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Movies:
Hidden Secrets
One Night with The King
Radio: Jay Sekulow Live
TV: LivePrayer with Bill Keller
Books: Danger Road
Networks: TBN
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TBN's Acquisition Of 'Holy Land Experience' Theme Park Seeks To Change More Lives
June 9, 2007 ORLANDO -- Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), the world's largest religious broadcaster and America's most-watched faith channel, hopes to change more lives through its addition of the "Holy Land Experience" theme park in Orlando, Fl., to the TBN family. Through the acquisition, TBN will bring an integration of the powerful living recreation of ancient Jerusalem with a cutting edge facility that will be used for television production, dramas, musical concerts, special events and movies.
"This marriage will bring an unprecedented synergy to both ministries and the production that is done there will be seen by a worldwide audience. TBN's involvement made sense, because both ministries are about changing and effecting people's lives. We've been doing that for 34 years," said Paul Crouch, Jr., TBN Vice President of Administration. "We believe this opportunity was heaven sent because it bought TBN an Orlando-based facility to fulfill it's local programming obligations for WGTL CH-52 and it will provide "The Holy Land Experience" with much needed promotion to bring more people to the theme park and Orlando as a whole."
The Holy Land Experience could well be considered Orlando's most inspiring destination as visitors experience a full day of discovery that takes them 2,000 years back in time to the world of the Bible. It brings to life ancient Israel as a unique, thriving world filled with fascinating exhibits and venues. Visitors learn about the Wilderness Tabernacle and the Great Temple; discover the amazing history of the Bible; explore the city of Jerusalem in miniature; see re-enactments of Jesus' ministry, His life, death, and resurrection; and feel the power and passion of our original musical productions.
WGTL TV, Channel 52, has a reach of over four million viewers in the Orlando and Cocoa Beach metropolitan areas with TBN's wide range of innovative faith-based programming. In October of 2006, TBN celebrated the inaugural broadcast of WGTL Ch-52 in Orlando with a dedicatory service attended by TBN founders Paul and Jan Crouch, Pastor Benny Hinn, Singer and Preacher Judy Jacobs hosted by Pastor George Cope and Calvary Assembly in Winter Park, Fl.
The combination of the production facilities and the Holy Land Experience offers Orlando visitors a powerful and unique faith based experience that can be promoted worldwide through the TBN network. The promotional capability can drive visitors to the complex.
"Some of the staff was asking what is going to be the immediate effect here at the park and my answer was 'I'm planning on you having more people coming through the turnstiles this summer,'" said Crouch. "Universal Studios does the same thing. We want the 'Holy Land Experience' to be a faith-based version of that."
About TBN
TBN is the world's largest religious network and America's most watched faith network. Each day TBN offers 24 hours of commercial-free inspirational programming that appeals to people in a wide variety of denominations. Beginning in 1973 as a single UHF station in southern California, TBN now reaches every major continent via 65 satellites and more than 12,500 television and cable affiliates worldwide. In the United States, TBN is available to 92 percent of the total households. Its website receives more than 27 million visitors monthly. For more information on TBN, visit www.tbn.org
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Christian News and Media Agency
2006-07-18 -- WDC Media News -- Feature Article
By KEVIN GRAHAM
www.sptimes.com
[Times photo: Ken Helle] Joe Redner, third from right, received an invitation to speak at Without Walls International Church Sunday.
TAMPA - It may have been the least likely place for a man who doesn’t believe in God to receive a standing ovation, but it happened Sunday morning when Joe Redner went to church.
Bishop Randy White, senior pastor at Without Walls International Church, invited the strip club owner to join him in the pulpit and talk about his campaign for the Hillsborough County Commission District 5 seat.
"All right, he’s not running for pastor. My job’s not up," White jokingly told parishioners while introducing Redner, as their continued applause prompted Redner to stand and nod his head in thanks.
Redner said the crowd of about 4,000, and countless others watching the 11 a.m. church service on the Internet, was the largest audience he’d ever spoken to.
He talked for 10 minutes about protecting the environment, improving public transportation and reducing overcrowding in schools.
"We need adequate schools for our children. We need to protect our environment, because no one knows how long we’re going to be here," Redner said. "I think that’s preached in the Bible."
It’s what came next that had parishioners shouting to Redner, "Preach! Preach!" He quoted Revelation 7:3.
"Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees," said Redner.
It surprised the congregation, but Redner said he’s no stranger to the Scriptures.
"I believe in a lot of things that are in the Bible," Redner said, like thou shall not kill and treat others the way you want to be treated. "I just don’t believe it was divinely inspired."
Though he does not believe in God, Redner said he prefers to call himself a humanist rather than an atheist.
"I have come to the conclusion that the loving God that is spoken of in the Bible does not exist," he said. "I would hold my God to a higher standard."
Without Walls is the nation’s fastest growing church, founded by White and his wife, fellow senior pastor Paula White. Bishop White has a list he calls his "10 Most Wanted," which includes national and local celebrities he wants to save.
Rock musician Kid Rock and LaToya Jackson plus the entire Jackson family, White said are on the bishop’s list. So is Joe Redner.
"That will never happen," Redner said.
When it came to his campaign for county commissioner, Redner talked about having already been involved in speaking out against decisions of local government leaders.
He said that the elevated portion of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway would add to air pollution and the money would be better spent on mass transportation.
Politicians have allowed too many new subdivisions to be built in the county without new schools to go along with them, Redner said Sunday.
As a result, students have to be bused to overcrowded schools outside of their communities.
"Development is an important part of our economy," Redner said. "It’s a matter of smart growth, smart management."
Sunday wasn’t the first time Redner spoke at Without Walls. He was there in 2003 to talk about the importance of voting when he ran unsuccessfully for another office.
White said it wasn’t the community that lashed out three years ago when Redner spoke, but religious leaders. Pastors sent him e-mails and called to ask how he could let Redner, who claimed last year in a federal lawsuit he is gay, speak at his church.
"I submit to them that we have forgotten that church is a hospital," White said. "It’s not a museum for the saints."
In 1999, when Tampa City Council took up the issue of banning nude lap dances, White mobilized his church to make 40,000 calls, telling people to attend meetings to support the ban.
It put him on opposite ends of the battlefield with Redner, Tampa’s strip club king.
White said Sunday if he had to do it again, he’d use the church’s resources elsewhere, like offering more help to the city’s homeless.
Today, White calls Redner "my dear friend."
"Joe Redner is not a practicing politician. I like that about him," White said. "He’s a man of integrity. He’s never lied to me."
The two occasionally have lunch together at Sweet Tomatoes and run into one other from time to time at boxing matches.
White has not endorsed Redner, his business interests or his free-speech platform.
He said he invited him to speak to provide an open forum for a "legitimate candidate" to share his positions.
State Sen. Les Miller and Tampa City Council member Kevin White recently made stops at Without Walls to speak. White said he’s working out plans for U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris to speak to the congregation, as well.
Redner, a Democrat, is campaigning against Jim Norman, a Republican and the commission’s chairman. Norman could not be reached Sunday for comment.
Mavis Obalaka, 28, of Brandon, said she agreed with Redner’s campaign and did not think his personal life would negatively affect his ability to lead.
"The Bible says we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God," Obalaka said. "I see myself in (Redner’s) vision."
Lisa Marquez, 35, of Clearwater, said Redner had her vote. She said she liked his approach.
"Hey may not have religion in his life, but I like the direction he’s going in," she said.
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Kevin Graham can be reached at (813) 226-3433 or kgraham@sptimes.com.
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Media Contact
Without Walls International Church
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WDC Media PR
1-877-862-3600
Story Source
http://sptimes.com/2006/07/17/Tampabay/Strip_club_king_goes_.shtml
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