A RECORD MINISTRY FOR THE 20th CENTURY
L ooking for a special method of presenting the Gospel for a mid-week church meeting, a young man study ing for the ministry hit upon an idea. Why not use an allegorical sportscast of a football game, played between the forces of good and the forces of evil? In his spare time he had announced sports events; he had a ready tongue to describe such a clash; it was worth a try. So, in 1951, Jarrell McCracken made an experiment. Out of this inauspicious event has come the largest and one of the most progressive religious recording companies in the world . . . WORD Records. Due to requests from those who heard the imaginary sports contest, the “play- by-play” was recorded with sound effects and has received national recognition through articles in such leading pub lications as Time magazine. “ The Game of Life,” remains one of the best sellers on the WORD label, with thousands of copies sold. McCracken knew that others had tried to start such ventures and had failed. But, his plan was one that coupled a sincere desire to bring spiritual growth to the homes of those who purchased his com pany’s products. “WORD records must be a mission with a goal transcending a desire to ‘make money,’ ” the youth ful president asserted. “ Recordings of high quality by top artists and masterful reproduction provide the effective means in this modem generation of telling the old, old story of Jesus and His love!” Frank Boggs was the first artist to appear on the WORD label. Since then he has been joined by a host of other recording personalities, including such capable musicians as Paul Michelson, former organist for the Billy Graham Crusades, and now the vice-president of WORD, respon sible for new talent and selections. Through WORD records subsidiary units — The Audio Record Library Company and Word Record Distributing Company, Inc. — a force of almost 900 distributors and salesmen enter thousands of American homes each week to offer a package of records consisting of religious music. The records, sold both in stereo and monaural, also in clude selected readings from the Bible. In cases where the family lacks a phonograph, the salesman also has a low-cost record player to offer with the package. Today, Jarrell McCracken lives modestly and quietly in Waco with his attractive wife, Judy, and their four-year- old daughter, Lisa. In addition to his ministry in record ings, he teaches a college men’s Sunday School class and is in great demand as a speaker. No wonder homes with Word Records are homes with the finest in gospel inspiration. Under such continued dedicated leadership, WORD can only go forward for Christ.
Word Records' basic Chris tian philosophy is summed up in this verse: I took a piece of plastic clay And idly fashioned it one day. And my fingers pressed it till It moved and yielded to my will. I came again, when days were passed, That bit of clay was hard at last, The form I gave it, still it bore And I could change that form no more. Then I took some living clay And gently formed it, day by day, And molded with my power and art A young child's soft and yielding heart. I came again when years were gone — It was a man I looked upon! He still that early impress bore And I could change it, nevermore.
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