In the Fall of 2005, Pathway to Peace Ministries partnered with members from various churches in the Metro Detroit area in a cooperative effort to spread the Gospel via television. Pathway to Peace Ministries, a non-profit organization founded by Cary and Elene Rodgers, began as a weekly radio program on one station in Charlotte, North Carolina. Currently, the 30-minute Bible class airs weekly on more than 20 radio stations across America as well as in Belize, Central America, and Africa. The Bible class explores various foundational Bible truths to teach listeners about Jesus Christ, who offers the only true pathway to peace.
When the Lord expanded the vision of Pathway to Peace to reach out through television, Cary and Elene recruited volunteers to work on various television projects. Fourteen members from the Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, London (Maybee, Michigan), and Sharon (Inkster, Michigan) Seventh-day Adventist churches completed free training classes at Community Television Network (CTN) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Once the first team of volunteers completed the classes, they went into the studio for production. As a result, fifteen 30-minute "Pathway to Peace" programs were produced and aired on CTN, a cable station which broadcasts in Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and surrounding communities.
God has blessed their efforts. Volunteers shared that their co-workers reported seeing the programs and noted the names of volunteers they knew in the credits. Last spring, while in the process of recording a program, the television studio gave tours of the facilities. While the Pathway to Peace team was on a break, one of the tour participants said she regularly watched their broadcast on the local cable channel and had learned a lot. She also told them that she actually gets out her pen and paper to take notes during the Bible class.
Cary, Elene, and their family have since relocated to North Carolina, but have left a spark that continues to burn in the hearts of the volunteers who have remained together as a production team. The team is currently producing a 26-session series to air on CTN. The presenters are Jim Merrell and Kim Mills, members of the Ann Arbor Church. They are using the New Beginnings DVD sermon presentations. Volunteers also have access to CTN's state-of-the-art equipment to use off-site anywhere within Washtenaw County, to record programming that will be aired on CTN.
Jim and Teresa Rodgers, members of the London Church, coordinate the team which will produce other projects to spread the Gospel. The volunteer team is an example of how much can be done when we work together. The only qualification is a sincere desire to answer God's call to service. Teaming with the Divine is the key. Then we can accomplish "exceeding, abundantly, above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20).
For more information about Pathway to Peace Ministries and a complete program listing, visit www.pathwaytopeace.net.
Debbie Young is a member of the Ypsilanti Seventh-day Adventist Church.
