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{{Short description|Non-profit Christian organization in the USA}}
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{{refimprove|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox organization
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'''Back to the Bible''' is an international [[Christian ministry]] based in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]].<ref name=website>{{cite web |title=Back to the Bible website |url=http://backtothebible.org/about |date=2008 |accessdate=2015-08-20 }}</ref>
'''Back to the Bible''' is an international [[Christian ministry]] based in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]], United States.<ref name=website>{{cite web |title=Back to the Bible website |url=http://backtothebible.org/about |date=2008 |accessdate=2015-08-20 }}</ref>


==History==
==History==
Founded in 1939 by [[Theodore H. Epp]] on radio station [[KFOR (AM)]] in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]],<ref name=Ward>{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Mark |title=The Lord's Radio: Gospel Music Broadcasting and the Making of Evangelical Culture, 1920-1960 |date=2017 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978 1476667348 |pages=91 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=ysYtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT103 |accessdate=2018-09-25}}</ref> Back to the Bible expanded by supporting [[missionary|missionaries]] and broadcasting via [[shortwave radio]] to other countries. By the mid-1950s, it was being broadcast somewhere in the world in any given minute,<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Christopher H. Sterling, Cary O'Dell |title=The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978 1135176846 |page=270 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=dmmLAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA270}}</ref> and in 1954 the organization's first international Bible teaching ministry office opened in Canada. By the time of Epp's retirement in 1981, the ''Back to the Bible'' program was [[Radio syndication|syndicated]] as a daily 30-minute broadcast on more than 800 radio stations worldwide.<ref>[http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/E665.html Theodore H. Epp biography, Mennonite Encyclopedia online]</ref>
Founded in 1939 by [[Theodore H. Epp]] on radio station [[KFOR (AM)]] in [[Lincoln, Nebraska]],<ref name=Ward>{{cite book |last1=Ward |first1=Mark |title=The Lord's Radio: Gospel Music Broadcasting and the Making of Evangelical Culture, 1920-1960 |date=2017 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=978-1476667348 |pages=91 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ysYtDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT103 |accessdate=2018-09-25}}</ref> Back to the Bible expanded by supporting [[missionary|missionaries]] and broadcasting via [[shortwave radio]] to other countries. By the mid-1950s, it was being broadcast somewhere in the world in any given minute,<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Christopher H. Sterling, Cary O'Dell |title=The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio |date=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1135176846 |page=270 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dmmLAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA270}}</ref> and in 1954 the organization's first international Bible teaching ministry office opened in Canada. By the time of Epp's retirement in 1981, the ''Back to the Bible'' program was [[Radio syndication|syndicated]] as a daily 30-minute broadcast on more than 800 radio stations worldwide.<ref>[http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/E665.html Theodore H. Epp biography, Mennonite Encyclopedia online]</ref>


Under Epp's direction, the broadcasts were also noted for music by the ''Back to the Bible Choir'' and quartet.<ref name=Ward/> Several popular [[Gramophone record|phonograph recordings]] were made by the choir in the 1940s and 1950s. ''Back to the Bible'' also had a weekly youth program on Saturdays, featuring a youth choir and [[serial (radio and television)|serialized]] adventures with a Christian theme, such as the ''[[Danny Orlis series]]'' written by [[Bernard Palmer]].<ref>''Back to the Bible, God at work 40 Years'', Lincoln, Nebraska: Back to the Bible (1979)</ref> Both the music segments and youth program were discontinued in the 1980s.
Under Epp's direction, the broadcasts were also noted for music by the ''Back to the Bible Choir'' and quartet.<ref name=Ward/> Several popular [[Gramophone record|phonograph recordings]] were made by the choir in the 1940s and 1950s. ''Back to the Bible'' also had a weekly youth program on Saturdays, featuring a youth choir and [[serial (radio and television)|serialized]] adventures with a Christian theme, such as the ''[[Danny Orlis series]]'' written by [[Bernard Palmer]].<ref>''Back to the Bible, God at work 40 Years'', Lincoln, Nebraska: Back to the Bible (1979)</ref> Both the music segments and youth program were discontinued in the 1980s.


By the 1970s the organization had offices in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Randall Herbert Balmer |title=Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism |date=2002 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=978 0664224097 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=syUupeVJOz4C&pg=PA42 |accessdate=2018-09-25}}</ref>
By the 1970s the organization had offices in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Randall Herbert Balmer |title=Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism |date=2002 |publisher=Westminster John Knox Press |isbn=978-0664224097 |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=syUupeVJOz4C&pg=PA42 |accessdate=2018-09-25}}</ref>


[[Warren W. Wiersbe]], former pastor of [[Moody Church]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], served as leader of the Lincoln-based ministry between 1984 and 1989. He was followed by Woodrow Kroll.
[[Warren W. Wiersbe]], former pastor of [[Moody Church]] in [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], served as leader of the Lincoln-based ministry between 1984 and 1989. He was followed by Woodrow Kroll.


===2010s===
===2010s===
Back to the Bible announced Woodrow Kroll's retirement in January 2013. Dr [[John Hay Munro|John Munro]], senior pastor at [[Calvary Church (Charlotte)|Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina]], became the program's next Bible teacher and served from August 2013. In August 2014 he was removed from this position following a complaint from a member of his church staff; after investigation by the church he was reinstated as senior pastor, but Back to the Bible stood by its decision to dismiss him from his role there.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Elisabeth Arriero |title=Suspended Calvary pastor John Munro to return after complaint ‘not supported’ |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com:80/living/religion/article9162002.html |accessdate=2018-09-25 |work=Charlotte Observer |date=2014-09-07 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728220403/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article9162002.html |archivedate=2016-07-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Morgan Lee |title=Fired 'Back to the Bible' Pastor Cleared of Charges by Megachurch |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2014/september/fired-back-to-bible-pastor-cleared-john-munro-calvary-churc.html |accessdate=2018-09-25 |work=Christianity Today |date=2014-09-08}}</ref>
Back to the Bible announced Woodrow Kroll's retirement in January 2013. Dr [[John Hay Munro|John Munro]], senior pastor at [[Calvary Church (Charlotte)|Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina]], became the program's next Bible teacher and served from August 2013. In August 2014 he was removed from this position following a complaint from a member of his church staff; after investigation by the church he was reinstated as senior pastor, but Back to the Bible stood by its decision to dismiss him from his role there.<ref>{{cite news |author1=Elisabeth Arriero |title=Suspended Calvary pastor John Munro to return after complaint 'not supported' |url=http://www.charlotteobserver.com:80/living/religion/article9162002.html |accessdate=2018-09-25 |work=Charlotte Observer |date=2014-09-07 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160728220403/http://www.charlotteobserver.com/living/religion/article9162002.html |archivedate=2016-07-28 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author1=Morgan Lee |title=Fired 'Back to the Bible' Pastor Cleared of Charges by Megachurch |url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2014/september/fired-back-to-bible-pastor-cleared-john-munro-calvary-churc.html |accessdate=2018-09-25 |work=Christianity Today |date=2014-09-08}}</ref>


From August 2014 to June 2016, the daily ''Back to the Bible'' program featured Bible teaching from Warren Wiersbe, David Chadwick and Darrell Bock.
From August 2014 to June 2016, the daily ''Back to the Bible'' program featured Bible teaching from Warren Wiersbe, David Chadwick and Darrell Bock.


In July 2016, Ron Moore, pastor of The Bible Chapel in the Pittsburgh area, was named president and Bible teacher. He served as president until February 2018, and was succeeded by [[David Platt (pastor)|David Platt]].
In July 2016, Ron Moore, pastor of The Bible Chapel in the Pittsburgh area, was named president and Bible teacher. He served as president until February 2018, and was succeeded by [[David Platt (pastor)|David Platt]].

Back to the Bible ceased broadcasting in the United States on the radio in October 2020; it has continued to be produced as a podcast, with the ministry stating that [[brokered programming]] fees on most religious stations had made continuing to syndicate the program no longer viable.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2020/december/gleanings-december-2020.html|title = Gleanings: December 2020}}</ref>


==Current situation==
==Current situation==
{{As of|2018}} Back to the Bible has offices in nine countries outside the United States (Canada,<ref>[https://www.backtothebible.ca/ Back to the Bible Canada]</ref> Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Trinidad & Tobago) and broadcasts in multiple languages.<ref>[http://backtothebible.org/international Back to the Bible International]</ref>
{{As of|2018}} Back to the Bible has offices in nine countries outside the United States, Canada (fiscally and legally autonomous),<ref>[https://www.backtothebible.ca/ Back to the Bible Canada]</ref> Ecuador, India (fiscally and legally autonomous), Indonesia, Jamaica (fiscally and legally autonomous), Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka (fiscally and legally autonomous), Trinidad & Tobago and broadcasts in multiple languages.<ref>[http://backtothebible.org/international Back to the Bible International]</ref>


The charity has a 2-star rating from [[Charity Navigator]], an independent evaluator of American charities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Back to the Bible |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3762 |publisher=[[Charity Navigator]] |accessdate=2018-09-25}}</ref>
The charity has a 2-star rating from [[Charity Navigator]], an independent evaluator of American charities.<ref>{{cite web |title=Back to the Bible |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3762 |publisher=[[Charity Navigator]] |accessdate=2018-09-25}}</ref>
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|-
|-
|[[David Platt (pastor)|David Platt]]<ref>[https://www.backtothebible.org/meet-david-platt Meet David Platt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428095224/https://www.backtothebible.org/meet-david-platt |date=2018-04-28 }}, Back to the Bible</ref>
|[[David Platt (pastor)|David Platt]]<ref>[https://www.backtothebible.org/meet-david-platt Meet David Platt] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180428095224/https://www.backtothebible.org/meet-david-platt |date=2018-04-28 }}, Back to the Bible</ref>
|2018 – 2018
|2018&ndash;2018
|-
|-
|Bryan Clark<ref>[https://www.backtothebible.org/bryan-clark Meet Bryan Clark], Back to the Bible</ref>
|Bryan Clark<ref>[https://www.backtothebible.org/bryan-clark Meet Bryan Clark], Back to the Bible</ref>
|2018-2020
|2018&ndash;2020
|-
|-
|Nat Crawford (President, Bible Teacher, & Apologist) <ref>[https://www.backtothebible.org/podcast Meet Nat Crawford], Back to the Bible</ref>
|Nat Crawford <ref>[https://www.backtothebible.org/podcast Meet Nat Crawford], Back to the Bible</ref>
|2020-Present
|2020&ndash;2023
|-
|-
|}
|}
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[[Category:American Christian radio programs]]
[[Category:American Christian radio programs]]
[[Category:1939 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:1939 establishments in Nebraska]]
[[Category:1939 radio programme debuts]]

Latest revision as of 18:00, 27 August 2024

Back to the Bible
Formation1939 (1939)
Websitewww.backtothebible.org

Back to the Bible is an international Christian ministry based in Lincoln, Nebraska, United States.[1]

History

[edit]

Founded in 1939 by Theodore H. Epp on radio station KFOR (AM) in Lincoln, Nebraska,[2] Back to the Bible expanded by supporting missionaries and broadcasting via shortwave radio to other countries. By the mid-1950s, it was being broadcast somewhere in the world in any given minute,[3] and in 1954 the organization's first international Bible teaching ministry office opened in Canada. By the time of Epp's retirement in 1981, the Back to the Bible program was syndicated as a daily 30-minute broadcast on more than 800 radio stations worldwide.[4]

Under Epp's direction, the broadcasts were also noted for music by the Back to the Bible Choir and quartet.[2] Several popular phonograph recordings were made by the choir in the 1940s and 1950s. Back to the Bible also had a weekly youth program on Saturdays, featuring a youth choir and serialized adventures with a Christian theme, such as the Danny Orlis series written by Bernard Palmer.[5] Both the music segments and youth program were discontinued in the 1980s.

By the 1970s the organization had offices in Australia, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, France, India, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.[6]

Warren W. Wiersbe, former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, Illinois, served as leader of the Lincoln-based ministry between 1984 and 1989. He was followed by Woodrow Kroll.

2010s

[edit]

Back to the Bible announced Woodrow Kroll's retirement in January 2013. Dr John Munro, senior pastor at Calvary Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, became the program's next Bible teacher and served from August 2013. In August 2014 he was removed from this position following a complaint from a member of his church staff; after investigation by the church he was reinstated as senior pastor, but Back to the Bible stood by its decision to dismiss him from his role there.[7][8]

From August 2014 to June 2016, the daily Back to the Bible program featured Bible teaching from Warren Wiersbe, David Chadwick and Darrell Bock.

In July 2016, Ron Moore, pastor of The Bible Chapel in the Pittsburgh area, was named president and Bible teacher. He served as president until February 2018, and was succeeded by David Platt.

Back to the Bible ceased broadcasting in the United States on the radio in October 2020; it has continued to be produced as a podcast, with the ministry stating that brokered programming fees on most religious stations had made continuing to syndicate the program no longer viable.[9]

Current situation

[edit]

As of 2018 Back to the Bible has offices in nine countries outside the United States, Canada (fiscally and legally autonomous),[10] Ecuador, India (fiscally and legally autonomous), Indonesia, Jamaica (fiscally and legally autonomous), Japan, Nepal, Sri Lanka (fiscally and legally autonomous), Trinidad & Tobago and broadcasts in multiple languages.[11]

The charity has a 2-star rating from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of American charities.[12]

Bible teachers

[edit]
Bible Teacher Years
Theodore Epp 1939–1980
Warren Wiersbe 1980–1990
Woodrow Kroll 1990–2013
John Munro 2013–2014
Warren Wiersbe (Interim) 2014–2016
David Chadwick[13] (Interim) 2015–2016
Darrell Bock (Interim) 2015–2016
Ron Moore[14] 2016–2018
David Platt[15] 2018–2018
Bryan Clark[16] 2018–2020
Nat Crawford [17] 2020–2023

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Back to the Bible website". 2008. Retrieved 2015-08-20.
  2. ^ a b Ward, Mark (2017). The Lord's Radio: Gospel Music Broadcasting and the Making of Evangelical Culture, 1920-1960. McFarland. p. 91. ISBN 978-1476667348. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  3. ^ Christopher H. Sterling, Cary O'Dell, ed. (2010). The Concise Encyclopedia of American Radio. Routledge. p. 270. ISBN 978-1135176846.
  4. ^ Theodore H. Epp biography, Mennonite Encyclopedia online
  5. ^ Back to the Bible, God at work 40 Years, Lincoln, Nebraska: Back to the Bible (1979)
  6. ^ Randall Herbert Balmer (2002). Encyclopedia of Evangelicalism. Westminster John Knox Press. p. 42. ISBN 978-0664224097. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  7. ^ Elisabeth Arriero (2014-09-07). "Suspended Calvary pastor John Munro to return after complaint 'not supported'". Charlotte Observer. Archived from the original on 2016-07-28. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  8. ^ Morgan Lee (2014-09-08). "Fired 'Back to the Bible' Pastor Cleared of Charges by Megachurch". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  9. ^ "Gleanings: December 2020".
  10. ^ Back to the Bible Canada
  11. ^ Back to the Bible International
  12. ^ "Back to the Bible". Charity Navigator. Retrieved 2018-09-25.
  13. ^ David Chadwick Archived 2016-08-02 at the Wayback Machine, Back to the Bible
  14. ^ Ron Moore, Back to the Bible
  15. ^ Meet David Platt Archived 2018-04-28 at the Wayback Machine, Back to the Bible
  16. ^ Meet Bryan Clark, Back to the Bible
  17. ^ Meet Nat Crawford, Back to the Bible
[edit]
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