James Howard Elected President of Adventist World Radio

The board of directors of Adventist World Radio (AWR) elected James (Jim) Howard as its new president. Howard succeeds Duane McKey, who has served as president of AWR since January 2017. McKey announced his retirement during the sixty-second General Conference (GC) Session, which was held in St. Louis, Missouri. Howard assumes the new role effective immediately.

Before joining AWR, Howard has served as the director of Sabbath School and Personal Ministries (SSPM) at the GC since 2018. He was recently elected for the same role in July during the GC Session. He has decades of ministry and leadership experience, as well as a passion for mission.

“It is both an honor and a privilege to be asked to serve as president of Adventist World Radio,” Howard said. “For more than 50 years, this ministry has been using radio and digital media to reach every corner of the world with the three angels’ messages, and it has expanded its evangelistic vision only in recent years.”

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Howard worked as an accountant before switching to pastoral ministry He started ministry as a bivocational pastor in Ohio and later entered full-time ministry in the Michigan Conference. He eventually joined the GC Sabbath School and Personal Ministries team. 

During the years at the GC, Howard has led various projects that have impacted the global Adventist Church. Among these are the development of Alive in Jesus, the Sabbath School quarterly curriculum for babies through youth launched in January 2025; and the Global Total Member Involvement and Grow Your Church disciple-making resources. 

Erton Köhler, GC president, said, “Jim has consistently empowered lay members to share their faith. He is a strong leader who is consistent in Adventist theology, focused on the mission, and is passionate about evangelism.”

Leonard Johnson, AWR board chair, who also serves as a GC vice president, affirmed the appointment. 

“I am pleased that Jim has accepted the decision of the AWR board to serve as president,” Johnson said. “He brings to this ministry a wealth of experience. As an ordained pastor, great promoter, organizer, and a gifted communicator with a passion for mission, he will do well in the position.”

About Adventist World Radio

Howard has called for prayers, sharing, “I feel insufficient, but I take comfort in the conviction that the Lord Himself has called me to take on this new challenge. Please pray with me that God will bless AWR as we aim to broadcast truth to the world, find and develop spiritually interested people, and lead them to become active disciples of Jesus.”

Adventist World Radio is the international radio broadcast ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, transmitting programs in more than 100 languages via shortwave, AM/FM, on-demand, and digital platforms. AWR has expanded its digital reach to unreached people groups through radio, digital platforms, and innovative media strategies. Since its founding in 1971, AWR has sought to share the hope of the gospel with people across cultural, political, and geographic barriers.

The original version of this article was posted on the Adventist News Network site.