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Mississippi-based church broadcast ministry expands scope

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A UMNS photo by Woody Woodrick

Making The United Methodist Hour’s programs available online will give them worldwide reach, says the Rev. Eddie Rester.

March 9, 2006

By Woody Woodrick*

JACKSON, Miss. (UMNS) — Methodism founder John Wesley said, “The world is my parish.”

“The United Methodist Hour” now has the same philosophy — literally.

On Feb. 25, programming for “The United Methodist Hour” became available to anyone in the world through the Internet.  The organization is working in conjunction with iSeeTV, a company of Continental Vista Broadcasting Group Inc. based in The Woodlands, Texas.

“This expands our reach exponentially,” said the Rev. Eddie Rester, executive director and preacher for The United Methodist Hour.   “This allows people to watch us at their leisure.”

The United Methodist Hour’s “Time That Makes The Difference” television and radio programs will be available online. Viewers and listeners will be able to access the iSeeTV site through a link in the www.thehour.org page.

“We’re pleased The United Methodist Hour has chosen iSeeTV’s solution to enable it to connect with even more viewers than ever before,” said Greg Demetriades, chief executive officer of Continental Vista Broadcasting Group. “Our broadcasting technology will enable them to build upon their viewership numbers and reach people all over the world.”

The United Methodist Hour’s radio program has been on air since 1971, and the TV show has aired since 1980. Although both shows are titled “Time That Makes The Difference,” they offer different content. The radio show features Rester conversing about scripture with the Rev. Keith Tonkel and a guest, while during the TV show, Rester and others present Bible lessons, sermons, music, interviews and other inspirational material.

The TV show is seen on 14 television stations that reach 5 million homes in seven states.  Now, anyone with a computer can watch the full, 30-minute program or favorite segments. The radio program is carried on about 15 stations, primarily in Mississippi but also in the community of John Day, Ore.

Putting the shows on the Internet is just the beginning, Rester said.  The United Methodist Hour will be able to offer live events, such as annual conference, and interactive events, such as discussions with guest speakers or training events.

Rester said each week’s program will be available on the Web Thursday before airing on TV on Sunday. The shows will be available free for a week.

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Graphic courtesy of the Mississippi Annual Conference

The United Methodist Hour has a strong television coverage area in Mississippi and neighboring states.
The United Methodist Hour was able to enter the new venture — which represents a cost of $20,000 — thanks to a gift from Wells Memorial United Methodist Church in Jackson. Wells is Tonkel’s home church. Members wanted a way to honor Tonkel’s 70th birthday. Tonkel has been part of the program for several years.

Rester also sees The United Methodist Hour leading other United Methodist ministries into Web ministry.

“We understand our unique place in United Methodism,” Rester said. “There is nothing like ?The United Methodist Hour’ in the connection. We’re looking at how this opens us to be a vehicle for the connection.”

Rester also said this might just be the beginning of churches and organizations learning new ways to reach people for Christ.

“If media is moving to where everyone is, we have to follow,” he said. “We moved from just radio to TV and now to the Web. This is the next step, and we’re doing it in an excellent way.”

*Woodrick is editor of the Mississippi Advocate, the newspaper of the United Methodist Church’s Mississippi Annual Conference.

News media contact: Tim Tanton, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

   
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