(photo above: Matt, Laurie, Pastor Ray and Zelda McCauley
join Bishop Kenneth Ulmer in prayer for TBN in Africa.)
by Matthew Crouch
We’ve got some great news! TBN is back on the air in Africa — and is sending out the message of hope and grace through Jesus across this massive continent with a renewed sense of purpose and vision. Through our partnership with influential South African pastor Ray McCauley, TBN in Africa launched March 4th on Channel 343 on DSTV (Digital Satellite Television), one of Africa’s largest television providers.
We’re broadcasting on Africa’s two main broadcast satellites, which means that we’ll now be reaching throughout both Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of the continent 24 hours a day with life-changing Christian programming — including the best from African pastors and ministries.
My parents had a great love for the land and people of Africa, and over thirty years ago God opened a significant door for TBN’s outreach to the continent when the government of South Africa’s Ciskei Homeland invited TBN to establish its first African station there. In fact, Ciskei’s President, Lennox Sebe, went as far as to send his country’s Ambassador at Large, Douw Steyn, to the U.S., where he appeared on an historic Praise the Lord program to read the following proclamation from the President Sebe:
“My government hereby authorizes Trinity Broadcasting Network to set up a television broadcasting station in the Republic of Ciskei. It is our belief that . . . as people are uplifted by the educational and spiritual programs, the eyes of the blind will clearly be opened, resulting in a rich harvest of souls. May God continue to bless the great work you are doing to His glory. We are looking forward with joy to your arrival in our country, from where we believe the Lord is going to do a great thing in Africa.”
These words turned out to be prophetic, as our Ciskei station became the launching pad for God’s plan to take Christian television to all of Africa.
It took a couple of years to build the Ciskei station, but we will never forget that thrilling day in December 1986 when my dad and mom, along with Arthur Blessitt, travelled to Ciskei and dedicated Channel 24 — the very first Christian television station on the entire African continent!
In 1994 my parents had the honor of meeting with South Africa’s new President, Nelson Mandela, who assured him that as South Africa transitioned to a new political era, TBN would continue to be free to broadcast the Gospel throughout southern Africa. “In government we need the highest standards of morality,” President Mandela said. “And because the church is an organization which attaches great importance to moral values, the role of the church cannot be underestimated. It is extremely important. You can rest assured that there will be no interference whatsoever with the establishment of stations in this country.”
Nearly eight years later, in May 2002, my parents had the great joy of witnessing the launch of TBN Africa, and over the next decade, through my father’s encouragement and oversight, this powerful network was incredibly fruitful and effective in broadcasting the Gospel message across the continent. Sadly, with the passing of my father in late 2013, TBN’s Africa network was sidelined and off the air for a time.
But as I learned from my dad many times over his years of taking Christian television to the nations, sometimes you have to be bold enough to “go again” for the sake of the Gospel. More than once I saw my father step out in faith to take the message of Jesus through television to a new country or locale, only to find that the timing or circumstances weren’t right for the success he’d hoped for. The most important lessons I learned came from what I observed in those situations: He never gave up where he knew God was calling him — and God never once failed to come through with the victory.
Our re-launch of TBN in Africa is one of those victories. With the partnership of Pastor McCauley and other dedicated men and women of God in Africa, we are taking another bold step to cover this awesome continent with the love of Jesus.
We were thrilled on March 4th as more than 8,000 people joined us to officially re-launch TBN in Africa. Among those who celebrated with us were many African pastors and ministry heads, as well as a number of South African government leaders. As we paused to dedicate this renewed African outreach, Laurie and I joined hands with Pastor Ray McCauley, and together with those assembled prayed God’s blessing over this beautiful venture that will once again cover Africa with life-changing programming.
Most importantly, individuals and families across Africa are overjoyed to have TBN available to them once again, shining a powerful light of God’s love, hope, and grace across the continent. Here are just a few of the comments we’ve received from viewers since the re-launch of TBN in Africa:
— “The past few days since my beloved TBN station returned, I feel like a child on Christmas morning! I can’t wait to open the day’s gift! Getting ready for work with TBN and going to bed with it on is a wonderful blessing. . . . There was a BIG gap and loss without TBN! May God bless you all, because we are blessed with TBN back on TV!”
— “Thank you so much for re-launching. My family and I love you, have been with you for ten years, and look forward to continuing to engrave eternity in hearts all over the world with you. God bless you more than you can imagine. Congratulations.”
— “I just wanted to let TBN know that we are so grateful for the relaunch of TBN in Africa. . . . Nigerians love TBN. We are glad that we have our exceptional TBN back!”
— “So thankful TBN in Africa is back. Returned from TBN G16 Israel tour with Joseph Prince yesterday. While there watching Matt and Laurie I so wish I could ask them please to return to Africa. . . . And here we are, a day after returning I found them to launch tonight. Thank you Jesus.”
— “I praise God Almighty for the return of [TBN in Africa]. I have been so blessed watching this broadcast daily. Thank you Jesus for your love and mercy. May TBN in Africa grow abundantly in Jesus’ Name.”
— “TBN is back! Simply irreplaceable, incomparable, and the ultimate for spiritual impartation and inspiration! Welcome home TBN in Africa.”
Dear friends, this is the very heart of what TBN is all about: impacting individuals, families, communities, nations — and entire continents — with the hope and healing that only Jesus can bring.
Please join us in praying that untold millions will come to faith in Christ as TBN once again covers the continent of Africa with God’s incomparable message of hope and grace.