued through 2003.
With the election of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as President of Liberia in 2005, ELWA has attracted new support in the stabilized political environment. ELWA is now deeply involved in the effort to rebuild the economic, educational and social system of Liberia. ELWA offers a Christian resource to the Liberian people. With the power of the gospel that changes the heart, Liberians have renewed hope that they can bring peace and prosperity to their long-suffering nation.
