A Biblical Guide to Church Public Relations

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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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A Biblical Guide to Church Public Relations

2006-04-04 -- WDC Media News -- By Pastor Mark Coppenger As a pastor, I’ve learned that the press and public don’t always walk to our drummer, so we’re bound to encounter one public relations challenge after another. At one point I decided to see what the Bible had to teach us about public relations. I came up with a few observations that can be supported with the Bible: 1. Tell only the truth Jesus made it clear that he was truth, that we should speak the truth in love, and that liars are contemptible. We must check and double check for accuracy; no "ministerial speaking" or careless zingers, however edifying or fun they might be. And our appreciation for truth should extend to its acknowledgement, even when it comes from our critics. 2. Report God’s power at work Again and again, Jesus and the apostles performed signs and wonders before the people. These deeds electrified the populace, validated their message and opened doors for teaching. The New Testament is full of such accounts. It is good to report the wonder-working of God - surprising conversions; signal sacrifice; interracial teamship; revival and awakening; mass relief of mass suffering; inspired solutions to knotty problems. Our aim should not so much be to tell what we’re doing for God, as to report what God is doing through us. 3. Expect opposition Jesus said, "Woe to you when all men speak well of you." If we succeed in winning universal appreciation, then we’ve failed as Christians (this distinguishes us from secular ad men, whose standard is worldwide acclaim). We should consider a lack of criticism a sign of failure, for it means we have become so powerless, innocuous and compromised that no one bothers to take offense at us. This is not to say that we should try to stir up controversy. On the contrary, we should try to be winsome and live at peace with people. If we’re doing our job, opposition will come without our special effort. No good deed goes unpunished. Peter discovered this when he healed a beggar in the temple and then explained the source of his power. When attack comes, we should not fold or scurry to compromise. In true apostolic fashion, we should rejoice because we’ve been found worthy to suffer for Christ. We should recognize our place in the fellowship of Matthew 10 disciples. Yes, there can be seasons of healthy public approbation. In Acts 2:47, we read that after Pentecost the Jerusalem church enjoyed the favor of all the people. But the Diaspora was just around the corner. 4. Make room for ceremony and display The church presents itself not only in words and lifestyle, but also in demonstrative acts. Consider the public burning of pagan scrolls, Paul’s purification rites, Jesus’ triumphal entry, the overturning of the moneychangers’ tables and the anointing with balm. We should be alert to opportunities to make a visual point. 5. Be alert to teachable publics Paul went to the synagogues first, for there the people had the conceptual base to receive the gospel. Facing rejection, he moved on to the noble Bereans and to Lydia’s group down by the river. Sensitivity to publics does not mean slavish attention to public preferences. Paul shook out his clothes against the Jews, and Jesus told his disciples to shake off the dust of resistant towns. We must not let rejection tie us in knots. 6. Appreciate non-Christian help Gamaliel in Jerusalem and the city clerk in Corinth both proved helpful at critical junctures. God will raise up aid in unlikely quarters. We need to be alert to this. 7. Consider silence Jesus’ norm was to set the record straight, to clear the fog of sinful thinking. (Read his response to the snippy teachers of the law in Mark 2:1-12.) But from time to time, he would simply refuse to reply to his critics’ charges. (Note his silence before Pilate in Mark 15:3-5). We shouldn’t feel compelled to answer every slanderer. 8. Question some questioners This may seem impertinent, but Jesus modeled it for us - "How can Satan drive out Satan?" - "Whose portrait and inscription are on this coin?" Sometimes it’s good to put the questioner on the spot. 9. Don’t be too smooth John the Baptist had some rough edges, but he got the job done; he pointed people to Jesus. Jesus and Paul didn’t enhance their standing as diplomats when they used such expressions as "whitewashed tombstones," "stiff-necked" and "child of the devil," but it didn’t bother them. 10. Watch for traps Jesus was constantly faced with trick questions and other veiled attempts to injure him, and he counseled us to be as wise as serpents. We must not assume the good will of powerful lost people, whether politicians, businessmen, journalists, heterodox clergy or academicians. Defensive driving makes sense in Christian communications. Of course, Christian public relations is not a field apart from normal Christian living. In all of it, we’re to present the gospel, love our enemies, walk in faith, edify the church and to pray without ceasing. And that’s not "just PR." It’s anointed PR.

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