Fifty Years of Faith – The Victory Hour

Grove Avenue Baptist Church
Richmond, Virginia

"If You Want Joy..."

"One minute," the acting program director, Jack Rowley, said from the control room as his engineer hovered over a complex console of audio, video and lighting systems.

Reverend Byron Wilkinson

Reverend George Watkins leading the first TV choir

Grove at WTVR studio

Reverend George Watkins

In the studio, members of the newly formed Grove Avenue Choir shifted noisily in their seats. Some coughed and others cleared their throats. Some were still out of breath after their hurried trip from the church at 1015 Grove Avenue to the television studios of WTVR on Broad Street. "Thirty seconds," announced Rowley in his clear, professional voice. The choir quickly settled down and sat motionless, their eyes now fixed on choir director, George Watkins.

Alyce Tutwiler, the organist, also waited anxiously for the cue, her practiced fingers poised over the piano.

There was an air of nervous excitement in the room. Reverend Watkins stood close to the fifty-voice volunteer choir with his hands slightly raised, anticipating the downbeat. Reverend Byron Wilkinson stood, Bible in hand, ready to share a message from the Word of God to his first television audience. It was almost 1:00 pm on Sunday, January 13, 1952.

"Five seconds, four, three, two…," and then Jack Rowley made a quick decisive point to George Watkins, who then gave the downbeat for Alice to play her 15 second introduction. He then turned back to the choir, and with a wave of his arm, they burst out in song with, "If you want joy, real joy, wonderful joy, let Jesus come into your heart."

Thus began the first television worship service broadcast in the Southern United States.

"Let's Do It!"

WTVR, the South's first television station, was originally owned and operated by Wilbur Havens. It was Havens that asked Reverend Byron Wilkinson to give the invocation at the opening ceremony of WTVR on April 22, 1948. Later, Reverend Wilkinson would be invited to broadcast the services of Grove Avenue Baptist Church on the radio. WMBG 1380 was also owned and operated by Wilbur Havens. Grove's first radio broadcast began on January 1, 1950.

To put the radio program together, Reverend Watkins explained, "We recorded music on a Presto reel-to-reel recorder, along with announcements and the message. We had a better recorder than WMBG, thanks to Tommy Jenkins, owner of Radio Supply."

"WMBG put us on the air from the church," recalled George Watkins. "I would go to the church early on Sunday morning, just before 8:30, put on the headset and wait for an announcer to say ‘Now we take you to Grove Avenue Baptist Church' and I would turn on the tape player and we were on the air." While radio provided a fairly easy and economical way to share the gospel beyond the church sanctuary, it was the new technology of television that captured the interest of both Bryon Wilkinson and George Watkins. They approached Wilbur Havens with the idea of creating a worship service that could be broadcast on WTVR. "Mr. Havens was very discouraging in his response to the idea," said George Watkins. "He had never worked with a large choir and his staff really didn't want to work on Sundays, but from that moment on he knew Bryon Wilkinson had the desire to have Grove Avenue's services on television."

It was the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) in New York that would give Grove the opportunity it was looking for.

NBC approached Wilbur Havens with the idea of broadcasting a live church program from New York. The program would be the first of its kind in the nation. As their affiliate, NBC wanted to be sure WTVR would carry the program. "Wilbur Havens did not want to air the program from New York," recalled station program manager John Shand. "If any one is going to put a church program on this station for the first time, it will be me," Havens said. He considered several options for a church service at WTVR, including building a church on Cutshaw Avenue near the station, hiring a preacher and bringing in a studio audience. Havens needed to act quickly to get a program on the air ahead of NBC. With time running out, he turned to his friend, Byron Wilkinson.

"We were preparing ourselves to go on TV," Reverend Watkins recalled. "We only needed an invitation."

That invitation came on Thursday, January 10, 1952. Byron called George and said, "George, Mr. Havens wants us to go on television Sunday. What do you think?" George said, "Let's do it!"

An Auspicious Beginning

Reverend Byron Wilkinson

Dr. Lawrence Bradley

Reverend Eslie Phillips

John Shand

Fred Mallory, church organist in the early years of TV at Grove

The Grove Avenue Choir regularly met on Thursday nights, and Reverend Watkins informed them that they were going on television the very next Sunday, just after the regular worship service. He also told them that they had to be at the television station on Saturday for practice.

"George drove us hard; he was a perfectionist," recalled a former choir member. The choir knew they would have to do all it took to get ready for Sunday's broadcast. Everyone showed up for practice on Saturday.

The TV station also had a difficult job. They had to build a church inside their studios. John Shand recalled, "George Watkins got the word on Thursday that he was going to do a program the following Sunday. I got the word I was getting a 50-voice choir in there (the studio) on Sunday. Could I build a church in the studio by Saturday?"John Shand and his crew worked diligently, constructing the risers, backdrop and flats that would comprise the "set". "It was a very happy occasion throughout the whole two days we had to get ready," said John.The service itself would be an abbreviated version of the one presented in church. The format that Watkins and Wilkinson settled on included eighteen minutes of music, followed by a ten-minute message from the pastor.

Perhaps the greatest challenge was the logistics of moving the service from Grove Avenue to the TV station. Choir members would complete the service at the church by twelve noon. They would then grab a quick lunch prepared by other church members and race to the studios of WTVR.

There was simply no other way to do it. The TV station's equipment could not be moved, and there was no way to visually record the program and present it later. The broadcast on January 13, 1952, was an instant success. The station received over 500 letters and numerous calls from viewers. It was the biggest response to any program the station had produced.

The audience delighted in the music presented by Grove Avenue's large choir. Byron Wilkinson was an excellent speaker, and according to Watkins, had the wonderful ability to say a lot in a short space of time. Mr. Havens recognized that Byron had instant draw.

Wilbur Havens had originally thought he would present Grove Avenue's worship service on a temporary basis. It would allow him to stave off NBC's attempts to present their worship service, and give him time to develop his concept of a television church. The instant popularity of Grove's service changed his mind.

John Shand is quoted as saying of Grove Avenue's early days in television: "It was not a humble beginning, it was an auspicious beginning."

Spreading the Gospel

Reverend Byron Wilkinson served as Senior Pastor until 1953, leaving the ministry he helped start after only a year-and-a-half. Reverend George Watkins joined Grove's staff as Minister of Music in 1949 and continued to serve under several pastors until 1965.

Dr. Lawrence V. Bradley, Jr. followed Reverend Wilkinson as Senior Pastor, serving from 1954 to 1960. Reverend Eslie R. Phillips followed Dr. Bradley, leading Grove from 1961 to 1965. Both of these evangelistic preachers supported television, believing it to be an effective tool for "witnessing" to the community.

"Not only were we on TV, we were spreading the gospel. We were reaching lost souls. This was a mission we were doing," said original TV choir member Juanita Creighton.

Dr. Charles Stanley, who attended Grove Avenue Baptist Church white he attended the University of Richmond. His first televised sermon was on WTVR and was sponsored by Grove	Dr. Charles Fuller was an interim pastor at Grove and presented messages live on WTVR

In the early years of the ministry, it was choir director George Watkins who became the familiar personality. He gave continuity to the program as preachers came and went, according to God's calling. In 1965 George, too, would make his exit, leaving the TV ministry to the care of the church. The era that saw the creation of the television ministry was coming to a close.

The Victory Hour

Reverend Vander Warner, Jr.

In 1966, Reverend Vander Warner, Jr. accepted the call to become Grove's Senior Pastor. His friend and mentor, Dr. Vance Havner, had advised him to find a ministry where he could impact the maximum number of people for the lowest cost. He found such an opportunity at Grove with the television ministry.

When Warner began his ministry, he was the only full-time minister on staff. He had to prepare the sermon, plan the worship service and lead the music each week. He also became the steward of the television ministry. He found the process of rushing to the television station exhausting.

Church staff at "Old Grove"

Believing that there had to be a better way to produce a TV program, Pastor Warner began to look at the broadcast market and investigate Grove's options. WRVA-TV, Channel 12, was building a reputation for "remote" or "out-of-the studio" productions. They had the equipment, personnel and experience necessary to bring cameras into the sanctuary at 1015 Grove Avenue.

Under the leadership of its dynamic new preacher, Grove moved from WTVR-TV, Channel 6, to WRVA-TV, Channel 12.

The agreement Warner made with Channel 12 would also expand the program from thirty minutes to a full hour, thus eliminating the need for an abbreviated worship service for television. The program could now follow the regular morning worship service.

Vander Warner wanted to give an identity to Grove's new program. His Bible study at the time led him to the conviction that it is Jesus who gives us victory in our lives. He named this new hour of television the Victory Hour and a new era of the media ministry would begin. The call letters WRVA-TV were changed in 1968 to WWBT-TV when the station changed ownership.

"Live, from Grove Avenue Baptist Church"

Ed Broaddus, Chairman of the TV Committee in the 1970's

Reverend Bill Carter, Associate Pastor and Church Administrator during the Warner years.

Each week a large "remote" truck would park in the alley behind the main sanctuary at 1015 Grove Avenue. The truck had onboard switching systems for visually mixing the program. It also had the equipment necessary for microwave transmission. An antenna was mounted on the roof of the church.

Heavy cables were run from the truck to the sanctuary to provide connection for two large cameras. One camera was set up on a small platform at the back of the sanctuary. The other camera was placed in the balcony where it could be used for "camera cards."

As the program began, the camera was fixed on a close-up shot of a decorative light fixture that hung over the sanctuary, while an announcer bellowed out, "Live, from Grove Avenue Baptist Church."

TV audiences could now "go to church" and participate in worship with Grove's membership each Sunday. The new format was a great success. TV audiences were captivated by Grove's fiery young preacher and the exciting music program that included the largest choir in the area.

The new format was a major leap forward for the church. It was also a financial challenge. Production and airtime costs were significantly higher under this new arrangement. Fortunately, the TV audience increased steadily. Stories of salvation experiences and changed lives among TV viewers encouraged the church to stay committed to the television ministry.

A Stake in the Productions

Ginny Lewis

Throughout most of the television ministry's history, it was the TV stations that provided the equipment and personnel necessary to produce the weekly program. Gradually, volunteers from the church began to run cameras. The first camera volunteer was the pastor's secretary, Ginny Lewis.

In the late 1960's and early 70's, the local TV stations were in the process of converting from black-and-white to color. Color cameras were very complex and expensive. Typically, TV stations replaced the in-studio cameras first; then, they would work to replace the field or remote cameras.

Grove was given the option of continuing with WXEX's black and white remote cameras or purchasing color camera systems of their own. Vander Warner, anxious to keep pace with the technology of the day, pushed for color cameras. Grove was about to make a major investment in the production of its own program.

WXEX —TV maintained a studio in Richmond to service its local business, while its main broadcasting facilities were based in Petersburg. When WXEX —TV changed ownership, the new management closed the Richmond production facility. This created a surplus of television equipment, including two color cameras. Harvey Hudson was General Manager of WXEX Channel 8 and a longtime supporter of the television ministry. He offered Grove the option of purchasing the two color cameras from the TV station at a significantly reduced price.

Even at a reduced price, the camera purchase represented a difficult challenge. The church would have to raise over $70,000 - and do it within 30 days to take advantage of the offer from Channel 8.

Vander Warner put together a separate nonprofit fund called "A Purpose for Giving." He appealed to the church for 10 men to give $7,000 each. Near the end of the 30 days, he had five men and a total of $35,000. With time running out, Warner turned to one of the 5 contributors, Oran Jarrell, for help.

Oran Jarrell, owner of Jarrell's Truck Plaza off I-95 near Ashland, was moved to give the balance of the money needed. He paid his $7,000 pledge, plus the balance needed to buy the cameras. Grove would now have a stake in its own production.

A Historic Move

In 1976, our building program moved the church from its historic roots on Grove Avenue to Ridge Road in Richmond's West End. Plans for the new building included dedicated space for television cameras. The "Agape" Tower, a 142-foot structure built adjacent to the main building, was designed to hold a microwave transmitter.

During the late 70's, television stations were pulling back from multiple-camera remote productions. The advent and proliferation of "cassette based" videotape was transforming the industry and eliminating the need for large remote production trucks.

As a result of the building program and the changes in the broadcasting industry, Grove would again move to increase its investment in its own production. The church purchased dedicated audio and video systems for the television ministry.

The new building would provide space for a "TV control room." This room would allow Grove to move the electronics used for switching the program into the church, thus eliminating the need for a remote truck all together.

1927	1978

When Grove moved into its new facilities on Ridge Road, much of the television production equipment needed for the Victory Hour was owned by the church. The TV station still "produced" the program by providing a director and an engineer; however, volunteers were now regularly being used to assist with the production, including the operation of the cameras.

Minister of Media

Steve Troxel, Grove Avenue's First Minister of Media

As Grove continued to increase its role in the production of the Victory Hour, it became obvious that a new staff position was needed to help manage this process.

Steve Troxel was working in the audiovisual department of Richmond's Union Theological Seminary when he began attending "Old Grove" at 1015 Grove Avenue. There he took an immediate interest in the television production.

He would become Grove's first media minister, joining the church staff in 1980. It would be his new responsibility to organize and manage the TV ministry in terms of crew and equipment and work with the senior pastor and music leader to present an hour of worship on television each week.

Troxel would also be instrumental in working through the transition to Grove's new building at Parham and Ridge Roads. For several years, he had the difficult job of establishing the television ministry at Grove's new location and building a sound and lighting infrastructure that would adequately serve the church.

Steve's wife, Rosie, an accomplished musician, led Grove's choir as an interim music director in 1983. "Rosie was the brightest spot in our music ministry," Warner recalled. She had the unique ability to get a lot of performance out of the choir.

Troxel would head up the media ministry until 1985, when he left to take a position on the faculty at Liberty University. Paul Takagi replaced Steve Troxel and served briefly, leaving the ministry in 1986.

Reverend Ural Clayton (served for 14 years).

Reverend Chuck Traylor, Grove's current Music Minister

A Leader in Church Worship

Pastor Warner had a widespread audience appeal. In the late 1970's and early 1980's, the Victory Hour audience grew regionally to over twenty thousand viewers.

Grove became known for its dynamic, relevant, and conservative presentation of the Word of God. Grove also had an outstanding music program and through television, became known throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia as a leader in church worship. The pulpit at Grove was visited by pastors, theological scholars, denominational leaders, senators, congressmen and governors. It was "the church" on television and an important voice in the community.

To Richmond and Beyond

In the early 1980's, Grove attempted to move beyond Richmond with its broadcast. Videotape systems were less expensive and readily available. Grove began recording its services and then editing them for rebroadcast on TV stations in other markets. Grove even rebroadcast its program locally through a cable channel leased by a Christian broadcast entrepreneur, Jim Campana.

The Living Cross, 1986

Cable television was developing rapidly in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region of the country. Cable TV was opening low-cost opportunities to distribute programs, such as the Victory Hour, in a number of markets.

Distributing the program on tape meant that Grove had to record, edit and copy the program for on-tape distribution. While Grove had most of the production equipment it needed, it still lacked the ability to edit its programs. Avec Electronics built an editing facility in their showroom reserved for the church. Steve Troxel would edit the program each week, make professional copies and then distribute them to cable stations in other markets.

The response to the program was mixed. While cable was an affordable alternative to

traditional broadcasting, viewership was fragmented over a variety of channels and difficult to track. Grove also did not have the marketing and fundraising ability of other nationally distributed programs.

Grove was busy building its membership and establishing itself in its new location. The church leadership was still laboring under a significant debt load resulting from the building program that moved the church to the West End.

Much of the TV ministry was operated outside of normal church budgets, relying on viewers and business leaders to support the program locally. The church itself was not ready to provide the money or personnel out of its general operating budget to successfully distribute the program out of Grove's traditional viewing area. The effort was undercapitalized in terms of financial and personnel resources, and thus soon ended.

Six Months

By the mid 1980's, the local TV stations wanted to get out of the multiple camera production business altogether and simply broadcast the program. This would leave Grove squarely in charge of its own production.

Reverend Mark Jenkins

In the spring of 1986, Grove was without a Minister of Media. Vander Warner appealed to local television producer Mark Jenkins, son of W. D. "Tommy" Jenkins, to step in as Interim Minster of Media "for six months."

The two men developed an "interim agreement" to produce the Victory Hour. The work would include an overhaul of the program and improvements for the production facility. This arrangement would also give the church time to find a new Minister of Media.

The interim plan called for the former media ministry salary to be used as a fund to pay for the improvements. A professional TV crew was reinstated and all but a few volunteer positions remained. It was the duty of the professional crew to train the volunteer crew in proper production techniques.

Within several months the professional crew would back out of the production process, leaving only a professional engineer and producer. A media assistant was hired to work during the week. This job was to handle routine needs, such as picking up supplies and videotape duplication.

The lighting system at the church was taken over by Bob Hierholzer, a retired Army First Sergeant. The house sound systems were assigned to the music ministry and managed by Monte Agee of Agee's Bicycles.

Mark Jenkins recruited area broadcast engineers to rework Grove's production and transmission systems. Within six months of the implementation of the interim agreement designed by Warner and Jenkins, Grove's broadcast had greatly improved. The improvements were noted by Channel 12 who stated, "Grove was one of the best remote productions on the air." Warner asked Jenkins to continue the interim agreement for another six months.

A Stirring of the Nest

In 1992, Vander Warner stood before the church and announced his retirement, advocating his position for a younger man. He felt "a stirring of the nest" might be good for the church. "The pastor's retirement created the greatest challenge in the history of the TV ministry," said Mark Jenkins.

"Warner had been a champion of the ministry. He was a dynamic speaker, a popular preacher, and the consummate fundraiser. Many regarded the TV ministry as his ministry." Jenkins wondered if the church leadership, the TV station and most importantly, the TV viewers, would support the ministry until a new pastor could be found.

Another major concern was the media facility itself. The television equipment that had been worked and reworked for years was now at the brink of failure; the church was not in a mood to fund its replacement.

The Senior Pastor, a man who had nurtured the TV ministry for years, was leaving. During this time of uncertainty, the TV station called Jenkins to signal the end of the broadcast. The Victory Hour was, in effect, over.

Pressing On, in Jesus' Name

If the television ministry was to continue, Jenkins knew several things needed to happen quickly; he had to renew Grove's commitment for airtime, rebuild the TV control room and encourage TV viewers to stay with the program. First, he met with the TV station management to reassure them that Grove had no intention of moving away from its long-standing television ministry. He then turned his attention to the TV facilities at the church. Jenkins began working on the physical facilities. With the help of family and friends, he rebuilt the TV control room. "I was feeling the Lord tug at my heart; I believed He was calling me into full-time ministry. I couldn't believe it. This seemed like the worst time to do it, but I had to trust God and move forward," Jenkins recalled.

Avec Electronics worked with Jenkins to replace much of Grove's aging equipment base. Video systems engineer Randy Stewart and Jenkins wired all the new video components together. NBC 12 also got involved. The microwave transmitter was relocated to a better position on the roof.

The broadcast sound room was rebuilt with the help of Dennis Farmer, a TV crew member with an extensive background in audio electronics. Other TV crew and church members pitched in to help "fix up" the old room. Jesse Lanehart, a carpenter, built platforms to raise the main console and to conceal wiring. Bob Hierholzer refinished the old steel racks that held the TV equipment. Jenkins then made an appeal to the TV viewers and the Agape Fellowship to continue their support of the program until a new pastor could be found.

"We were building the TV ministry for the church and as a valuable resource for a new senior pastor; we just didn't know who that would be," said Jenkins.

The Missionary to Brazil

Reverend Ron Boswell

Reverend Ron Boswell began his service with Grove Avenue Baptist Church as an interim pastor. In 1993, the church voted to affirm him as its new Senior Pastor. Reverend Boswell came to Grove from the International Mission Board. Previously, he had spent 17 years in the field as a missionary to Brazil.

He brought his passion for foreign missions with him to Grove, and led the church to increased giving in both the Lottie Moon Christmas offering and the cooperative program.

Even though his emphasis was always on foreign missions, he became a great advocate and supporter of the television ministry. "Without the TV ministry, Grove would just be another church on the street corner," Boswell said. He recognized the power of television to reach people in the community and to foster church growth by raising people's awareness of the church.

Under Pastor Boswell's leadership, the television ministry flourished. He was very popular with local audiences, and was well known for his sense of humor, gregarious personality and preaching the Word of God with conviction.

He reinstated the staff position of Minister of Media and moved to bring Mark Jenkins on full-time. He consolidated all audio and videos systems under the media ministry and further expanded the ministry to include public relations and the library.

Boswell maintained the Agape Fellowship, and increased ministry to the homebound. However, he didn't fundraise aggressively for the TV ministry, believing the church should pay for half the airtime cost.

His pastorate marked the most prolific period of television production in the history of the media ministry. During this period the TV ministry developed editing systems within the church. This cleared the way for a series of projects including an award winning mini-documentary of a mission trip to Brazil, a series of special "roll-in" segments for the Victory Hour filmed in Israel, a documentary special on the Holy Land, a humorous stewardship video called the "G- files," a series of Vacation Bible School videos, numerous TV spots and a variety of Victory Hour promotions.

Boswell moved to bring the TV ministry into the mainstream of the church by helping to raise its profile among church members. He led the church in a massive new building campaign that would include a complete rebuilding of the house sound systems and the relocation andrebuilding of the media center. Reverend Boswell would serve as Senior Pastor and as the principal voice of the Victory Hour until his retirement in 2000.

The New Media Center

The new media center, completed in the year 2000, houses the equipment for the production and editing of the Victory Hour. Even though the program is live, special roll-in packages need to be shot and edited each week.

The media center is also where the computer networks are controlled, and where all phone communications, including voice mail, are located.

The media center itself is a testimony to the faithfulness of Grove's TV crew. Collectively, they provided much of the labor needed to create the new facility. Resources to clean and move equipment from the old control room, paint walls, install lighting, insulate the rooms and even build computers were provided by the volunteer TV ministry crew.

The video system used for production and editing work was designed and built by brothers Mark and Tommy Jenkins. The Whitlock Group was a valuable resource that provided much of the equipment and engineering support to complete the media center.

Workers in the Field of the Lord

Marie Foster at the "House Sound"

Tal Martin at the "Broadcast Sound"

The media ministry is essentially a volunteer organization. Every week dedicated church members work to produce the Victory Hour.

It takes a crew of at least 9 people to run the equipment necessary for the program. Many of these crew members have served faithfully for many years. A good example of this: Charlie Harris has operated Grove's center camera (camera 2) for over eighteen years.

"When we do our job right nobody notices," said Tal Martin, broadcast sound operator. The crew is invisible to most; they work behind the scenes to rig lights, run microphone lines, mix sound, switch video, and beam the signal to NBC 12. The program would not be possible without them. The church simply could not afford to hire a crew that large each week. The crew considers themselves partners with the TV viewers who give money to pay for airtime. They, too, are an unseen means of support. The church is blessed to have this wonderful partnership that makes the Victory Hour possible.

The Media Ministry Today

Today, the media ministry is a cornerstone of continued outreach to our community.

Olga Skorackyj, Dale Mise and Mark Jenkins

Terrie and Mark Jenkins

The message of Jesus Christ, as expressed in song, prayer and in scripture, is shared with thousands of people each week through the Victory Hour television program. Our main worship service is broadcast "live" each week on NBC 12 and carried on 54 cable stations throughout the Commonwealth. The Victory Hour is one of the most successful outreach programs in Virginia. It is a vital link to those who are home and hospital-bound, a ministry to those in jail, and a witness to countless others in the community.

The media ministry also provides the communications infrastructure that all of the other ministers of the church depend on, including phones, voice mail, e-mail, Internet access and our website.

Additionally, the media ministry provides audiovisual support for meetings and special presentations of the church. The media ministry provides graphic support as well as creating everything from the church stationery to visitation materials. This work includes the weekly bulletins and will soon include electronic bulletin boards and projection screens in the sanctuary.

This ministry stands on the accomplishments of the past, but with a vision for the future. Under the leadership of Dr. Becton, the ministry plans to move boldly in the new century. The media staff and volunteers want to continue to expand the ministry and seek out new technologies and new opportunities to share the gospel with our community and the world.

The Man From Oklahoma

Dr. Mark Becton

Dr. Mark Becton was affirmed as Senior Pastor on September 17, 2000. He brings a great deal of religious education and pastoral experience to Grove. Dr. Becton holds a Doctor of Philosophy, a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Southwestern Theological Seminary. He has served as a pastor of several Southern Baptist churches, including The First Baptist of Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Audiences were first introduced to Dr. Becton through a documentary titled "From America's Heartland to Our Hometown." A TV ministry crew traveled to Weatherford, Oklahoma, to tell the story of how Becton became the Senior Pastor at Grove.

"The program was a great success," said Mark Jenkins "We had been off the air for several weeks due to network pre-emptions. Our documentary gave the TV audience a chance to get to know Dr. Becton, his heart and his vision for the church."

Dr. Becton has already had an impact on the church as demonstrated through increased attendance. The Victory Hour has also grown. Several thousand more viewers are tuning in the broadcast each week. His clear, concise and scripturally sound presentation of the gospel has been an inspiration to people throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has a heart for the media ministry and a sincere desire to continue to develop and expand the ministry in the future.

Over the years, Pastors have come and gone, each bringing their unique gifts to the position and taking the church to a higher level of service and commitment. They have left their mark, a never-ending impression testifying of their loyalty to the Lord Jesus Christ and His church.

In the same vein, we are expecting great things from God, who is working through Dr. Mark Becton. As a body, Grove is pleased to welcome him and his family into our fellowship. It is exciting to see Grove soar to greater heights with our new leader, as we continue to endeavor as a church to save the lost, encourage the saved, and build God's Kingdom here on earth.

(From the American Heartland to Our Home Town Documentary, written by Mark Jenkins and David Sekerdy)

The Victory Fund

The television ministry depends on contributions from the community to pay for airtime expenses. Over the years, a number of estate gifts have been made that were a great blessing in either helping the church meet airtime costs or by allowing the church to purchase television equipment vital to the broadcast.

The media ministry staff and volunteers have been working with the 50th Anniversary Committee and the church leadership with the goal of establishing an endowment for television.

The endowment, called the "Victory Fund," will be used initially to offset airtime costs of the weekly broadcasts. Over time, the media ministry hopes to raise enough money to pay airtime cost in perpetuity. This will insure that the message of the gospel will continue to be shared with future generations through the medium of television.

The Victory Fund is a wonderful way a person can give, either in their name or in honor or memory of a loved one. Their gift will be put in a trust and continue to provide a basis of support for this important ministry for years to come.

The Seedcaster Fellowship

The Seedcaster Fellowship adds a fresh structure to the foundation laid by the Agape Fellowship. For years, the faithful supporters of the Victory Hour comprised the wonderful Agape Fellowship. However, with Dr. Becton's vision to see the Victory Hour as a farmer throwing seed, the Seedcaster Fellowship was born. This fellowship provides foundational support of the Victory Hour through their prayers and financial gifts.

Members of the fellowship now receive "The Seedcaster." This monthly newsletter provides members with devotional writings from Dr. Becton, ministry information from Mark Jenkins, stories of lives touched through The Victory Hour, and news of upcoming sermons, as well as opportunities to order audio tapes, video tapes, individual manuscripts, or other writings of Dr. Becton. If you would like to join The Seedcaster Fellowship, call Grove Avenue Baptist Church (804-740-8888). You will receive the very next mailing. Furthermore, you will become a partner with others who want to see God's Word, like seed, thrown as far and fast as possible.

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