April 8, 2021 | Silver Spring, Maryland, United States | Ted N.C. Wilson, President, General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Hello, friends! In the book of Hebrews, chapter 13, we read a beautiful description of how Jesus, our Savior, suffered and died for us–a sinless sacrifice that we might live. And then, in verses 15 and 16, we read,
“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.“
These verses remind us of the importance of communication–praising God, giving thanks to Him, and telling the world of His wonderful plan to give us a more abundant life here on earth, and eternal life when He comes again.
And as a movement, Adventists have found ways of communicating this message even before we were officially organized as a church. Starting in 1849 with just “a little paper” called The Present Truth, the Biblical message of truth and hope was spread to eager readers.
The publication grew and as it spread more widely and after ten issues became The Adventist Review, followed by Second Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. In 1978, this publication returned to the name Adventist Review and is still published today as a monthly magazine.
As technology advanced, new ways of mass communication made it possible to reach more people.
In the fall of 1929 in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, Pastor Harold Nathan Williams from Battle Creek Michigan founded VOAR–Voice of Adventist Radio. It originally began as 8BSL – The Bible Study League, broadcasting weather reports to mariners, sermons and music. Today it is Canada’s largest Christian Radio Network, and the only Adventist owned over-the-air radio station in the country.
The radio broadcast, Voice of Prophecy, was also founded in 1929, in Los Angeles, California, by H.M.S. Richards, Sr. Starting on a single radio station, the program quickly spread across the United States and beyond.
Faith for Today, Adventism’s first television program, was launched by William and Virginia Fagal in May 1950, and by December of that year had spread quickly to become the first national religious telecast in North America.
In 1956, It Is Written, founded by George Vandeman, became the first religious program to air in color, and was the first to take advantage of satellite technology.
And, of course, since that time, many more wonderful Adventist media ministries have risen up, proclaiming truth for this time.
Hope Channel International, the church’s official television network, began operations in 2003. The network currently has 59 Hope Channels worldwide. Broadcasting on multiple platforms, Hope Channel programming can be viewed on every inhabited continent on earth.
This coming Sabbath, April 10, is a special day for Hope Channel, as we remember the importance of communication, and offer our support to this important ministry of God’s Church.
Let’s listen now to a short message from Pastor Derek Morris, president of Hope Channel International.
The second Sabbath of April every year has been designated as hope channel promotional Sabbath. This year, that falls on April 10, 2021. The mission of hope channel is to offer God’s good news for a better life today. And for eternity through the seventh day, Adventist churches, holistic understanding of the Bible, including the three angels messages and anti prophecies.
We want you to understand the Bible so you can find freedom, healing and hope in Jesus. Everyday viewers as sharing how hope channel has impacted their lives while watching hope at home. Katherine said, this is so wonderful and timely. This boosted my faith, Jesus is faithful and knows every desire of our hearts and gave me what I needed today.
Hope channel is being used by God to impact thousands of lives in North America and around the world and connecting with people like Catherine every day. I want to invite you to tell your family, friends, and neighbors to watch hope channel your support is greatly appreciated. God bless you. .
Thank you, friends, as you remember this important media ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and let’s work together to reach as many people as possible with God’s wonderful message of hope!
Let’s pray together. Father, thank you for creating such amazing ways of communicating with people, thank you that we could use electronica means to touch the lives of people halfway around the world or next-door. Lord bless in a special way the hope channel international and all of its affiliates, those precious 59 different channels and formats. Lord we just praise your name for everything that is being done to touch the lives of people, preparing them for the sun coming of Jesus, sharing with him the three angels messages and helping them to know God loves them supremely and wants to take them home. So Lord bless hope channel and every other media platform, it is proclaiming your precious Bible truths for these last days a verse history. We ask all of this in the precious name of Jesus our savior, amen.