24/7 Broadcast Gives New Twist to Airwaves

Ilan Chaim
Jewish Telegraphic Agency

JERUSALEM
On Israeli Independence Day this year, the Jewish state inaugurated something decidedly non-Jewish - an evangelical channel preaching the gospel around the clock.

The Communications Ministry confirmed that it issued a license to Daystar, the second-largest U.S. Christian television network, whose evangelical programming kicks off with a half-hour show produced by its Jerusalem affiliate, Tarshish.

The remaining content is supplied from Daystar's home base in Texas through the company's worldwide satellite network, and will be carried in Israel via the country's biggest cable provider, HOT. In fact, the gospel channel is among some two-dozen cable channels HOT provides to about 1 million households in Israel.

Tarshish has produced a program titled "Christian Covenant With Israel" for Daystar viewers who wish to donate and take part in Tarshish's "humanitarian projects" in Israel. It says the monthly program aims to "teach about the spiritual ties existing between the Jewish people and the world's Christian community."

Marcus Lamb, Daystar's president and an evangelical broadcaster, dramatically announced the Israeli license during the network's Spring Telethon in late March. He said that the license is for a full-time television channel that will reach "every home" in Israel, "preaching the gospel 100 percent of the time."

'A Dream Come True'
Lamb asked his viewing audience - some 43 million homes in the United States and untold millions in about 200 other countries via satellites, TV and cable systems - to contribute the $1 million necessary to fund the Holy Land link.

His studio guest, Pastor John Hagee, a televangelist and founder of Christians United for Israel, appeared pleasantly surprised at the announcement.

"It's just all I can do to keep from getting up and dancing," he exclaimed. "It's a joy and a dream come true. If we are able to preach the gospel without reservation … it's a major breakthrough."

Hagee immediately offered to purchase the first "Friend of Israel" certificate for $1,000.

"Up until now, there has never been a 100 percent, full-time Christian television channel in the history of Israel," Lamb said during the telethon. "It's been illegal, or impractical, or it has been impossible, or it's been prohibitive in the past."

Middle East Television, with televangelist Pat Robertson, is available on cable in Israel, but it is broadcast from Cyprus.

Joni Lamb, Marcus Lamb's wife and broadcasting partner, affirmed that the Israeli government would not edit the Daystar content in any way.

"That was part of the deal - that it couldn't be edited. That was an issue in the past," she said during the telethon.

Marcus Lamb said the license had been issued after a trial period of six to nine months, during which the station's Celebration program was aired daily in order to gauge the response from the Orthodox public. The trial reassured Israeli officials that no editing would be necessary.

"They didn't get hardly any complaints, and they got a lot of good, positive responses, because they've heard various things about American Christian television - so nobody is more astounded and more amazed than we are," he said.

Lamb told viewers the negotiations had been going on for a year, during which Israeli legislators and businessmen had visited the channel, he said. He then made an appeal for funds.

"They are good Jewish businesspeople, and they're not going to do this out of the kindness of their hearts. The cost is, I believe, more than worth it, but it's over $1 million a year," he noted. "Our Jewish friends are consummate business professionals. They have asked us to pay the entire first year up front."

Lamb called for 1,000 viewers to pledge $1,000 each in the coming year to fund the station.