“This Is Your Bible” in New York City

Encouraged by a cable television project run by Mid-Atlantic ASK, the New York City Preaching Committee decided in late 2000 to launch its own local television outreach program. The project has grown ever since.

Application was made for time on a free public access channel in Queens, NY (QPTV); half-hour videotaped programs were acquired from Christadelphian Outreach in New England, and “This Is Your Bible” was soon on the air. Public response was encouraging and the project expanded into Brooklyn and the Bronx.

At the end of 2001, QPTV announced that it would no longer accept videotapes. DVCAM cassettes would be re­quired. With help from the Simi Hills Preaching Fund, a used DVCAM recorder was purchased and the necessary con­version of video pro­grams began. Shortly afterward, two brothers from the South Ozone Park Ecclesia pursued a 10-week video editing course at the Queens public ac­cess station. This qualified the brethren to use station equipment for recording and editing their own programs. Local production of TIYB programs began. The first 10 to 12-minutes are given over to a straight forward presentation of a Bible subject. One brother does the presenting work. The last 13 to 15-minutes follow an interview format in which the presenter and a moderator discuss the Bible subject under consideration. The rest of the half-hour time is used to promote local Bible classes, advertise the website (www.thisisyourbible.info), and offer free literature to the viewers. A 1-800 number with voice-mail messaging is provided for viewer response.

Local production has grown in sophistication. A permanent recording studio is now set up at the South Ozone Park ecclesial hall, and recording work has gone to three-camera production using video mixing techniques. A monthly production schedule is rigorously followed by the New York brethren and the television crew includes several dedicated CYC members.

The New York City TIYB programs can be viewed live stream on the Internet, Sundays at 11:30 PM, Eastern Time, on the BCAT website: www.bricartsmedia. org/community-media/bcat-tv-network. A PowerPoint presentation of the NYC TIYB Video Studio is also available.