Gospel Broadcasting Network

The Gospel Broadcasting Network (GBN) is an American Christian satellite broadcast network, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Gospel Broadcasting Network
TypeReligious Broadcasting Church of Christ
BrandingGBN
Country
United States of America
AvailabilityUnited States, worldwide via internet and apps
Key people
Don Blackwell, Mark Teske, Aaron Gallagher, John Stubblefield, Mike Hixson, BJ Clarke, Cliff Goodwin
Official website
www.gbntv.org

GBN solely features programming which teaches New Testament Christianity and is not an ecumenical network. All of the programming is produced by congregations and ministries affiliated with Churches of Christ. Although organized as a separate 501(c)(3) legal entity, GBN is under the oversight of the elders of the Southaven Church of Christ[1] (Southaven, Mississippi), which serves as its sponsoring church.

The GBN headquarters are in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Programs are taped at the Olive Branch location, as well as in individual studios of local congregations of Churches of Christ located throughout the country. Notable offsite locations include Pulaski, Tennessee (Preaching the Gospel), Edmond, Oklahoma (In Search of the Lord's Way), Bedford, Texas (The Truth in Love), and Maxwell, Texas (World Video Bible School programming).

History

GBN was started by Barry Gilreath, Sr. and began broadcasting in November 2005.

Originally based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, GBN relocated to Olive Branch in 2011 (shortly upon Gilreath's passing) when the Southaven Church of Christ took over as its sponsoring church.[2]

Transmission

GBN transmits from a C-band Satellite (Galaxy-14[3]), simulcasts over the Internet over GBNTV.org, through its own Roku channel[4], on Android[5] and iOS [6]devices, and over the air via both low-powered radio stations (individually owned and operated by local congregations) and television stations[7]. On April 27, 2011, GBN launched its public Roku channel. In addition to the live GBN broadcast, the channel also contains many archived programs. In June 2012, the GBN Roku channel was one of the 10-highest rated Roku channels with 5 out of 5 possible stars.[8]

As of May, 2018, 24 cable companies in six states broadcast the network over their systems.[9]

The January 2007 (IV) Issue of GoodNews reported that the two jails within the Dallas County, Alabama Sheriff's Department will broadcast GBN 17 hours a day (where deputies would like access during down-time 24/7).

Financial support

Unlike many religious networks, GBN does not solicit contributions over the air. (i.e., there are no fund-raising telethons, 'pledge' times, or on-air pleas for financial support).[10] In fact, several of the network's personalities have stated that "...you will never hear a plea for money on this network." GBN further states on its website that it "... is fully supported from the donations of members of the churches of Christ around the world. We do not solicit donations from non-members of the church of Christ."[11] GBN does not accept paid advertisements.

GBN sends out a free newsletter for the network, which covers events, network news, and special memorial and honorarium contributions made since the last newsletter. The newsletter is sent via regular mail upon request, or it can be downloaded from their website.

All of GBN programming is produced by local congregations of Churches of Christ in the United States.

GBN produces a weekly, nationwide call-in program entitled "GBNLive" hosted by Mike Hixson. Joining Mike on the program are two guests, who are qualified to deal with the subject of that particular episode. Viewers can ask their questions via email, telephone call or through Facebook.

GBN's is home to the syndicated TV program Preaching the Gospel. James Watkins was the original host, and Cliff Goodwin has assumed the role after James Watkins' retirement. "Preaching the Gospel" airs on the Christian Television Network (CTN) on Sunday mornings[12].

"Counterpoint" is a GBN program that is also syndicated on the Christian Television Network (CTN)[13] and 8 local television stations. This program features BJ Clarke and Mike Hixson discussing a Bible subject in a conversational setting.

In Search of the Lord's Way, one of the most widely distributed religious programs in the USA (and the largest among churches of Christ), also broadcasts on GBN[14]. Originally created by Mack Lyon (d. 2015), Phil Sanders currently serves as the host of this program, for which the Edmond Church of Christ serves as the sponsoring church.

The live-action children's program Digger Doug's Underground is the most notable of GBN's children's programs; it is based on the characters from the children's magazine Discovery which is produced by Apologetics Press, an Alabama-based publishing house affiliated with Churches of Christ.

GBN also features the GBN Special Presentation, which airs each weeknight at 9:00PM (Eastern Time). This program includes discussions of special topics, material that has been recorded on-location or at special events; in addition, some productions of the World Video Bible School of Maxwell, Texas are aired during this broadcast.

On Sunday mornings, GBN airs "On the Lord's Day", which are prerecorded worship services from various congregations around the country. This program allows viewers to experience the worship services of Churches of Christ and provides a valuable service for shut-ins throughout the country.

Special broadcasts

GBN broadcast a celebration of the Hardeman Tabernacle Sermons held at the Ryman Auditorium, Nashville, Tennessee from July 1–3, 2007. The original Tabernacle Sermons, which were held in 1922, 1923, 1928 & 1945, were gospel meetings staged by Nashville Area Churches of Christ. The broadcasts were called the "Tabernacle Sermons Today". The event featured speakers Tom Holland, Garland Elkins, Winford Claiborne, James Watkins, B.J. Clarke and Jim Dearman. David Hayes Prophater served as the announcer and Jeff Scott led the audience in a cappella singing.

On September 29, 2011, GBN broadcast the Kyle Butt/Blair Scott debate that was held at the Norton Auditorium on the University of North Alabama campus. In addition to the debate itself, Don Blackwell and Dr. Dave Miller hosted both a pre-debate introduction and a post-debate show that featured interviews with both of the participants. Utilizing new technology, the primary feed of the broadcast was transmitted over the internet to its internet and satellite broadcast providers in North Carolina and Georgia, respectively.

See also

References
  1. https://www.southavencoc.org/missions.html
  2. http://www.gbntv.org/aboutgbn/newsletters/2012/04april.aspx
  3. https://www.lyngsat.com/tvchannels/us/Gospel-Broadcasting-Network.html
  4. https://channelstore.roku.com/details/4776/gospel-broadcasting-network
  5. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.subsplash.thechurchapp.XJ7DGK
  6. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/g.b.n./id429993391?mt=8
  7. https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=print_station&facility_id=191421
  8. http://www.gbntv.org/aboutgbn/newsletters/2012/june-2012.aspx
  9. http://gbntv.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/how-to-view-GBN.pdf
  10. http://www.gbntv.org/aboutgbn/newsletters/2012/05may.aspx
  11. http://www.gbntv.org/members/default.aspx
  12. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ql807zdxx4ceyka/Directv.pdf?dl=0
  13. https://www.dropbox.com/s/ql807zdxx4ceyka/Directv.pdf?dl=0
  14. https://www.searchtv.org/schedule.html
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