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In the early 1960s a radio program based on the Word of God as confessed
in accordance with the Confessions of the Canadian Reformed Churches was developed. The main purpose of this radio
program would be to reach out and proclaim the Word of God to the surrounding community. In this way the doors
of the Church would be open to people who were unable to attend Church services (e.g.. seniors, handicapped), or
would not otherwise come (unbelievers), or those who presently attended other churches. Volunteers were recruited with differing levels of expertise in various fields. With their own donations and with the donations raised via the telephone and announcements in the Church News they were able to complete a rough "demo" program to present to CKNW - called "Voice of the Church". Due to inexperience the "demo" program was of insufficient quality for CKNW. Other stations were approached and eventually, with the Lords blessing, the radio broadcast "Voice of the Church" transmitted its first message on Saturday, May 4, 1968 on radio station KARI-AM in Blaine, Washington. The original program was 30 minutes long. It included 15 minute speeches provided by local ministers, music and announcements. Ron Berends, who was in charge of the recording then, recalls hectic, yet fun times, traveling far and wide, searching for program material and suitable music. On one occasion, he recorded a children's program on Good Friday in Coaldale, Alberta and had it broadcast Easter Sunday evening! The 30 minute program was also broadcast on KLYN for approximately 5 years. When KLYN switched from AM radio to FM stereo and primarily a contemporary Christian music format, the quality of the Voice of the Church program was deemed insufficient and refused. A 30 minute program in the Dutch language (from the Gereformerde Omeroep-Vereninging at Zwolle) was broadcast on CJVB for some time. However, for financial reasons and because the program did not address the target audience it also was abandoned. The committee eventually came under the supervision of the local consistories of the Canadian and American Reformed Churches. It was decided that the members would be appointed by the consistories of the participating churches for a specified term of office. The basis of the committee being the infallible, inerrant Word of God, as confessed in accordance with the confessions of the Canadian and American Reformed Churches, namely, the Belgic Confession, the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dort. The purpose of the committee is to promote the Church gathering work of our Lord Jesus Christ by proclaiming the Word of God through the media (i.e., radio, television, etc.). Due to factors including difficulties locating suitable material, financial issues, and difficulty finding agreement on program content, the length and the format of the program changed several times. Eventually this led to the current format of two fifteen minute broadcasts on KARI-AM. The speeches, which are submitted by ministers of the Canadian and American Reformed Churches, are obtained from the Canadian Reformed Broadcast Association in Ontario. In late 1989 the committee began to seek out the challenges of television broadcasting. A year later, television time was offered by Rogers Cable, free of charge. A room complete with cameras, sound equipment and the training needed to operate the equipment were also offered free of charge. Consistories and church members gave their enthusiastic support. A sub-committee was formed to focus completely on the TV program. The first pilot program was broadcast in Abbotsford, BC in July, 1992 on the television program, "The Real World". The program was interactive between a local "host" and a "guest" Canadian or American Reformed minister and followed the Heidelberg Catechism as a guideline for discussion on the Word of God. It received an immediate viewer response. Unfortunately, in 1998 the committee was informed that the the television program, "The Real World" had been discontinued. Other possibilities were investigated to keep our program on the air. In 1999 Rogers cable rejected our request for TV broadcasting and as a result our TV program had to be abandoned. Presently the "Voice of the Church" radio program is transmitted into large parts of British Columbia, Southern Manitoba, South-Western Ontario, New York State and Washington State.
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