Darmstadt, Germany [CD EUDNews]. On March 9, 2013, the German Seventh-day Adventist media center ‘Voice of Hope’ in Alsbach, Darmstadt, had a thanksgiving service for the four-year anniversary of its television station ‘Hope Channel German.’ It could have been watched live via ASTRA satellite or through the internet.
The service focused on Jesus’ return and the words at His ascension. Matthias Müller, director of the ‘Voice of Hope’ Media Center, pointed out that Christ himself said that no one knew the time of His second coming and all speculations are meaningless. On the other hand Jesus also warned that His coming could be delayed. Therefore, Christians are expected to wait patiently but not passively, and, while waiting, they should meet the needs of the people around them. “Four years of ‘Hope Channel TV’ also meant four years of ‘spreading hope’,” said Pastor Klaus Popa. “Hope for forgiveness and a new beginning. Hope for the return of Jesus, when God will ‘make everything new’."
"At the beginning many were skeptical whether there should be a European Hope Channel”, recalled Matthias Müller. But then, there was cooperation between different countries. "The European media center 'Voice of Hope’ started to be on the air in 2004. Besides the German contributions, there were also the French, the Russian and the English."
Even a bigger question was raised about a German "Hope Channel". How will it work: technically, thematically and financially? "By God's goodness and the good will of the people we have already broadcasted for four years at 24 hours a day," says Müller. Some people ask: "Is it really necessary to broadcast at night?" Analyzing the night audience feedback, we do have a need for those who cannot sleep at night, who work shifts or those who live in a different time zone and uses the internet".
World War II made it impossible to broadcast Adventist television stations in Germany. “The wish for such broadcast four years ago was a surprise for me," stated Brad Thorp, President of ‘Hope Channel International’ in Silver Spring, Maryland, USA. “Who would have thought that the German media center ‘Voice of Hope’ would get the license for 24-hour TV? We quickly forget what a miracle it is to have a ‘German Hope Channel TV’.” The reception via satellite and the internet, the well-organized production and the enthusiastic audience responses might lead us to believe that all this is natural. "But it's not," said Thorp. In early 2009, the media center got the license for a ‘German Hope Channel’, this allowed Christian programs to be broadcasted around the clock. “We have to thank not only the Hessian State Media Authority, but also God, for His leading so that the TV station could become a reality" concluded Thorp.
pictures: 1. Klaus Popa, Hope TV Talk Show host; 2. The Media Center (Stimme der Hoffnung);
