SELMA — Attending church does not mean walking in the building and sitting through a service.

Sometimes it means turning the radio to WHBB AM 1490 and listening to prayers, Bible verses and gospel music with radio host Jannie Venter.

“It’s mostly designed for the sick and shut-ins or those in the hospital, nursing home or those that are incarcerated,” Venter said. “It helps them because they can’t go to church, so I try to bring the church to them. It’s good Sunday morning gospel and Sunday night gospel.”

Venter is in her 37th year as a radio talk show host, a milestone she will celebrate at her yearly anniversary event on Sept. 12.

Hosting a show is more than just playing music and becoming a radio personality, Venter said.

“It’s not about me,” Venter said. “It’s about how I help my peoples out there in radio land. And when I say my peoples, I don’t mean my color, I mean peoples. I have peoples of every color. It’s about helping God’s people and bringing sunshine into their lives.”

Coworker George Henry, program director and disc jockey for WDXX, has worked with Venter for more than 25 years.

“She’s just a blessing to have around,” Henry said. “She’s always happy. She’s always laughing and cutting up and when everybody is tired and feeling down, she just cheers them up. She’s a bright ray of sunshine every time she comes in the door.”

The program consists of contemporary and traditional gospel music, prayers, calls from listeners and when she feels compelled, singing by Venter.

“If people request a song and I can’t find it but I know it, I’ll go up to that mike and sing it on the air to them,” Venter said.

She started her radio career with WTQX-AM with a 15-minute program, which she kept for seven years before moving to WHBB where she has worked for 30 years now. As for singing gospel music, she’s been doing that since she was in elementary school.

She’s not planning on ending her radio shows any time soon, estimating she’ll be in the business for 20 more years.

“Through this program, a lot of people have been saved,” Venter said. “ It’s a ministry. I don’t do it for the money. I do it for the people out there in radio land. They need it. That’s what keeps me in it.”

Venter hosts two shows, one from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on Sunday morning and the other from 7 p.m. until 12 a.m. on Sunday nights.

To celebrate Venter’s 37th anniversary, visit the tribute event Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. at the Carl C. Morgan Convention Center, 211 Washington St. Five gospel groups from Alabama or Georgia will perform gospel music in her honor.

Tickets are available prior to the event and at the door. For more information, contact Venter at 875-4266.