Almost six months ago these rooms were silent, but now they will speak to thousands and, in time, perhaps to millions. Three months of work, dedication and generous donations have turned it into a space that will give voice, comfort, and introduce many in West Africa to Jesus.

This shortwave recording studio has just been added to a network of shortwave radio stations with a mission of bringing the gospel to some of the most difficult and remote locations in the world.

As a part of the Adventist World Radio (AWR) network, the new studio—located on the campus of the Adventist institution Valley View University in Ghana, will produce programs in English. In addition to shortwave AWR uses AM/FM, satellite and Internet broadcasts to areas that are difficult to reach because of political restrictions on religion, cultural barriers to Christianity, and geographic barriers.

As part of the Seventh-day Adventist Church with a mission to evangelize, AWR works with local church regions to find out where studios are needed. With two studios already located in West Africa—one in the Ivory Coast producing programs in the French and Dyula languages and another in Cameroon, producing programs in the Fulfude language—Ben Schoun, president of AWR, said it was clear there was a need for an English language studio in West Africa. Locating the studio in English-speaking Ghana only made sense. The school is in Oyibi, about 31 km from the capital city of Accra.

“We used to have one English program broadcast that we would broadcast around the world,” said Schoun, “But different parts of the world prefer to have English in context of their region.” AWR broadcasts in close to 70 languages with programs now produced by native speakers.

The new shortwave recording studio is the first phase of Valley View’s plans to build a media center on campus to also include an AM/FM radio station and a television studio. According to the school, when the radio and television stations are completed, it will be a first for a private university in Ghana.

In partnering with the school, AWR provides the equipment, the engineer to start out, and some training for the workers who will be using equipment. The school then provides space in a building and prepares it for a studio. This preparation work includes providing insulation and electricity and finding the producers or technicians needed for the operation of the studio.

This is where Tania Luma, a recent college graduate from New Jersey, United States comes in. Luma said she’s always wanted to travel and with internships at an Internet business and National Public Radio, she was ready for the challenge of helping birth the fledgling studio.

Luma said it is difficult to explain her role, although central to the process. She said she listed the experience on her resume as a media consultant, but from her description she was more of a liaison between various parties.

“I was responsible for getting the studio built, constructed, equipped. I was the middleman between AWR and Valley View. I had to make sure that everything happened within three months,” Luma said.

During those three months, from September to early December of 2005, Luma crisscrossed the campus doling out advice on how to get the job done, working with architects, carpenters, and AWR’s regional office in South Africa.

“It seems simple now that I’m talking about it, but there was lots of ups and downs,” Luma recalled. “When I came there was no one. I had to find and interview people and hire them. Everyday was an adventure ...  and sometimes the phones didn’t work so it was hard to get in touch with people.”

Luma named just some of the people critical to the project—Seth Laryea, president of the university, and Amos Afriyie, the school’s vice president of finance, and the students who volunteered to help.

After the studio was built, the equipment was installed and is ready for a production training session scheduled for June. AWR area director, Sam Misiani, will come to Ghana to demonstrate how to use the equipment. Students studying media will help staff the studio.

“One of the advantages to local studios in connection with educational institutions is that usually it has a connection to the Internet and a good infrastructure,” said Schoun. “And there is the mutual benefit of training students in media/radio as part of the communication program.”

The studio will be named after Truman and Thelma Reed, the couple who donated the funds for the studio’s initial set up.

“We expect that the producers will do at least a half hour a day of English language programming reflecting the needs of West Africa,” said Schoun, explaining that a “typical program normally includes pieces on health, family life, and biblical material to introduce the concept of Christianity.”