On September 15th the Adventist Media Centre “Voice of Hope” celebrated 70 years of broadcasting in Germany. As part of the ceremony under the motto "70 years of Hope: My Time in Your Hands" we looked back, pointed to the existing work and projected into the future. There were greetings from leaders, guided tours and conclusion of program with a concert by the Marienhöhe chamber choir and orchestra in Darmstadt.
"Meeting, fellowship and hometown experiences have always been central to the Voice of Hope," assured managing director Pastor Klaus Popa to the 180 attending studio guests. During the ceremony, we took a journey through the past, present and future of the institution. Brad Thorp, founder and former president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church global network: Hope Channel Inc., reflected on the motto "My time in Your [God's] Hands". There are 45 independent Hope Channels producing and broadcasting in their native languages.
People spoke, whose lives changed for the better through the ministry of the Voice of Hope. "Television and radio stations are not made by chance," said Klaus Popa. He thanked everyone involved, the sponsors, the Media Centre team and the Seventh-day Adventist Church for their support. Concluding the event he aimed toward to: "This ceremony should end with Hope”.
Greetings
In his welcome address, Pastor Derek Morris, Acting President of Hope Channel Inc., called guests and co-workers to be faithful servants of God. Pastor Mario Brito, President of the Partial Continental Adventist Church Leadership in Western and Southern Europe, recalled what hope really is: "Hope is not wishful thinking but hard work." Werner Dullinger and Johannes Naether, President and Vice President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Germany, called the Voice of Hope media centre, a source of inspiration and referred to the church's controversial discussion on the need for a new building. Robert Fischer, director of television production at ERF Media in Wetzlar, also extended greetings and was looking forward to further cooperating with the broadcasters.
A short history of the Voice of Hope Media Centre as the oldest private Christian radio station in Germany: the Voice of Hope was founded in the post-war period in 1948 by Max Busch in Berlin-Zehlendorf. The Bible Correspondence School (today the Hope Bible Studies Institute) also started in the same year. In 1959 moved to Darmstadt and in 2006 moved to the newly built media centre at Alsbach-Hähnlein (official inauguration in 2007). In 1964 the Library for the blind was added. In 2006, the 24-hour Hope Channel Radio began, three years later the television channel Hope Channel TV was launched. The media centre reported that Christian programs and broadcasts for radio and television are produced today using the latest sound and TV technology. The program has currently a circulation of 35,000 and can be received via cable, satellite and internet.
There are three new formats in the Voice of Hope media centre in addition to the current programs. They have been created in a dialogue form therefore more involving. The Hope Sabbath, to which all users are invited, takes place at irregular intervals in local church congregations nationwide. The Hope Camp is a holiday week with a camp atmosphere for all those interested and the Hope Centre offers assistance in everyday life at various locations. Also international projects were implemented by the Voice of Hope. The four productions "Rest", "Man Jesus. My God.", "Arnion" and "Animal Encounters" were performed with international support. The ceremony was broadcasted on September 16 on Hope Channel TV. The concert will also be broadcasted on September 29th. Further information: www.stimme-der-hoffnung.de
