CHURCH TO EXPAND ITS SIMI STUDIOS; ADVENTISTS BREAK GOUND ON $22 MILLION MEDIA CENTER.

Byline: Krystn Shrieve Staff Writer

The Seventh-day Adventist Media Center, which broadcasts Christian television and radio shows from a west end industrial park, is expanding its studios in an effort to reach an international audience.

The media center broke ground Monday on a $6 million, 22,000-square-foot facility that will house two video studios, three audio studios and six post-production video studios next to its building on Cochran Street.

``The Seventh-day Adventist Church is an evangelical Christian organization, and television and radio are a vital part of our ministry as a church in sharing God's love,'' said Kermit Netteburg, the church's national spokesman.

The Simi Valley media center produces two radio programs: ``The Voice of Prophecy'' and, for Spanish-speaking listeners, ``La Voz de la Esperanza'' or ``The Voice of Hope.''

It also produces the television programs ``It is Written,'' ``Faith for Today'' and ``Breath of Life.''

``Breath of Life'' targets African-American audiences in the largest cities of North America and the Caribbean.

In the new building, expected to be completed in a year, the radio shows will be able to make the jump to TV broadcasts.

The goal is to have both radio and television programs broadcast all over the world.

``Seventh-day Adventists believe strongly in the Bible, which says we should preach the good news in every country,'' Netteburg said. ``That's how many countries we hope to expand to.''

Randy Schornstein, the center's post-production manager, said the new technology will allow staff members to turn information around more quickly. There could be even more programs in the future, he said.

Schornstein said he can hardly wait for construction to be completed.

``We moved here in 1995, and we've been camping here for four years,'' Schornstein said. ``We've got equipment on table tops and Apple computer boxes. It will be good to get into a permanent facility.''

Netteburg said the church's programs are broadcast to more than 75 countries, but he does not know how many listeners and viewers they attract.

``One program we produce, called `Lifestyle Magazine,' is on more than 4,000 cable networks in North America. `Breath of Life' is received by 96 percent of all cable households. `It is Written' is received in 44 countries,'' he said.

Using both radio and television, the church has shows airing at all times of day and night, he said, and can reach communities where it has no church buildings. All in the audience can tune in to the same message.

``It brings a cohesion and unity to the church,'' Netteburg said.

The Seventh-day Adventist Church claims approximately 11 million members worldwide, including about 900,000 in North America.

Church members said they are dedicated to disaster relief, other humanitarian aid, tutoring and health care as well as evangelism. The church runs 100 health-care facilities across the United States, including Simi Valley Hospital, and a system of schools from kindergarten through postgraduate university courses for 100,000 students.