The Hope Channel Beams Good News to the World

By Kandus Thorp, Adventist Television Network

During the past seven years, an astounding 1 million new members have been added to God's family through satellite NET evangelism. In 1995 the first NET evangelistic meeting was broadcast by the North American Division, produced by Adventist Communication Network (ACN) and It Is Written television. Since that time, Adventist Television Network (ATN), the General Conference's television ministry, has developed the church's global satellite network to include 16,000 downlink sites that blanket the globe from Rio de Janeiro to Nairobi to New York City.

Today, eight percent of Adventist membership traces their entrance to the church to satellite evangelism. Leaders from other denominations are amazed at how such a relatively small church has spawned this massive media outreach. In Papua New Guinea they blushingly confessed, "Years ago you Adventists started going door-to-door to share the gospel, and we followed your example. Then you held large outdoor evangelistic meetings, and we did the same. But now, you have this satellite technology and we can't do this-it is impossible for us!"

In October 2003 ATN took a giant leap, moving from "occasional" broadcasts of special events to launching two television stations broadcasting fulltime. The flagship station is the Hope Channel. It presents God's unique last-day message 24 hours a day in a winsome manner. The second channel is ATN Business and will carry ACN broadcasts for North America, along with special programming for Spanish and French languages.

"The Hope Channel will resonate with the heartbeat of ATN-evangelism. Creative new programming will be designed with the spiritually sensitive in mind," explains Brad Thorp, ATN Executive Director and Program Director for the Hope Channel. "The goal is to inspire, teach, and lead people to find Christ as their Savior and become a part of His remnant people."

New programs such as Freedom in Focus challenge viewers who are pondering the issues of church and state. Fast-moving mission documentaries will inspire the young and adventurous. Personal stories of faith depicted in the realty TV series Escape especially appeal to secular people searching for meaning and purpose. Intriguing travel programs that take you to ancient Bible lands and professional health presentations will open the minds and hearts of viewers to listen to the spiritual messages from the preaching ministries of the church. Sprinkled with church news from around the world, Sabbath School lesson studies and inspirational preaching, the Hope Channel will let Adventists the world over know this is "their church's TV channel."

The new Hope Channel will carry a wide variety of unique and fresh programming produced by our churches, colleges, hospitals and institutions. Programs from Outpost Centers Incorporated, Maranatha, Laymen's Ministries, Amazing Facts, It Is Written, and scores of other Adventist entities find an outlet to creatively share the message of hope. Throughout the 24 hour programming numerous short innovative spots will show the smiling faces of Adventists from around the world and how we are "normal people" who have discovered peace and hope in the Word of God.

The Hope Channel will also feature the best from the classic Adventist preachers. Marshall Chase, Director of the Adventist Media Center comments, "Based on the popular nostalgia in the entertainment world for classic movies, it seems the perfect time for Adventist religious broadcasters to bring the 'classics' out of the vaults, dust them off, re-edit and air shows under the Adventist Classics banner." This series will showcase the Adventist pioneers of TV evangelism. The creative ministries of George Vandeman, Charles Brooks, Joe Crews, William Fagel, and others will continue to change lives today through this series hosted by Connie Vandeman.

The Hope Channel also has a Latin American station for the Portuguese and Spanish languages that broadcasts in South and Inter-America. Hope Channel International broadcasts on satellites covering the Pacific Rim, Southeast Asia, India, Africa and Europe. Hope Channel International will offer a greater diversity of programming to appeal to an international audience.

Gary Gibbs, newly appointed Associate Director for ATN, explains how people can receive the Hope Channel. "People in North America will want to get the 36-inch satellite dish we are providing even if they already have Sky Angel. On this single dish they can receive six Adventist channels-the Hope Channel, ATN Business, 3ABN, 3ABN Latin, Loma Linda Broadcasting, and Life Talk Radio. The price is $204 US ($299 CAN), including shipping and there are no monthly fees." Many people have already purchased a compatible dish system from 3ABN and can easily tune it to receive the Hope Channel or can order a dish by calling 1-888-393-4673 or by going to www.hopetv.org. Viewers outside of The Americas need to contact Techinfo@hopetv.org for information on how to get the proper equipment to view Hope Channel International.

In Africa, the Adventist Church is excited about the Hope Channel. Pardon Mwansa, President of the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division pleads, "Give us Adventist television programming in the homes. You have no idea what it will do for our church when our members start asking their friends if they are watching our church's TV channel!"

"This is an unprecedented opportunity for us to prepare people for Jesus' return," says Gibbs. "We now have 24 hour access to people right in their homes. I know from having spent 13 years with Amazing Facts that people of every type of non-religious and religious background are searching the airwaves for truth. The Holy Spirit creates a deep longing in every heart that cannot be satisfied by anything other than God's truth. The stories of people who will 'providentially' come across our station and find a better life through Christ are incredible!"

When asked if there is a need for several Adventist television networks, Ted Wilson, General Vice President of the General Conference and Chair of ATN Operating Committee, observes, "There is a vast world to reach and having a variety of networks will give us a greater opportunity to saturate the airwaves and touch people's hearts with Jesus' love. There was a point in our church's history when we published two health journals. At that time, some people felt one magazine was enough. But Ellen White counseled, 'There should be no friction between the two. Both are essential, and both should occupy the field at the same time. Each is the complement of the other, and can in no wise take its place.' (Counsels on Health, p. 447) God is guiding in the establishment of different Adventist stations that will complement each other and further God's work. He can use all avenues to reach this world with the Advent message."

God has marvelously provided the Hope Channel with satellite contracts that are a fraction of the cost compared to just a few years ago. Thorp recalls, "For a long time the financing of fulltime, worldwide coverage remained out of reach. But a series of providences recently opened up space on the very satellites we wanted and amazingly the prices we negotiated are far below the original estimates. We are thrilled God has opened this door! We believe God will also bless us with people who share the Hope Channel's vision and will help us fund dynamic new programming to reach today's modern world with the Advent message of hope."

In the Eastern Congo during a large camp meeting a sacrificial offering was taken to purchase satellite equipment for 80 downlinks. Deacons placed large buckets in front of the podium. While the choirs sang, people came streaming down from the surrounding hillside where they had been seated. A kaleidoscope of gifts was deposited so they could later be sold in the marketplace. Women sacrificially brought their own clothing, clocks, lamps and dishes. Men pledged cows, goats, truckloads of gravel, and their labor. And the children came too. Right at the last, a four year old girl, gaily skipped up carrying in her tiny hands a little pair of pink plastic shoes, just the right size for her, and with joy dropped them in the bucket. Fresh off her feet, they were an offering from her heart! The evangelistic ministry of the Hope Channel is to prepare people for Jesus' soon return. We are very much a faith ministry that is dependent upon the prayers and generosity of God's people. Please join the Hope Channel as we seek to faithfully share God's last day message of hope with the world.

Hope Channel contact information:
info@hopetv.org
www.hopetv.org
The Hope Channel
PO Box 4000
Silver Spring, MD 20904
(301) 680-5100