Lake Region—The South Bend Berean Church launched a new television ministry in Dec. 2007. Streams of Light airs locally in South Bend, Ind., on WHME 46 (LESEA Broadcasting) at 10 p.m. on Friday evenings.

The ministry is produced by E.L. Jones Jr., a pastor/seminarian and owner of Truly Blessed Communications (www.TrulyBlessedCommunications.com). Filming takes place at the Berean Church. The programming on Streams of Light is primarily preaching, but at times includes special music. Programs have included messages from the Election 4 Eternity evangelistic series.

Berean Church pastor, Norman Knight, had a television ministry at his former church in California. When he moved to South Bend, Knight desired to begin a similar ministry there. Jones was already capturing the worship services on video and providing the sermons on DVD, so Knight began to investigate a weekly broadcast on WHME 46, the station that broadcasts Pioneer Memorial Church's television ministry.

Jones says, "While the initial cost was far above our means, WHME was really interested in having our program on their station, so they were able to work out a special arrangement for us at a discounted price." Discussions followed with the church board, and board members were convinced the television ministry was "a viable means of evangelism," stated Jones.

The Streams of Light television ministry was approved by the church board, and the church's audio/visual budget was adjusted to include the new ministry. In addition, the ministry is supported by a few private donors. Other donors are solicited to help defray the cost of air time and production, says Jones. He added, "We would like to purchase more professional filming and production equipment. Currently, Truly Blessed Communications allows Berean Church to use its equipment, along with one camera the church has purchased for filming and production."

Since the first broadcast, Jones says, "there has been a very positive response from the members. Many have shared the program with their friends, and we have had a number of visitors come out to the church as a result of the ministry."

Jones reports that the church has already received feedback from the community, and many who were blessed by the program have visited the church. Once when Knight was in a drug store in Niles, Mich., a clerk said, "I know who you are." Jones says, "It is good to know that the program is being watched and is a blessing to those who tune in."

In addition to WHME 46 programming, the church is broadcasting Streams of Light on the Internet through the church's website: www.Berean7.com. Click on the Streams of Light TV Ministry link at the top of the page to view the weekly program, available each Thursday afternoon.

Knight and Jones share a vision "to have the very best ministry and to utilize every possible means to spread the gospel." For more information about Streams of Light, contact E.L. Jones Jr., pastor, at pastoreljonesjr@hotmail.com or call 269-487-6552.

Diane Thurber, assistant communication director, Lake Union Conference