The Tampa Tribune from Tampa, Florida • 63

The Tampa Tribune 7-Polk Saturday, April 11, 1987 Bakker scandal didn't hurt telethon JAMES STAMP CO. EDGEWOOD CENTER .2066 E. Edgcwood Dr. LaUland Btwn N.J. RD.

U.S. 98 (Barrow Hwy.) Buying Selling Collector Stamps 1-813-666-3717 Easy Music I You Like Want Ads-Quick Results ADVERTISING WORKS son, Jimmy Swaggart, Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell and Kenneth Cope-land are among those that buy air time on WCLF. The station also does production work for other groups. WCLF employs about 65 people and has more than 100 volunteers working in all areas of the D'Andrea said. I The budgets for the other stations in the Christian Television Network range from $500,000 to $1 million, he said.

All together, the six stations employ about 120 D'Andrea said. The controversy sparked by Bakker's resignation from PTL is "only a beginning of what you're going to see," D'Andrea said. sembly of God in Clearwater, appear dally on a Christian Television Network hourlong show, "The Good Life." Molly D'Andrea also appears on a half-hour weekly show, "This is Your Day; D'Andrea, 48, said he and his wife receive no money from the station or the Christian Television Network. The family depends on paychecks from a family business, D'Andrea Electric Professional Contractors of Largo, he said. "I think the world thinks I probably rob money from here (the station)," D'Andrea said last week.

"The world thinks all ministries are like that You'll never change that" The Christian Television Network Includes WCLF; WHTN-TV In Nashville; WEJC-TV in Winston-Salem, N.C.; WHBR-TV in Pensaco-la; WSWS-TV in Opelika, and WTGL-TV in Cocoa. The commercial-free network also can be seen nationwide by satellite. The network Includes locally produced programs for children, singles, adults and senior citizens, as well as national shows like "The PTL Club," formerly hosted by Bakker, and "The 700 Club," formerly hosted by the Rev. Pat Robertson, a 1988 presidential candidate. D'Andrea said the annual budget for WCLF is about $2.5 million.

In addition to money raised during the telethons, the station receives income from groups that buy air time. Ministries led by evangelists Robert Religion Briefs A Tribune Staff Report "DM EJiSS "OHM HI EI LKU4 MR IHM There's just a short time left to open and contribute to an IRA and STILL receive tax credits on your 1986 federal income tax return. You have until April 15, 1987. After that, with new tax laws in effect some of the terms of your IRA for 1987 could change. That's why it pays to open your IRA today! for the latest information call: 4SJ.992fxt.

221 3M.1551ixt. 221 M5-131txt. 221 or drop by one of our seven FSLIC conveniently located local offices. EOUM HnSMG OPtWUOT FIRST HOtHS rrSDSRflL Downtown Sebrlng SouthgateSebrlng US 27Sporta Road US 27FoJrmount Downtown Avon Pork US 27lake Placid Spring LakeLortda By BILL HALLDIN Tribune Staff Writer LARGO The president of Tampa Bay's only locally based Christian television station says the recent national turmoil Involving television evangelists didn't hurt a fund-raising telethon at his network last week. In fact, last week's telethon may have raised more money per hour than a telethon held last spring, said Bob D'Andrea, president of WCLF-TV, Channel 22, and five affiliated Christian Television Network stations throughout the Southeast.

D'Andrea said monetary pledges for "Vision "87," which ended Sunday morning, were up about 2 percent, compared with last year's. The Christian network, with WCLF as its flagship station, has two weeklong telethons every year to cover operational costs. D'Andrea said $500,000 was pledged during last week's telethon, compared with $540,000 during last spring's telethon. "Last year, we telethoned an extra day and a half, so that when you look at a per-hour basis, we did about 2 (percent) or 3 percent better he said. '87" aired for about 11 hours each day, with one day devoted to raising money for medical missions in Zaire.

D'Andrea said it is difficult to compare the telethons because of other factors. For instance, last week the network's station in Winston-Salem, N.C., was shut down for three days because of problems with a transmitter. Also, bad weather diminished the quality of transmissions from Channel 22 for one day. But D'Andrea said he didn't believe the continuing controversy surrounding national television evangelists was a negative factor. The turmoil began three weeks ago when PTL ministries President Jim Bakker resigned after admitting he had had a "sexual encounter" with a church secretary on Dec.

6, 1980, in the Sheraton Sand Key Hotel on Clearwater Beach. Bakker was visiting Clearwater Beach in 1980 to appear on a WCLF telethon. He had been invited by John Wesley Fletcher, a former WCLF director who introduced Bakker to the church secretary, Jessica Hahn. D'Andrea said Fletcher, who was an Oklahoma City-based evangelist at the time, later left the WCLF board of directors after losing credentials from the Assemblies of God, which also is Bakker's church. Fletcher lost his credentials because of a problem with alcohol, an Assemblies of God spokeswoman said.

Since Bakker's resignation in March, other evangelists have made headlines by criticizing or defending him. During the final broadcast of last week's telethon, D'Andrea said he thought the reason so much publicity has been given to Bakker's brief "sexual encounter" is an age-old sin "the love of money." Secular television stations have devoted a lot of air time to the scandal in an attempt to discredit Christian television stations, which have encroached on their market in recent years, D'Andrea said. The television networks are losing market share and money because of cable television, and its ever-increasing number of Christian television stations. There are more than 200 stations today, compared to just a handful seven years ago, D'Andrea said. WCLF began in October 1979.

D'Andrea said market share lost to Christian television represents billions of dollars of lost revenue for secular network television. "What else can they do?" he asked. "Except try to discredit, try to disgrace (Christian television) D'Andrea and his wife, Molly, who are members of the First As of egg hunt will start at 10 a.m. April 18. New members will be received at both worship services at 8:30 and 11 a.m.

this Sunday at St John's. The Palm Sunday morning message will be "Christ's Passion and Humility." Sunday school will be at 9:45. "Edward VII and the House of Windsor" is the title of the Royal Heritage film to be shown at the church at 4 p.m. Monday. A women's softbail game will be sponsored by the church at 8:15 p.m.

Monday at Fairfax Field. The senior adult day care program will be in session at the church from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Tuesday, and the Mary Martha Circle will meet at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday and Friendship Circle, at 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday. The Just Say No Club will meet at 6:15 p.m. Wednesday prior to the Bible study and sign language class at 7 p.m. A Maundy Thursday Communion service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Women's Association to meet AUBURNDALE The Rev. Jaap Wheelhower will preach on "Flash in the Palm" at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church of Au-burndale. Sunday school will be at 9:30 a.m. The Women's Association of the church will meet at noon Monday and the deacons, at 7:30 p.m.

Monday. A men's breakfast will be held at 8 a.m. Wednesday, and the Quilting Circle will meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Choir practice will be at 7 p.m.

Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday Communion service, 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Sermon has "Good News" LAKE WALES The sermon topic will be "Good News You Can Build a Life On" at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the First Christian Church of Lake Wales. The Ladles' Afternoon Circle will meet at 2 p.m.

Tuesday at the church. The Keeping In Touch women's group will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the home of Lorrie White, and the church elders will meet also at 7 Tuesday. Exercise classes will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Good Friday service LAKE WALES A community Good Friday service will be sponsored at 1 p.m. Friday at the First -United Methodist Church of Lake Wales. Ministers from the area will participate in the ecumenical service. Men's fellowship meeting LAKELAND Polk County Men's Fellowship of the Christian Churches will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Grove Park Christian Church of Lakeland.

A program will be given on "What You Should Know About Sunshine State Christian Homes." Cost for the all-you-can-eat fried chicken meal will be $3. Reservations will be taken at 686-3044 through 10 a.m. Monday. Program on heart disease LAKELAND "Heart Disease: The Silent Killer" will be the topic of nutrition therapist Ted Broer of Lake Wales at a nutrition class at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the First Assembly of God of Lakeland.

The class will be free and open to the public. "A Walk with Christ" HAINES CITY A Bible study entitled "A Walk with Christ Through the Resurrection" will be held from 9:45 until 10:35 a.m. Sunday at the Eastside Baptist Church of Haines City. The study, part of an eight-week series, is open to the public of all ages. Reception for Robbins WINTER PARK Linda Robbins, who is leaving her job as a staff member of Lake Aurora Christian Assembly Camp in Lake Wales, will be the guest of honor at a reception at 6 p.m.

Sunday at the First Christian Church of Winter Park. Living portrayal of Easter AUBURNDALE A four-day Easter musical series will be held at the First Baptist Church of Au-burndale, starting with a living portrayal of the Passover, and Lord's Supper at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. Church members ranging from Infants to elderly are playing roles of disciples and other people of Jerusalem in the musical drama. Concluding the festival will be a performance of the Welsh Men's Chorus from South-End-On-Sea, England, with the 80-member orchestra from South East Essex Sixth From College of Rayleigh, England, at 7 p.m.

April 19. The orchestra, soloists and combined choirs of First Baptist and Lake Shipp Baptist churches will perform "Joy Comes in the Morning" at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at 4 p.m. April 18 at First Baptist The adult choir will perform the Easter resurrection anthem during the 11 a.m. worship April 19.

Christian musical drama WINTER HAVEN The Son Light Singers, a 43-member group of young people from Grand Island, N.Y., will present Christian songs and a musical drama, "His Last Days," at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Beymer Memorial United Methodist Church of Winter Haven. The program will be free and open to the public. Pre-crucifixion drama portrayed LAKELAND "The Gospel According to Judas," a drama of events leading to the crucifixion of Christ will be narrated by Ken Shroyer at 7 p.m. Friday at St.

David's Episcopal Church of Lakeland. A nursery will be provided for children. Bloodmobile visits church WINTER HAVEN People attending services this Sunday at Grace Lutheran Church of Winter Haven will have a chance to donate blood any time from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., the hours the Bloodmobile from Winter Haven Hospital will be at the church. Confirmation of young people will take place Sunday at the 10:30 a.m.

service with a reception in their honor to follow. Holy Communion will be celebrated at the 8 a.m. service, and Sunday school will be at 9:15. Holy Week meditation will be sponsored from 12:30 until 12:50 p.m. daily Monday through Thursday at Grace Church, followed by a Maundy Thursday service of Holy Communion at 7:30 p.m..

and Good Friday worship at noon and 7:30 p.m. Sermon topics this week by the Rev. Dr. August Bernthal will be "Vegetating or Blossoming," Sunday; "The Empty Seat at the Table," Thursday; "The Day We Can't Forget" Friday noon; and "The Oath God Took," Friday night Last Supper enactment BARTOW "The Living Lord's Supper" will be enacted at 7 p.m. Sunday at the First Baptist Church of Bartow.

The presentation, inspired by Leonardo Da Vinci's painting of "The Lord's Supper," is directed by Iris Cole and uses costumes to reflect the artist's choice of colors. Music and drama communicate each disciple's relationship to Jesus. Accompaniment will be by First Baptist Sanctuary Choir, directed by Paul E. Puckett St. Johns has events set WINTER HAVEN St John's United Methodist Church of Winter Haven is planning an Easter egg hunt for children, an overnight session for teens and a social for senior citizens during the coming week.

Elderly people from nursing homes will come to St John's for a special program at noon Thursday. Junior- and senior-high youths will have a night of games and fellowship at a "lock-in" from 8 p.m. Friday until 8 the next morning at the church. The Did You Know? The Bluffs of Sebring Has Beautiful Waterfront Condos Garden Villas from only 44,300 Clubhouse Heated Pool Jacuzzi Tennis Racquetball Boat Dock Fishing Sailing Cards Billiards Bingo Handball Volleyball Security Garages Fireplaces Horse Shoes Jogging Trail Par 3 Golf Hole Paddle Boats Shuf leboard I6 ifA 4 1 6750 U.S. 27 Sebring (across from Holiday Inn) 385-2550 wmm 35 Home of the finest Scandinavian Furniture Manufactured Housing with Lap Siding, Shingle Roof, Cathedral Ceiling throughout and Overhead Ducts.

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