The Good News public-access television program would not exist but for the dedicated efforts of dozens of volunteers in the United Church of God. This is because more than 60 brethren are involved in one way or another with the Good News program in 18 states!

A studio director on the program, John Barbush, said: "As members learn how rewarding it can be to be involved, whether it's a little effort or a lot of effort, they are rising to the occasion when someone will show them the way. After all, we can't always send in more money, but we can all give of the life, energy and time Christ has given us to do the Father's will."

The Council of Elders gave approval for the start-up of the program in 1998. Since that time, due to God's blessing and the selfless work of many brethren, it has grown from airing on 8 or 12 stations to now airing on 48 stations in 18 states. The Good News program is now airing in larger markets such as Manhattan and Brooklyn, New York, which have a potential combined viewership of 4 million people. We hope to add other larger markets across the United States later this year.

The brethren who are involved with the program have many gifts, so they are serving in a variety of areas. This includes eight ministers who alternate as presenters on the program. The studio is in the home of United elder Galen Morrison in Rockford, Illinois. Twelve brethren from the Beloit, Wisconsin, congregation serve in various ways — as camera operators, lighting, directing, editing, audio, postproduction, as well as serving the crew a welcome hot lunch during the taping sessions. One person serves as the Web master of the gntv.org site and another person does data entry work to record the viewers' requests for The Good News magazine or booklets.

And finally, there is the team of 48 dedicated sponsors scattered across the United States. They contacted the public-access station in their local area and provide the station with program tapes on a regular basis. Without the sponsors, we would have no stations to broadcast on, so their service is invaluable and deeply appreciated.

As you can see, this work is a united effort by many brethren in various states who have one common bond—the desire to preach the gospel of the Kingdom of God. Many of these brethren have never met, but we work as one because of our calling from God.

Shawn Schwartzrock, who operates the audio board, commented, "At the end of the day when taping the programs is finished, you can't help but think that you were a part of something important. As a member of the Church, you don't always feel like you're involved with 'spreading the gospel,' but when you see the effort that every one makes to put together the programs, you feel like you are contributing to something real and that feels a lot better than just writing a check."

In order to sponsor the program in his community, a Florida member took 300 hours of classes and workshops to become a certified producer. What dedication! Another sponsor in the Northeast stood in line for five hours in order to get a good time for the program. He wrote, "The way it works is the people who stand in line on the first day fill the prime-time schedule." As a result, the Good News program airs on Sunday morning, which is an excellent time.

The total volunteer hours of the studio crew is around 400 hours a year. The total hours of service by the dozens of sponsors is estimated at 1,200 hours a year. Their sacrifice and love of God make possible this effort to preach the gospel via public-access television. Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your dedication and zeal!

The combined efforts of all our volunteers are being rewarded. Calls for literature on our toll-free number continue to increase and a record number of responses were recorded in April.

Many of the viewers calling for literature are very positive about the truths of God they hear discussed on the program. For example, Monica Buroker, who volunteers to do the data-entry work, said, "There was a gentleman who called in to request literature and then called back shortly thereafter just to say thank you for our program and message. It is satisfying knowing that you are helping in getting God's Word out to others who would otherwise not receive this knowledge."

If you would like to volunteer to serve as a sponsor of the Good News television program in your area, please contact Steve Nutzman at 608-758-9228 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              608-758-9228      end_of_the_skype_highlighting or at steve_nutzman@ucg.org.