Dr. and Mrs. Theodore H. Epp
Missions office (G. Christian Weiss, director, standing)
of the Back to the Bible
The Back to the Bible Broadcast
agers in mind, is presented each week, and later published in book form. Melvin A. Jones is the narrator. These daily broadcasts are a heavy responsibility, with Mr. Epp carrying the major burden of the messages; however, he is assisted by Ord Morrow who frequently speaks. Richard Can- field also assists with the Friday pro gram, which is a question and answer period. The Monday programs are under the direction of G. Christian Weiss, who heads the important mis sions department. On this program various missionary challenges are pre sented to the listeners, and messages are brought concerning various as pects of missionary endeavor. The German and French language programs are produced in the Lincoln studios by Richard Wolff, with the help of his wife who is a native of Belgium, and certain Broadcast em ployees who speak those languages. These programs are beamed into the heart of Europe and also penetrate the iron curtain to bring messages of salvation and hope to many in the bonds of Communism. The Back to the Bible Broadcast now has nine branch offices in various countries which supplement the work originating in the United States. These offices are strategically located in (concluded on next page)
A huge neon sign on top of the three-story b u i l d i n g wh i c h houses the Back to the Bible Broadcast proclaims to downtown Lincoln, Ne braska, the message that “Jesus’ blood cleanses from every sin.” Some 200 employees assist Theodore H. Epp, founder and director of this interna tional radio, literature, and mission ary ministry, which has a world-wide scope. Thousands of prayer partners, faith partners, and contributors stand by this work regularly. All of this is testimony, not to a man or to an or ganization, but to the grace.and faith fulness of God. In the fall of 1938 a friend said to Mr. Epp, “Why don’t some of you radio preachers come to Nebraska?” This statement was God’s challenge to Mr. Epp and his wife, Matilda, to be gin the Back to the Bible Broadcast ministry in Lincoln, Nebraska, in May, 1939. It began as a 5 day-a-week, 15-minute program over a local 250- watt station, and during the whole first month of broadcasting less than a dozen letters were received. Today the Back to the Bible has more than 1,800, 30-minute releases each week, which can be heard around the world. As th e ma i n s p e a k e r , Mr. Epp preaches approximately 250 sermons each year on the Broadcast. The an nual response from radio listeners totals nearly one million letters.
Many factors enter into the making of a gospel radio program, not the least of which is music. The Back to the Bible musicians have made a major contribution to the acceptabil ity of the Broadcast by the secular world of radio, where religious pro grams are usually judged by the qual ity of the music alone. Eugene Clark, talented organist, plans the music for the entire program and is responsible for most of the arrangements used. Professor Oscar Bennett, who directs the choir, is satisfied with nothing less than the best the choir and the male quartet and male chorus can produce. His chief emphasis is on the sincere presentation of the message of each song. These musicians are heard Monday through Friday of each week. Saturday is Youth Broadcast day, with the music furnished by a choir of 26 school-age youngsters, under the direction of Miss Ruth Johnson. The boys and girls in this choir all have a testimony of salvation and consecra tion in Christ, and their music has been a blessing to young and old alike. Not only has their music brought enjoyment, it has also provided a spiritual impact which God has used to the salvation of many young peo ple. It is on this program that the popular Danny Orlis story, a serial written with the problems of teen
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