Tucked in a corner of Agana Heights in an unassuming single-story building is the home base of the “Pwipwi Soulang Radio” show. On any given weekday morning, one can find Maverick Namelo, Evanelyn Ruda and Alex Rhowuniong inside expertly working with knobs and screens and cables. Behind a set of double doors in a soundproofed room, complete with a green screen, microphones, cameras, and a formidable mixing board, is where the team records and broadcasts the show. 

The operation is small but its reach is mighty. 

“We have been getting a lot of good feedback from Chuukese, I would say, almost all across the globe,” Maverick said. Maverick is the assistant manager of Joy FM. Evanelyn is the station’s production manager. Alex Rhowuniong also works on the show. Matt Dodd is the station’s general manager.  “Pwipwi Soulang Radio” is broadcast on Joy FM in Guam. There are Joy FM radio stations all over Micronesia, Maverick said. Joy FM is a Christian radio station and much of its programming is geared toward Christianity. This 2018 article notes that Joy FM station on Guam has been on the air since the 1990s and the radio station has played a major role in growing the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the islands. 

“The main purpose of us going on the show for every morning is to do a devotional,” Maverick said. “It's a worship moment where we have a short nugget, maybe like a one- or three-minute-long encouragement from the Bible. We read that out to the listener every morning, or we read out two or three verses from the Bible. Then we end with a prayer.”

During the devotional segment, the team will also offer specific prayers requested by listeners.

“They comment, or they send us messages saying, ‘Pray for me or pray for my son in school, pray for my daughter. You know, today's my birthday. Can you guys do a shoutout?’ That's all included in our devotionals, but, mainly, it's to uplift everyone, or individuals, to our Lord and to engage people in having a relationship with Christ, or to start a daily (practice), get into the habit of having a devotion, a prayer lifestyle,” Maverick said. 

Since its launch in 2021, “Pwipwi Soulang Radio” has been a space for prayer, but it’s also been a space for important health information and a space to empower Chuukese people.

More than just Bible talk

Through the Joy FM team’s efforts, Chuukese-speaking listeners have increased access to valuable information. The team produces a prerecorded show with doctors from the Seventh-day Adventist Clinic and the team translates those shows to Chuukese. Not many health professionals in Guam speak Chuukese, so by translating information from medical providers, the radio team is bridging that language barrier and providing an avenue for listeners to gain knowledge about health information they might not otherwise have access to. They’ve covered topics like diabetes, high blood pressure, nutrition and pregnancy. 

During the “Pwipwi Soulang Radio” show, the hosts also translate news and weather information to Chuukese for their listeners, so that they are up to date with goingson about town.

“Pwipwi soulang” translates to “Christian brothers and sisters,” Maverick explained.

Reaching out to people in prison 

The radio station’s team has also been able to share their show with people behind bars who are held at the Guam prison. 

“We have another Bible study program with inmates, Chuukese inmates,” Evanelyn said. They send the program by email to the people at the prison. 

For some detained at the Guam Department of Corrections, these radio programs have been a sort of lifeline. Evanelyn and Maverick described the messages of gratitude they received from people who, locked in a cell, found connection through the radio.

“They tell us, ‘I was crying when I come across this radio station because finally I feel like I am connected. I'm connected to this radio station. I hear the word of God in my own language. I hear music in my own language. I understand,’” Maverick said. “This one person said, ‘It feels like I'm connected to the Chuukese community out here in Guam even though I’m in here.’” 

Maverick recalled feedback from one man who was deeply moved after he heard a song on “Pwipwi Soulang Radio,” sung by a girl. The girl was about 5 years old, Maverick said. The man, who was held at the prison, said he was in tears when he heard the song because it reminded him of his young daughter. He told Maverick he didn’t know what was going on in her life now. 

“Hearing that these young people are engaged in positive stuff like this encourages him to think positive about his girl that, hopefully, she is growing up in a community where she learns about God and also develops a positive attitude,” Maverick said. 

At Christmastime recently, the radio station put some donations together and distributed them to all the people detained at the prison, not just the people who are from Chuuk, according to Maverick and Evanelyn.

Evanelyn said they distributed about 600 packages containing toiletries, reading material, and snacks, and they even gave out small radios. 

A sign from God

Five years ago if you asked Maverick or Evanelyn if they thought they’d be where they are now, broadcasting a Chuukese-speaking radio show in Guam five days a week and reaching thousands of listeners across the world, they’d probably balk. But that’s exactly what they and Alex are doing now. 

Maverick said the station manager told him that he dreamt of reaching all the people in Micronesia with radio for a long time. For Maverick, his move to Joy FM was a direct action after he asked God for a sign. He’d been working for another radio station on Guam. The concept of a Chuukese radio show on Joy FM was floated. Maverick considered it but it meant quitting his job. Unsure if it would be the right choice, Maverick asked God for a sign. 

“I said, God, if you want me to be there at ‘Pwipwi Soulang Radio,’ then you should stop my boss from working on my projects. That was the sign that I asked God,” he said. “So I came here for my interview, and I told my manager, hey, this is my prayer. If it happens, then that'll mean that God wants me here, but if not, then, you know, that's a clear sign that he doesn't want me here.”

The next week, Maverick saw his projects went untouched and he resigned then started working at Joy FM.

For Evanelyn, she used to work at a restaurant that closed when the pandemic hit. She was one of thousands facing an uncertain future having been laid off during a global crisis. She said she prayed to God for help, for a job, any job. 

Then one day she received a call from Maverick. 

“I came here and I filled out the application because I know that’s the answer” to her prayers, Evanelyn said. 

Both Maverick and Evanelyn were apprehensive about working for the station because they had little to no experience. However, they said they said they left their hesitation and apprehension up to God and heeded the call. 

“Pwipwi Soulang Radio” was born. 

Beyond reaching Chuukese people

Since they’ve been on the air, the team has received a lot of positive feedback. One time they were handing out business cards and handed one to a woman who told them that she was a longtime listener. 

“She's like, ‘Hey, this is my radio station. I've been listening to this radio station.’ Then she mentioned, ‘I know Maverick. I know Evanelyn,’” Maverick recalled with a smile. “But we've never met her.” 

“When I heard about that, I'm like, wow, that's so cool. So we are now like a friend figure to them, right?” Maverick said. “They feel like they know us.” 

Their primary mission at “Pwipwi Soulang Radio” is to help Chuukese people have a close relationship with God, Maverick said.

“But aside from that, it is to teach our people … and have all this helpful information that is really beneficial for all of us. So our goal is not just for the spiritual aspect but also for our day-to-day, our livelihood,” he added. 

Evanelyn encouraged young people interested in recording their favorite Bible verse for the radio station to reach out. “We are happy to put their voice on the air,” she said.

For those interested in radio or producing audio content, Maverick encourages them to try. 

He also picked out a Bible verse that encouraged followers to trust in the Lord. Maverick related it to his own journey to Joy FM. 

“God does not call the qualified, but He qualifies the one He calls. So don't be scared. Don't be afraid if God calls you. If He definitely calls you, He will equip you. He will give you what you need to get His work done,” Maverick said. 

Support ‘Pwipwi Soulang Radio’

The station is fundraising for a new tower. The goal is to broadcast a signal that not only reaches Weno, the largest municipality in Chuuk, but also reaches all of the outer islands of Chuuk. 

Supporters can give their donations in person to the folks at the station, Maverick said. Donations can also be made online, a link to a donation website is linked on the “Pwipwi Soulang Radio” Facebook page.  

To keep up with “Pwipwi Soulang Radio,” Follow “Pwipwi Soulang Radio” on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/pwipwisoulang, or download the Joy FM Radio app.