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When a World Champion soccer football match at Wembley Stadium in England can attract an estimated “400 million TV viewers on several con tinents via the Telstar satellite,” the age of multi mass communication is very forcefully with us! It remains for the Church to “ catch-on” and to catch up with the enormous potentialities that lie within our reach—today! Already we are 10 years late in grasping the significance o f the hour, communica tion-wise. We must plan largely and courageously. How can such a necessarily vast plan, with its varied complexities, be begun and realized ? In Can ada, Dixie Dean is prodding his fellow-countrymen and all Christians to raise up a huge production center for Gospel Radio and TV programs. These would be released over all available outlets, whether commercial, government or Christian stations and networks. The aim is to produce programs at the highest professional level of artistry and technical standards. In Ecuador, the Board of the World Radio Mis sionary Fellowship is in the process of “ imagineer- ing” a continental TV production center for all Latin America. By video-tape programs of excel lence, with vital Christian content and real intrinsic worth, will be offered to Latin America’s booming TV systems in every country. It has long been the dream and schedule of DIA (Difusiones Inter- americanas) in San Jose, Costa Rica, to upgrade Spanish religious releases all over these southern republics. A World Survey of audience response to Chris tian programs overseas is being undertaken by Richard Wolff, Executive Secretary of Interna tional Christian Broadcasters. Beginning with Aruba, and co-sponsored by TEAM’S Radio Vic toria, and then passing over to San Jose, Costa Rica, with assistance from TIFC of the Latin America Mission, this down-to-listener approach is expected to put the spotlight on audience reac tion in South America in a new and revealing way. Further surveys along this same line will be car ried out in the future in other and larger areas, assured by the grant of an interested foundation. This is the beginning o f a more serious investiga tion of the real results of Gospel broadcasting over
seas. Station managers and mission executives are watching this first attempt of its kind with keen anticipation, looking toward hearing Wolff’s re port in London at the I.C.B. Convention. Local churches and groups, along with mission societies not yet involved in Radio microphone ministry or camera-campaigns on TV, are encour aged to investigate their immediate possibilities. The most casual observation should unearth un expected opportunities right at the Church’s door! So much depends upon her attitude and willing ness to really “ see” the deep implication o f what she “ looks at” in viewing Radio and TV for Gospel broadcasting, as it is today. The conscientious believer is literally forced to these conclusions : (1) The Church is its “brother’s keeper.” (2) The Church can and must be relevant to society. (3) The Church can and must meet the de manding opportunity for increased Gospel dissemination by consistently and intelli gently using every communication facility at hand. Only thus will we be rewardingly “ trading with our talents,” and “ occupying until He comes” — effectively and universally. The 2nd INTERNATIONAL CHRISTIAN BROADCASTERS CONVENTION will be held in London, April 4-7, 1967 in Church House. Information, folders and delegate application forms may be obtained by writing to : International Christian Broadcasters 4440 Saratoga Downers Grove, 111., in the U.S.A. or— Evangelical Radio Alliance 30 Bedford Place London, W.C. 1, Great Britain
JANUARY, 1967
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