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Show SDA members support radio evangelism More than half a million dollars will be given by Vernal Seventh-day Ad-ventists Ad-ventists and fellow church members throughout North America this week to support the church's worldwide radio ministry. Ray Hickman, pastor of the Vernal Seventh-day Adventist Church, says voluntary contributions will provide about 12 percent of the annual budget for the program, "The Voice of Prophecy." The broadcast is now heard more than 1,200 times a week on 800 stations. In Vernal, the "Voice" is aired each Sunday at 8:30 a m. on KVEL. "The broadcast began in the 1930's," says Hickman," as a faith venture by a young Adventist, pastor, H.M.S. Richards. He set up a makeshift radio studio in a renovated chicken coop in southern California." Since then the broadcast has developed several formats, including a series of public service spots on health and family problems. Another spot series, "Inside Track," helps students in choosing a career. It has lcen recognized and endorsed by a nationally syndicated career-choice columnist. "Wayout," a youth ministry providing pamphlets on controversial and troubling topics for young people, is promoted through spot announcements. an-nouncements. "Radio is the quickest, cheapest way to talk to the world," says the 85-year-old Richards, Sr., now speaker emeritus of the almost 50-year-old program. His son, H.M.S. Richards, Jr., speaks on the weekly 30-minute and daily 15-minute programs. The program operates a Bible correspondence school with 13 English-language English-language courses and 25 in other tongues. About 25,000 people graduate from the courses each year. |