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Exploring the Word by Satellite
Pastor Lonnie Melashenko's contemporary half-hour weekly telecast takes a fresh look at Bible themes and prophecies. Read more .
Overflow Crowd Packs Miami Evangelistic Series
"The Voice of Prophecy Speaks" arrived in Miami on Super Bowl Weekend. Would anyone come, especially during the game on Sunday night? Read more . . .
Native American Bible Course
A brand-new set of Bible lessons features spiritual lessons and appeal for decisions that come from the perspective of a Native heritage. Read more . . .
Evangelism Preparation in Bismarck
Seminars on non-traditional felt needs are one way host churches in North Dakota are preparing for Lonnie Melashenko's evangelistic series that begins October 28, 2005. Read more . . .
Trumpeting the Good News
"Why should the Devil own all the best tools?" asked Voice of Prophecy founder H. M. S. Richards when others questioned his use of radio to preach the gospel 75 years ago. Read more . . .
Demolition of Glendale Offices
The long-time headquarters of the Voice of Prophecy in Glendale, California was demolished last summer to make way for a surgery center and medical office building. Read more . . .
Tribute to Bob Edwards and Jerry Dill
Bob Edwards set the standard for singing first tenor in the King's Heralds. Jerry Dill did the same for singing bass in the quartet. Both died recently, but their legacy lives on. Read more .
Exploring the Word by Satellite
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| Lonnie and Jeannie Melashenko host the Exploring the Word telecast. |
Pastor Lonnie Melashenko's contemporary half-hour weekly telecast takes a fresh look at Bible themes and prophecies. The programs are hosted by Lonnie and Jeannie Melashenko and were produced by Steve Mosley. Both high-quality streaming video and scripts are archived at www.exploringtheword.com. The website includes links to additional resources on each topic.
Connecting With Churches
Pastor Melashenko, former speaker/director for Voice of Prophecy, says, "Exploring the Word is a great tool for local congregations to use to connect listeners, Bible School students, and sincere Internet seekers with their members for ongoing study and fellowship!"
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| As part of the telecast, four young adults make up the Exploring the Word Study Group and wrestle with how each week's topic applies to life. |
A special feature of the telecast is the ETW Study Group, four young adults who discuss and debate the weekly topic, telling how they have related to the subject and seeking answers only from Scripture.
Pastor Melashenko's presentations include direct appeals for decision. He asks viewers to counsel with local pastors and church leaders for assistance in their spiritual growth as they prepare for baptism.
Many churches have found the Exploring the Word programs especially useful in connection with local radio and television broadcasts, as well as their church-operated Discover Bible Schools. The telecasts also serve as discussion starters for home Bible studies and small groups.
E-mail responses have come from viewers in dozens of countries, including Jamaica, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, China, India, Pakistan, New Zealand, and Australia.
Inexpensive Home Dish
Exploring the Word is aired across North America by the Hope Channel and Safe TV. The Hope Channel may be viewed on DIRECTV Channel 368 or with an inexpensive satellite dish and receiver that has no monthly fees after purchase.
This special unit receives the Hope Channel, 3ABN, LLBN television, three radio networks - LifeTalk Radio, 3ABN Radio, and RADIO 74 - and Spanish television networks Esperanza TV and 3ABN Latino, With this equipment package, a family, business, school, or church can enjoy preaching, Bible study, health, and music programs 24 hours a day.
For ordering details, visit www.hopetv.org and click on "Products" or phone 1-888-393-HOPE. Persons who have this dish system but not all the channels can find programming instructions at www.hopetv.org to tune their receiver.
Exploring the Word is always on the Internet at www.exploringtheword.com
Overflow Crowd Packs Miami Evangelistic Series
The Miami Temple Adventist Church had rarely--perhaps never--seen so many in attendance--and certainly not in the evening for an evangelistic meeting.
The Miami Temple Adventist Church hosted Lonnie Melashenko's evangelistic campaign.
When everyone presses together in the pews, the church seats 850 in the sanctuary. But on Saturday night, February 5, 2005 more than 1,000 came to hear Lonnie Melashenko present the opening session of "The Voice of Prophecy Speaks."
Chairs lined the aisles, filled the narthex, and spilled out of the entrance. Some persons simply stood wherever they could squeeze in around the edges. Nearly 100 children participated in an evening of stories and crafts under the leadership of Cheryl Alonzo.
Walter Arties and Jeannie Melashenko introduced each night's program.
Competing With Football
Everyone knew keeping the crowd for the second night would be a special challenge--going head to head with the biggest television event of any year, Super Bowl.
The solution? "Come tomorrow night," was the invitation Saturday evening, "and we guarantee Pastor Melashenko will finish by 9 p.m. Then join us for a Super Bowl party in the church's fellowship hall. You'll be able to watch at least the last quarter of the game."
But would the crowd return? The church's past experience was that Sunday night doesn't get a large crowd even when there isn't competition for attention.
The audience was sparse in the large sanctuary when the lights dimmed for a short video clip at 7:30 Sunday night. More arrived during the announcements, still more during the special music by Brazilian-born recording artist Rudy Micelli.
Pastor Melashenko's gave a PowerPoint presentation on "Armageddon" the opening night. The next night was Super Bowl Sunday, but more than 500 persons came to hear about "Signs You Can't Ignore."
By the time Pastor Melashenko began his PowerPoint presentation, nearly half the opening night crowd was back. Even more impressive, 89 persons came and registered for their first session. One man who had been present Saturday night brought 13 new guests on Sunday.
Continuing Support
The Miami Temple congregation holds two evangelistic series each year, and the members never seem to tire of sharing the gospel message with their community.
Yet, several of the pastors and members noted the enthusiasm in February was greater than usual. Attendance varied from 300 to 400 on weeknights, then picked up on Friday and Saturday evenings. The lowest numbers of 250-300 came midweek just before the end of the campaign.
"The continuing support for the meetings was greater than I had seen in my six and a half years at Miami Temple," says Pastor Bob Boggess, who recently retired. "I believe what made the difference was Pastor Melashenko's fresh, relevant, succinct approach to the Bible message."
Dr. Gershon Diaz provided simultaneous Spanish translation of Pastor Melashenko's sermons that individuals could hear through small radios and headphones.
Working Together
Nearly 100 volunteers from seven Adventist congregations helped make the campaign a success. Miami Temple members Norka Munilla and Micheline Aristide coordinated the program of members developing a personal relationship with guests. Justine Charles and Maple Stoley from the Perrine Church were responsible for all the computer records of attendance and Discover Bible School activity. Pastor Steve Adessa of the Miami Springs Church led the Prayer Warriors nightly in petitioning for a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Mercedes (Mercy) Abascal directs the Discover Bible School at Miami Temple. She studied the course herself last year and was baptized November 20, 2004 after attending an evangelistic series presented by Pastor Bill Waters at the church and a satellite series by Breath of Life director Walter Pearson Jr. She was already assisting with the school and a few weeks later was asked to lead out in its activity. Mercy welcomed scores of new students to the course during "The Voice of Prophecy Speaks."
Owen Vasquez, youth pastor at Miami Temple, was among those who baptized 40 during the "Prophecy Speaks" series. Additional persons have been baptized since the end of the campaign.
Graduation and Baptisms
Kurt Johnson, director of the VOP Bible School, worked with local leaders to plan a Discover Bible School graduation for the closing weekend of the three-week series. Because the Discover series has 26 lessons but the evangelistic campaign had only 19 sessions, many persons are continuing to study the rest of the course.
While some of the churches used videos by Pastor Melashenko to follow up his series, the Miami Temple immediately began their second month-long evangelistic series for 2005, showing the satellite feed of "The Prophecy Code" by Pastor Doug Batchelor, speaker for the Amazing Facts telecast.
Baptisms during "The Voice of Prophecy Speaks" numbered 40 and other persons who attended have been baptized since the end of the meetings. Pastor Boggess expects at least 60 persons to be baptized altogether, with about half joining Miami Temple and the others choosing another of the participating churches.
Native American Bible Course
Canadian wildlife artist A. J. McCoy painted Native and nature scenes to portray traditional Christian evangelistic themes in the Native New Day Bible Course.
The Voice of Prophecy is distributing a new 30-lesson Bible course designed especially to reach Native Americans across the United States and Canada. Written by Monte Church, Native ministries coordinator for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the North Pacific states and Canada, the course features spiritual lessons and appeals for decisions that come from the perspective of a Native heritage.
"Native people love correspondence courses," says Pastor Church. "The lessons have no boundaries," he says, "because they can be sent through the postal system no matter how remote an area is."
Most of the development and printing cost for the new course was raised from among the 4,000 Native American Adventist church members in the U.S. and Canada. The lessons were printed by Pacific Press Publishing Association.
Single sets of the Native New Day Bible Course are available in the U.S. at $8.60 postpaid ($4.75 for the lessons plus $3.85 postage) from: Bible School, Voice of Prophecy, Box 2525, Newbury Park, CA 91319. For quantity orders, phone 877-955-2525 during business hours, Monday-Thursday. Enrollment cards are also available.
"We're excited to be involved in this brand-new outreach to Native North Americans," says Kurt Johnson, director of the VOP Bible School. "Using stories from their culture will make the gospel come alive for them."
Evangelism Preparation in Bismarck
Seminars on non-traditional felt needs are one way host churches in North Dakota prepared for Lonnie Melashenko's evangelistic series that began October 28, 2005. Pastor Melashenko presented "The Voice of Prophecy Speaks" at the Civic Center in Bismarck from October 28 to November 12. The meetings were sponsored by the Dakota Conference and the Adventist churches in Bismarck and Mandan.
Bismarck, the state capital, is separated from Mandan only by the Missouri River. The cities have a combined population of about 85,000.
John Turk, pastor of the Bismarck church, noted that persons from the community are most likely to attend evangelistic programs if they are already acquainted with some church members. The special interest seminars were designed to encourage such friendships.
Topics for the one-evening programs ranged from "Preparing Your Car of Summer Vacation," taught by the owner of an auto repair shop, to "Home Buying," presented by a local realtor. Other topics included "Investing for Retirement" and "Hunter Safety."
Every Home Receives Enrollment Card
Local preparation in Bismarck also included door-to-door distribution of plastic bags containing a Bible course enrollment card and the book Steps to Christ. Bismarck church members and students from Dakota Adventist Academy stuffed 25,000 bags in a two-hour workbee. Doug and Deb Haefner had already stuffed 5,000 bags themselves. The Pathfinder youth group began giving out the packets in late January and completed the task two months later. More than two dozen church members have volunteered to assist the Bismarck Discover Bible School coordinator, Wanda Sprenger.
The Mandan church also blanketed its community with enrollment cards. Its Discover Bible School is coordinated by Craig Schaffer. Preparation at Mandan also included forming cell groups of members and their invited friends. The church invited Dr. Don James, professor and cell group coordinator at Andrews University, to present three seminars on the concept.
Organizing Cell Groups
Four cell groups met in homes, and these divided as more persons joined. "The goal," says Pastor Darrel Lindensmith, "was to have every member participate and to incorporate new members into the life of the congregation. Everyone needs to be involved."
Pastor Lindensmith serves both the Mandan church and the congregation at Dakota Adventist Academy, a boarding school with about 60 students in grades nine through twelve. The academy students assisted with the series, especially the children's meetings each evening.
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Trumpeting the Good News for Seventy-five Years
By Eldyn Karr
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H. M. S. Richards founded the Voice of Prophecy and was director-speaker from 1929 to 1969. His son, H. M. S. Richards Jr., held the position from 1969 to 1992. Lonnie Melashenko has been director-speaker since 1993.
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"Why should the Devil own all the best tools?" asked Voice of Prophecy founder H. M. S. Richards when others questioned his use of radio to preach the gospel 75 years ago.
Already well-known as an evangelist, Richards was not quite 35 when he sat down in front of a microphone at station KNX in Los Angeles and invited God to use the newly invented miracle called radio. The date was October 19, 1929 -- only 10 days before the Wall Street crash.
From that small beginning, the Voice of Prophecy grew into a globe-circling ministry that today includes gospel messages in dozens of languages on over 1,500 radio stations. Besides AM and FM facilities around the world, these include Adventist World Radio's powerful shortwave transmitters that carry the signal across oceans and mountains, deserts and jungles, into virtually every country.
Largest Free Bible School
The Voice of Prophecy is also known for its international Bible correspondence school. In 1942, only four weeks after becoming a coast-to-coast broadcast in North America, the program offered free Bible study lessons to listeners.
An immediate success, the headquarters school in California has spawned over 140 affiliate schools around the world. Their ministry is today the largest of its kind. Free lessons are offered in 80 languages. Millions of diplomas have been awarded.
Across the United States and Canada, more than 2,400 church congregations have begun their own Discover Bible Schools under the auspices of the Voice of Prophecy. Local schools are also being started in other countries.
No longer limited to traditional means of printed lessons sent by mail or delivered in person, Bible lessons from the Voice of Prophecy are now available on the Internet (www.discoveronline.org).
From a Small Beginning
Following his graduation from college in 1919, Richards pastored in Ottawa, Canada before moving to California and taking up full-time work as an evangelist. His crusades throughout the state during the 1920s attracted large crowds. But he dreamed of using radio to reach tens of thousands or millions of people with the gospel.
Beginning in 1929, Richards was heard regularly in Los Angeles with inspirational programs carried as a public service by KNX and other stations.
Three years later, at the peak of the Great Depression, Richards asked his crusade audience whether he should buy time on radio for a preaching program. His congregation didn't have much money to spare, but they responded by giving old jewelry, spectacles, and even gold-filled teeth. Sale of the items brought $200, enough money to purchase 13 half-hour time slots on station KGER in Long Beach.
Growing Ministry
From his office in a converted chicken coop, Richards personally answered in longhand all letters from listeners. Just when the work load was getting too heavy for one person, Betty Canon, a secretary employed in downtown Los Angeles, volunteered to help one day a week.
When one day's labor hardly made a dent in the tasks needing to be done, Betty expressed her willingness to work on a full-time basis. She was hired with the understanding that she would be paid at the end of each day if there was enough money in the bank account. At one point the balance dropped to $1.30, but Richards' first secretary never missed a day's pay.
In 1937, when Pastor Richards joined up with the new Don Lee Mutual radio network to broadcast on seven West Coast stations, he changed the name of his "Bible Tabernacle of the Air" program to the "Voice of Prophecy." He explained, "It summarized my idea of radio preaching, which was to focus the light of ancient Scriptures on current problems."
The growing radio ministry by this time had necessitated a larger staff and more working space. The offices were moved to Glendale, on the north side of Los Angeles, where they remained until June 1978, when the headquarters were relocated at the Adventist Media Center complex in Newbury Park, 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles. At the end of 1995, the entire Media Center moved 15 miles northeast to Simi Valley.
Coast-to-Coast Broadcasts
On January 4, 1942 -- four weeks to the day after Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor -- the Voice of Prophecy went coast-to-coast over 89 stations of the Mutual Broadcasting System. Within 10 months, Richards' radio ministry had expanded to 225 stations.
During those early years, the broadcast aired live from Mutual's KHJ in Los Angeles. Richards and his team went to the station at about 5 a.m. each Sunday to do the program for the East Coast. They would break for something to eat and then come back to repeat the program for the West Coast audience.
The Voice of Prophecy took on a new dimension in 1960 when H. M. S. Richards, Jr., joined his dad as associate speaker. Nine years later, the director-speaker responsibilities were turned over to the younger Richards.
Reaching Contemporary Society
H. M. S. Richards Jr., joined his dad as associate speaker in 1960 and nine years later was named director-speaker. An evangelist like his father, he oversaw the development of new ways to reach contemporary society with the gospel. He began the daily radio broadcast and a radio spot ministry. Early in his tenure, the Voice of Prophecy also published WayOut materials for the 1970s youth culture.
Lonnie Melashenko began working with the radio ministry in January 1989, serving as broadcast announcer while also continuing as senior pastor of the 1400-member Paradise, California, Seventh-day Adventist Church. He was associate director-speaker from May 1991 through December 1992, and upon the retirement of H. M. S. Richards Jr. became director-speaker on January 1, 1993.
The teaching telecast by Pastor Melashenko, Exploring the Word, seeks to reach persons who may not be ready to attend a worship service but will join a Bible class at a church or home.
Sharing God's Love
A leader in religious broadcasting for 75 years, the Voice of Prophecy continues to present clear messages from God's Word -- bringing hope to broken people and guiding Christians in daily living. Heralding the soon return of Christ, the ministry impacts millions throughout the world with Sunday and daily radio programs, weekly telecasts, Bible correspondence courses, evangelistic meetings and Internet websites -- all focusing on God's love.
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The Voice of Prophecy headquarters from 1950 to 1978 was demolished
The Voice of Prophecy headquarters from 1950 to 1978 on Chevy Chase Drive in Glendale, California was demolished in Summer 2004 to make way for Glendale Adventist Medical Center's new ambulatory surgery center and medical office building. The new structure is connected to the hospital, which also underwent a $100 million expansion. The VOP first planned to build on the property in 1946, but because construction costs escalated rapidly during the post-war years, the project was put on hold for three years. Once ground was broken, it took less than a year to complete the building, and 120 staff moved in on July 1, 1950.
Their Legacy Lives On
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| Robert Elden Edwards, 1924-2004 |
Caption: Jerry Page Dill, 1927-2005 |
Bob Edwards and Jerry Dill were known and loved around the world. Together with Wayne Hooper and Bob Seamount, they were the King's Heralds combination that won the hearts of the Voice of Prophecy listeners for 12 years from 1949 to 1961, though their individual careers in the quartet lasted even longer. During 2004 and 2005, their family and friends said good-bye to both Bob and Jerry.
Edwards died in Malibu, California on June 3, 2004 while recuperating from cancer surgery. He was 79. Dill died January 15, 2005 at the age of 77 in Puyallup, Washington.
Auditions in Summer of '47
Dill sang in the King's Heralds quartet from 1947 to 1962, mostly as bass, though as baritone in 1948 and 1949. He got the job when as a 19-year-old sophomore he hitchhiked from Walla Walla, Washington to the VOP office in Glendale for an audition.
Edwards earned his religion degree at Emmanuel Missionary College (now Andrews University) in 1946 and had just completed his first year as a pastor in Florida when the King's Heralds and H. M. S. Richards arrived for camp meeting at Forest Lake Academy in May 1947. He recalled later that when he learned they were looking for a first tenor, he "made myself an absolute nuisance to them" and even "pestered them while they ate." Perhaps to get rid of him, the quartet asked him to try out in a mini-audition backstage at the camp meeting auditorium.
Soon after, Edwards received a formal invitation to come to California to audition along with three other prospective first tenors. Though Frank Dietrich was selected, Edwards was asked to "wait in the wings" as an extra, working "part-time in the Bible School, part-time as a secretary assistant to H. M. S. Richards, and part-time practicing with the other musicians." By February 1948, Edwards was named first tenor. The following year he dropped out of the King's Heralds briefly and sang in a Gleemen quartet for J. L. Tucker's Quiet Hour radio broadcast in Oakland, California.
But when Edwards returned to the Voice of Prophecy later in 1949, he had found a home and career for life. He was ordained in 1953 and he sang in the King's Heralds until 1971, then developing and producing the daily radio broadcast for H. M. S. Richards Jr., and even after retirement continuing to work part-time as a Bible School counselor until shortly before his death.
Glory Years of King's Heralds
Dill was a "world ambassador for Jesus," says Lonnie Melashenko. "He helped set the standard for excellence as he sang bass in the King's Heralds during their 'glory years.' Whether at General Conference sessions or camp meetings, we all knew the timbre and rumble of his basso profundo in songs like 'Walk in Jerusalem Just Like John.'"
During the late 40s and throughout the 50s, the life of a King's Herald member consisted of brief periods of actual singing and long stretches of travel with four or even five other men cooped up in a car. Jerry fondly recalled Pastor Richards "riding shotgun," studying his Bible with a magnifying glass.
While working at the Voice, Jerry completed his education at La Sierra College (now La Sierra University) in 1957 and Pastor Richards later ordained him.
After leaving the quartet in 1962, Jerry lived in Hawaii for about three years, pastoring three churches and becoming an avid scuba diver. He then worked in Central California as a singing evangelist and later as a minister for 24 years.
While in California, Jerry bought and farmed an almond orchard that consumed much of his free time. He often joked that he "went out to eat" all the time -- by picking nuts or fruit grown on the farm.
Passion for Sharing Jesus
Jerry served the Lord for 42 years in the ministry and for another 15 years after retirement through music and Bible studies until just days before his death. His family noted in the life sketch prepared for his memorial service that what Jerry loved most "were a good joke, a soul that found the Savior, his family, and his friends."
Pastor Melashenko was among those that counted Jerry as a special friend. "He was baritone in the quartet when my dad (Joe Melashenko) sang bass in the group in 1948 and 1949. Ever after he was close to our family--sharing amusing stories, discussing where to find gold in the Klondike, or discount real estate near the volcanos on the Big Island of Hawaii."
When Pastor Melashenko came to the VOP, he asked the 1962 quartet--Dill, Edwards, Hooper, and John Thurber--to join him for an introductory camp meeting tour in 1992. The 30th anniversary reunion of that combination continued in 1993 when they went with Pastors Melashenko and H. M. S. Richards Jr. to Brazil to celebrate the VOP's 50th year of ministry there.
"Whenever Jerry sang or preached, he wasn't acting," says Pastor Melashenko. "He opened his heart full throttle with his passion for sharing Jesus--sometimes with tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat. Only in heaven will he ever know how many were influenced by his gracious ways, warm friendliness, the twinkle in his eye, and his passion for integrity and fairness in living."
Making Others Feel Important
As Jerry set the standard for singing bass in the quartet, Bob set the standard for first tenor, says Wayne Hooper: "a clear, lyric voice--with just the right vibrato and sensitive expression in every song."
Pastor Melashenko recalls, "Bob was one of the most open-minded individuals, an encourager, one who had the knack for making others feel important. He was also tireless, determined, genuine, and a stickler for details."
For some, Bob was a surrogate father. That is how Jon Richards, M.D., older son of H. M. S. Richards Jr., remembers him. One night when his father was on a camp meeting tour, Jon had two tickets to a Lakers basketball game, but no way to get there. He called Bob, who dropped everything to make time for his young friend.
Following his retirement as broadcast producer, Bob not only answered dozens of letters from Bible School students and radio listeners every week, but also led out in several study groups simultaneously.
For 28 years he taught a spiritual growth group at a retirement center and for nearly 15 he also held a Bible study group one night a week. At the same time he taught a Sabbath morning class for his church for 20 years, and not long before his death he had begun a new study group at another congregation that met in the afternoon.
Kenneth Richards, brother of H. M. S. Richards Jr., says, "I admired Bob for many reasons:
his expertise in the areas of astronomy, archaeology, history, literature, and theology; his love for good books, writing, and yes, even politics. I admired him for his kindness, his ability to analyze issues, his willingness and ability to work hard and long at worthwhile projects--my dad's biography, for example--and his adherence to the high moral principles of Scripture.
"But I admired him most because, though like myself, he was imperfect, he nevertheless followed Jesus, knowing that he had no righteousness but Christ's and no other hope than Him."
Huge Footprints -- and a Legacy
"Bob and Jerry leave huge footprints," declares Pastor Melashenko, "and a legacy of hope--in Jesus the Resurrection and the Life. We'll see them in the morning, when Gabriel blows his trumpet and Jesus descends the flaming skies. A small dark cloud . . . then flames of glory wrapping myriads of seraphic clusters in the East. Brighter, more glorious, Jesus descends . . . King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
"And then, as 'The Roll Is Called Up Yonder' we'll join Bob and Jerry as together we 'Walk in Jerusalem Just Like John!'"
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