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3ABN's Shelton draws hundreds to National Stadium!
News of his arrival on the island may have escaped the radars
of local media but Danny Shelton received a celebrity welcome
at the St Lucia Mission of Seventh Day Adventists' grand annual
lay preachers rally on Saturday.
The event which saw hundreds of Seventh Day Adventists travel
from around the island to the George Odlum Stadium was an all-day
affair with Danny Shelton and his wife as special guests. Shelton,
a familiar face to 3ABN (Three Angels Broadcasting Network),
channel 42 viewers, shook hands with fans and even took time
to sign a few Holy Bibles.
3ABN is a 24-hour Christian television and
radio network that focuses on programming that "will reach people
right where they are hurting." 3ABN offers divorce recovery
programs, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, cooking and health
programs, stop smoking and weight loss programs that deal with
children and family issues, organic gardening, natural home remedies,
gospel music programs, as well as a variety of inspirational
themes from the Bible for children and adults.
Based in southern Illinois, 3ABN is the second largest Christian
network in North America (in regard to numbers of owned and operated
UHF stations). 3ABN holds no large fundraising efforts or telethons
and many of 3ABN's employees and volunteers are members of the
Seventh-day Adventist church.
During a special presentation Shelton told the story of how
he, a carpenter without a college education and from a poor background,
felt the call to start a Christian television station. At the
time, 1984, Shelton said he had no knowledge of how a television
station should operate or how or where to get the thousands needed
to set up such a station.
"I'd been asking myself why doesn't the church set up its
own television station? Why doesn't the church do this and that?
The Lord impressed upon me that night in 1984, that I was the
church. The church is all of us, each of us recognizing our responsibility
in a united way to disseminate the gospel," said Shelton.
The lay preacher said he trusted God
to send the money and the equipment needed to set up the station
and miraculously it all fell into place. "God began to open doors,"
said Shelton. "Even those who were not of the Adventist faith
donated property, they donated equipment they gave money. People
began to come together and we got one satellite, then two and
now eleven satellites. God continues to supply all our needs.
We are now going onto dish network that has over 12 million subscribers."
Shelton also related 3ABN's successful efforts at entering
countries like China and the Philippines. In a special STAR
sit-down with Shelton, this is what he had to say about his first
visit to the island: "We love it. My wife Brandy and I love the
mountains, the ocean, and especially the people. From the time
we landed at the airport the people have been telling us that
they watch 3ABN and love it. The people who work at the hotel,
the restaurants and shops we've been to, all say they watch the
station and are tremendously blessed by what we're doing."
But exactly how does—by comparison to TBN's miracle-working-fall-down
excitement—low-hype 3ABN compete and keep viewers coming back
for more?
"We don't compete," Shelton said matter of factly. "We don't
judge any other station or how people worship but for us that
is not what God has called us to do. We put a lot of emphasis
on physical health and living a healthy happy life on earth.
On our station viewers can find out how to prevent cancer, how
to lower blood pressure. We want to teach and help people live
happy lives."
Shelton is the third 3ABN personality to visit St Lucia and
the local SDA congregation. He did not return to the US empty
handed. A gift of US$7000 was collected from churches around
the island towards 3ABN's media ministry.
Caption: Danny Shelton being escorted at the SDA Lay
Rally by members of the Masterguide Club
Caption: Shelton and his wife walk through the crowd
meeting and greeting fans
Posted on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 (Archive on Wednesday, July 18, 2007)
Posted by girl Contributed by
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