Videos > Celebrating NRB's 80th: YOUR VOICE Celebrating NRB's 80th: YOUR VOICE NRB 891 views • 6 likes 2 years ago • 10:41 min
Transcript [00:07] [Music] [00:09] the listeners and the viewers and the [00:11] readers need to hear the message of the [00:14] Gospel they need to hear Christian music [00:17] that inspires them they need to be able [00:19] to turn on the television the radio or [00:21] the internet and hear that there's hope [00:24] in the gospel in a time of great [00:26] Challenge and transformation The [00:28] National Religious broadcasters nrb [00:32] emerged as a Beacon of Hope and [00:34] resilience born from a clash between the [00:37] burining Evangelical Christian Movement [00:40] and Mainline Protestant denominations [00:43] nrb's story is one of Faith freedom and [00:47] the Relentless pursuit of a voice in the [00:49] American [00:52] [Music] [00:57] landscape the 1940s marked a crisis in [01:01] American radio broadcasting Mainline [01:04] Protestant leaders fearing the influence [01:06] of independent Evangelical preachers [01:08] lobbied for regulations to restrict [01:11] their access to the radio spectrum you [01:13] could only program in the public sector [01:16] you could only go for 30 minutes you [01:18] couldn't fund raise and you had to be [01:20] approved by local or National Church [01:23] councils this threat to Religious [01:25] Freedom galvanized Evangelical [01:28] broadcasters pioneers like William Ward [01:31] a and Paul Raider whose broadcasts had [01:33] already captivated Millions found [01:36] themselves at a Crossroads the federal [01:38] Council of churches advocating for [01:41] exclusive control of religious [01:43] broadcasts succeeded in pushing [01:45] evangelicals off National networks in [01:48] response 150 Evangelical leaders [01:52] convened at Chicago's Moody Memorial [01:54] Church birthing nrb in 1944 with a [01:58] constitution by bylaws a statement of [02:01] faith and an ethical code this Coalition [02:04] began an arduous journey to reclaim [02:07] their place in the public sphere this [02:10] organization was incorporated to address [02:12] those concerns about independent pastors [02:15] or churches who wanted to communicate [02:19] across this new medium of [02:21] radio nrb's early efforts paid off by [02:25] the late 1940s the tide began to turn [02:29] ABC Network's decision to reverse the [02:31] ban on paid religious broadcasting [02:34] opened the doors once more Evangelical [02:37] broadcasters seized this opportunity and [02:40] soon Evangelical programming regained [02:42] its momentum reaching vast audiences the [02:45] 1960s and70s witnessed an explosion of [02:49] Christian broadcasting into television [02:52] evangelists like Rex humbard and Oral [02:54] Roberts replicating the success of radio [02:57] began purchasing airtime directly from [02:59] from local stations circumventing [03:01] Network skepticism this era saw [03:05] unprecedented growth with Christian [03:07] television becoming a Mainstay in [03:09] American Homes it really impacted the [03:12] culture to say that religion was [03:14] important and my faith was as important [03:16] as secular entertainment another reason [03:19] the nrb has flourished is because it's [03:21] it's the Gathering Place for Christians [03:24] of light calling they are place to [03:26] develop friendships Be Inspired be [03:28] motivated renew vision and in our case [03:31] it was to build our ministry brand so I [03:34] think that providing access and [03:35] fellowship of two of the really [03:37] important reasons that the nrb has [03:41] flourished the 1970s heralded a new [03:44] chapter for nrb it was no longer just a [03:47] broadcasting Association it became a [03:50] formidable political force President [03:53] Gerald Fords address at the nrb [03:55] convention in 1975 and again in [03:58] 1976 underscored this newfound influence [04:02] nrb began shaping the national [04:05] conversation bringing Evangelical [04:07] perspectives to the Forefront of [04:09] American politics Dr Benjamin Armstrong [04:12] nrb's executive director at the time [04:15] incapsulated this era as a call for [04:18] evangelicals to become more active in [04:20] shaping Society marking a shift from [04:23] passive observation to active engagement [04:27] nrb became a strong voice for those [04:29] dedicated communicators and open the [04:32] door for amazing opportunities for us to [04:35] use the powerful tools to deliver God's [04:39] word the 1980s ushered in a golden age [04:43] for religious broadcasting under the [04:45] Reagan Administration Christian radio [04:47] and television thrived new stations and [04:50] networks emerged at an unprecedented [04:53] rate with over 1100 Christian radio [04:55] stations and 300 television stations by [04:59] the decade and influential programs like [05:02] focus on the family with Dr James Dobson [05:04] gained National prominence the Christian [05:07] Broadcasting Network soar becoming a [05:10] major cable system Evangelical media was [05:13] not just surviving it was setting the [05:15] cultural [05:17] agenda as the Millennium approached nrb [05:21] faced new challenges the success of [05:24] Christian TV attracted scrutiny [05:26] prompting a recommitment to integrity [05:29] and a accountability nrb is committed to [05:32] truth God's [05:34] truth truth from God's word because [05:38] Jesus said the truth will set you free [05:42] we are in an increasingly anti-god [05:44] culture and to be acceptable there is [05:47] enormous pressure to adjust the gospel [05:50] to fit into that culture but it won't [05:52] work it's a square peg and round hole [05:55] and as Christian communicators we have a [05:57] responsibility to God and to the people [05:59] we reach to stand strong for biblical [06:02] truth and so we helped form the [06:04] Evangelical Council of financial [06:07] accountability and a number of other [06:08] organizations along with our own code of [06:11] ethics to help Ministries really do the [06:14] the best they can at what God's called [06:16] them to do the broadcasting landscape [06:19] was evolving with radio experiencing a [06:21] Resurgence and television networks [06:24] becoming professionally managed [06:26] corporations nrb's Focus shifted now not [06:29] just advocating for access to Airwaves [06:32] but building trust and setting High [06:34] ethical standards the 1993 Convention [06:38] held in Los Angeles for the first time [06:40] symbolized a strategic shift from a [06:43] political to a cultural battle for media [06:46] access the nrb association can be a [06:49] powerful Spotlight Shining Light down [06:52] New Paths and providing Godly wisdom and [06:55] professional insight to accomplish God's [06:59] purpose to share Christ with our world [07:03] in today's rapidly evolving digital [07:05] landscape nrb's commitment has never [07:08] wavered it stands as a Vanguard fiercely [07:11] defending the right of Christian [07:13] evangelicals to be heard and using its [07:15] power to convene Christian communicators [07:18] I just loved the nrb conventions I never [07:22] missed one of the chapter meetings [07:24] because they were always so [07:26] inspirational and so well just wonderful [07:28] to meet the people people wonderful to [07:31] be engaged with them in the same Pursuit [07:34] nrb members are singularly unified by a [07:37] common goal to spread the gospel and [07:40] reach the world for Jesus Christ in a [07:42] world increasingly indifferent sometimes [07:45] even hostile to the gospel the role of [07:47] nrb is more critical than ever well [07:49] certainly I think today our freedom of [07:52] speech is relatively strong but it's in [07:54] Jeopardy there's no question about that [07:57] and nrb plays an important role in [07:59] defending that freedom of speech it's [08:01] not just about preserving a legacy it's [08:04] about amplifying a voice your voice in [08:07] the corridors of power across digital [08:10] Realms and in the hearts of people [08:12] everywhere the nrb has long recognized [08:15] that freedom isn't free that every [08:17] single generation has to defend the [08:19] freedoms that have been passed down to [08:21] us it's now more important than ever to [08:24] defend our freedom of religion our [08:27] freedom of speech our freedom of [08:29] assembly these basic freedoms that we [08:32] have inherited we need to preserve for [08:35] future generations for over 80 years nrb [08:39] has stood as a champion for the voice of [08:41] Christian communicators your voice from [08:44] its Inception amidst regulatory battles [08:47] to its current efforts to preserve media [08:49] access in the governmental legal and [08:51] corporate Arenas nrb has been a [08:54] Relentless defender of freedom of speech [08:56] today your voice is more crucial than [08:59] ever in a world where the clamor to [09:01] silence it grows louder nrb stands firm [09:05] echoing the outcry of God's people our [09:08] nation our world is at a pivotal moment [09:11] yearning for the truth and hope that [09:14] your voice can bring for 80 years the [09:17] nrb has been representing the voice of [09:19] its members we live in a time that some [09:22] may think is Bleak but it's really [09:25] bright the opportunities are more than [09:27] ever for the gospel to go forward I look [09:30] at the future of nrb and nrb's members [09:32] as strong for the glory of God it's the [09:35] way the nrb family [09:36] [Music] [09:40] is nrb to [09:44] me has been a [09:48] family in the Endeavor of trying to do [09:51] better by learning from others how to [09:54] fulfill God's call on my life will you [09:57] choose to stand up and use your voice as [10:01] we move forward remember our unity in [10:04] this cause our commitment to this [10:07] Mission makes us stronger together we [10:09] can ensure that the message of faith [10:11] hope and love continues to resonate [10:14] transforming lives and shaping futures [10:17] nrb for over 80 years fighting for your [10:22] voice and continuing the Legacy for [10:25] generations to [10:26] [Music] [10:28] come [10:31] [Music]
At the Opening Session of the 2024 NRB Convention, NRB premiered this short documentary celebrating NRB’s 80th anniversary and the Christian broadcasting legacy.
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