Cable, airways, satellite: "Outreach" growing
In Southern Sudan, many people came to the evangelistic crusades hoping to be healed of diseases or infirmities. In Juba, a pile of crutches and canes left behind at the crusade grounds testified to the mighty work done in the name of Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit.
By John Butterworth
Two years ago Evangelist Bill Smith found Worldwide Crusades being dragged into the media ministry against his own will. Now he is just beginning to understand what God had in mind for him.
“I wanted nothing to do with it,” Smith has openly declared numerous times.
Today, WWC’s television program “Outreach” can be found being broadcast throughout Latin and South America via satellite, cable and the airways via the Jesus Broadcasting Network (JBN). It can also seen via JBN’s live internet broadcasts at www.jbntv.org.
As of August, a second TV broadcaster has added “Outreach” to its lineup. Earlier this year Worldwide Crusades inked a deal with the Russian TV station CNLTV which broadcasts from three satellites which cover everything north of the equator. The programs are translated via subtitles.
Additionally, Worldwide Crusades helped finance a new radio station broadcasting in Tanzania.
“I never envisioned this at all, especially the TV deal,” Smith says. “I think most surprising was even being asked to do it to start with.”
Since he has ministered in numerous third world nations, he has an idea why the program is growing in those regions.
“There’s not much to watch there,” he said with a smile.
But while working with CNLTV, Smith wondered just what was creating all this interest in a TV production being produced on shoe-string budget from a small congregation in the small town of Alsea. He got a couple answers from the CNL representative.
“No fluff and no prosperity doctrine,” he says. “I know God wants to bless us, but it has to be taught in balance with the many people who have been martyred for Christ. They didn’t prosper on this earth. We don’t push that teaching or promise all these blessings.
“I think it gives people opportunity to expand their own vision by having some of these programs from Africa and the crusades. They’re pretty educational.”
In Honduras, JBN owner Esteban Handal continues to expand the coverage area. The proof of his work can be seen in the letters JBN is receiving regarding WWC’s “Outreach” from such nations as Argentina and Brazil.
Looking into the future, Smith says he knows the demand for more programming such as “Outreach” is there.
“It’s just the matter of putting it all together,” he says. “Our program would go big in Africa, but I don’t think there’s that many TVs there. My real interest is China. I f we were to expand our program, that is where I want to go.”