The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the North Caribbean Conference, which oversees a cluster of islands in the British and United States Virgin Islands, recently announced the purchase of a radio station thanks to a partnership with Adventist World Radio. As the new owner of WGOD 97.9 FM, the church will be able to launch an enhanced radio ministry soon, church leaders said.

“This acquisition could not have come at a more opportune time [then now] when the church in the North Caribbean Conference is remodeling its media ministry to be more diverse, more inclusive, and more relevant as we give urgency to the proclamation of our message and the powerful fulfillment of our mission,” said Pastor Desmond James, President of the North Caribbean Conference. “This is a tremendous achievement for the church and we are doing all we can and moving forward with the guidance of God.”

WGOD-FM, the radio station licensed in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands, was owned by the Three Angels Broadcasting Company and Mr. Reynold Charles, a Seventh-day Adventist member who lives on the island. It features a mix of teaching programs and Christian music. The station will be broadcast on the airwaves and via the internet. According to Pastor Royston Philbert, Communications Director for the church in the North Caribbean Conference, the radio station will continue to serve a population of approximately 250,000, including some 16,000 church members.

The plan is for the station to offer local programs 24 hours a day to the US Virgin Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St. Maarten, St. Eustatius, Saba, and Anguilla islands, he said. “We believe this is God’s time for His church to proclaim His Word through this radio station,” said Philbert. “The ministry plans to offer programs on the gospel, health, family and youth issues.”

The acquisition has been in the works since 2019 when Adventist World Radio (AWR) officials traveled to St. Croix and St. Thomas for assessments and final discussions on the venture, explained Philbert. “AWR leaders assured North Caribbean Conference leaders of their support for strengthening the radio ministry in spreading the gospel,” he added.

The radio ministry, which is positioned as one of the strategic initiatives of the North Caribbean Conference, is expected to support the growing evangelism initiatives across the territory, said Pastor Wilmoth James, Executive Secretary for the church in the North Caribbean Conference and Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee. “This is a journey we are taking by faith and we believe that the members will support the idea and contribute to the project,” said James. “I am excited about the church continuing from where Brother Charles started years ago and, today, God is opening the opportunity for the Seventh-day Adventist Church to continue the legacy. The church is indispensable in the life of many people here in the territory.”

Additional studio equipment has been acquired in preparation for the transition and the antenna will be refurbished to maximize the reach of the station, said Philbert. Improvements are expected to begin on the existing building and personnel will be sourced in the coming months.

“It’s all about proclaiming Jesus’ last [day] message of salvation,” Philbert said.

The North Caribbean Conference oversees a church membership of more than 16,000 throughout 36 churches and congregations in Anguilla, British Virgin Islands (including Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, Tortola, and Virgin Gorda), United States Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas), and the islands of Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten. The conference also operates several primary and secondary schools.

To learn more about the church in the North Caribbean Conference, visit northcaribbeanconference.org

This article was originally published on the Inter-America Division’s website