Amazing Facts
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| Type | Religious/Non-Profit |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1966[1] |
| Founder(s) | Joe Crews[1] |
| Headquarters | Roseville, California, USA |
| Area served | North America |
| Key people | Doug Batchelor (President/Speaker)[1] |
| Website | www.amazingfacts.org |
Amazing Facts is an American Christian ministry. Beginning as a single radio program in 1966 it has expanded into television programming, training, health, prophecy seminars and online Bible study ministries. Its theology is entirely that of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Contents |
[edit] History
Amazing Facts was founded in 1966 by Joe Crews in Baltimore, Maryland. Inspired by the success of The Rest Of The Story, hosted by Paul Harvey, Joe Crews' original objective for Amazing Facts was to reach out to both Christian and non-Christian listeners via daily 15-minute programs by opening with a scientific or historic fact, and how it applies to the overall Biblical messages.[1] Later, the program offered accompanying home Bible study courses, as well as books written by Crews himself. In 1987, Amazing Facts initiated a television ministry that has expanded to four programs as well as periodic evangelism series.
Shortly before his death in 1994, Crews invited Doug Batchelor to assume the position of President/Speaker, which he has held ever since. Today, the Amazing Facts radio program "Bible Answers Live" broadcasts mainly out of Sacramento, California each Sunday evening to about 155 national stations. Amazing Facts has also opened a Center of Evangelism and commonly hosts seminars using the same presentation model.
Amazing Facts has multiple evangelistic teams that host prophecy seminars around the United States. In 2008 Amazing Facts formed a partnership with Weimar Institute to offer health ministries.
[edit] Media Programming
Amazing Facts programming is available on a variety of over-the-air, cable and satellite stations[2] In addition, programs are archived on the website.
[edit] TV
Amazing Facts Television, a 24/7 Christian Television Channel featuring Amazing Facts TV programming all the time on Glorystar Satellite Service available in North America and Central America.
- Amazing Facts Presents - Flagship 30-minute weekly Bible program featuring Doug Batchelor[3]
- Central Study Hour - Weekly Bible School Program from the Sacramento Central Church based on the Sabbath School Adult Study Guide[4]
- Everlasting Gospel - 60-minute sermons from Pastor Doug at Sacramento Central Church[5]
- Friday Night Live - with Doug Batchelor[6]
[edit] Radio Programs
- Bible Answers Live - a 60-minute Sunday evening radio program where listeners phone or email Bible questions which are answered live[7]
- Wonders in the Word - 30-minute radio program airing Monday through Thursday[8]
[edit] Online
- Amazing Facts TV - 24x7 online TV station[9]
[edit] Speakers
| Preceded by founder |
Founder/Speaker/Director Joe Crews 1965 - 1994 |
Succeeded by Doug Batchelor |
| Preceded by Joe Crews |
Speaker/Director Doug Batchelor 1994 - present |
Succeeded by Current |
[edit] AFCOE
Amazing Facts operates the Amazing Facts Center Of Evangelism (AFCOE). "AFCOE trains and equips clergy and lay people in all aspects of evangelistic ministry."[10] Both a four month "Complete" course and a 4 day "To Go" course are offered from the Weimar Center for Health and Education in Weimar, California.[10]
[edit] Bible School
Amazing Facts offers a free Bible school with online study guides.[11]
[edit] Current Evangelists
In addition to the various media programs and live events featuring Pastor Doug Batchelor, Amazing Facts also has a number of traveling evangelists that also do live seminars. Current Amazing Facts evangelists include Emanuel Baek, Darrin Bartell, Lowell Hargreaves, Chuck Holtry, Jason Morgan, Tim Jones, Tyler Long, Dennis Priebe, Jason Sliger, and Dave Steward.
[edit] Former Evangelists
Over the years Amazing Facts has had numerous pastors serve as traveling evangelists and hold seminars for local churches. In years past these have included Evangelist John Bradshaw, Pastor David Morgan, Pastor John Earnhart, Pastor Byron Corbett, Evangelist Eric Flickinger, Evangelist Kim Kjaer, Evangelist Brian McMahon, Pastor Ray House, Pastor Mike Troxell, Evangelist John Quade, Evangelist Steve Vail, Pastor Robert Wagley, Evangelist Jack Pefley, Evangelist Steve DeLong, Evangelist Leo Schreven, Evangelist Vern Snow, Evangelist Steve Wholberg, and many other leading gospel ministers today.
[edit] Mergers
In April 2007 it was announced that Amazing Facts and 3ABN would be merging [12][13][14] However, in August 2007, after several months of review, Amazing Facts announced they will not merge with 3ABN due to issues with structural dynamics.[15]
On April 6, 2008 Amazing Facts announced a joint venture with Weimar Institute whereby the operations of Weimar Institute will be administered by Amazing Facts and both organizations would have a single board of directors.[16] Weimar was renamed Weimar Center of Health and Education and Neil Nedley was chosen as president.[17]
[edit] Views About Women
Doug Bachelor has spoken against the ordination of women. In Premise Nine of his talk, "28 Fundamental Arguments Against Women Ministers", he says that "the word seminary shares the same root as the word semen, so it’s interesting that so many women study in the seminary."[18]
[edit] See also
- Seventh-day Adventist Church
- List of United States cable and satellite television networks
- Religious broadcasting
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Our Story". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/AboutUs/OurStory/tabid/191/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Station Locator". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/StationLocator/tabid/87/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Amazing Facts Presents". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/AmazingFactsPresents/tabid/77/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Central Study Hour". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/CentralStudyHour/tabid/76/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Everlasting Gospel". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/EverlastingGospel/tabid/78/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Friday Night Live". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Television/FridayNightLiveArchives/tabid/240/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Bible Answers Live". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Radio/BibleAnswersLive/tabid/89/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Wonders in the Word". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Radio/WondersintheWord/tabid/241/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Amazing Facts TV". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.tv. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ a b "AFCOE". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Training/AFCOE/tabid/150/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Online Bible School". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.tv/FreeOnlineBibleSchool.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Unknown". 3ABN. http://3abn.org/3abn_amazingfacts.cfm. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Unknown". 3ABN. http://3abn.org/amazingfacts_3abn.cfm. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Unknown". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/news/read_news.asp?ID=141. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Merger Update". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Publications/LatestMinistryNews/tabid/121/newsid444/288/Merger-Update/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Amazing Facts and Weimar Institute Join Ministries". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Publications/LatestMinistryNews/tabid/121/newsid444/336/Amazing-Facts-and-Weimar-Institute-Join-Ministries/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Dr. Neil Nedley to Lead Weimar". Amazing Facts. http://www.amazingfacts.org/Publications/LatestMinistryNews/tabid/121/newsid444/353/Dr-Neil-Nedley-to-Lead-Weimar/Default.aspx. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ^ "Doug Bachelors 28 Fundamental Arguments Against Women Minsters". Spectrum Magazine. http://spectrummagazine.org/blog/2010/03/19/doug-batchelors-28-fundamental-arguments-against-women-ministers. Retrieved 2010-03-19.
