A television ministry featuring the preaching of the gospel by Charles D. Brooks, general field secretary of the General Conference. Excellent music by dedicated musicians augments each program. The Breath of Life telecast has wide cross-cultural appeal in the United States and other countries.
In 1973–1974 Breath of Life began operations as a media outreach of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, answering the need for programming targeting Black America. Walter E. Arties, while affiliated with station KHOF-TV in Glendale, California, developed this idea and initiated its acceptance with a pilot and numerous presentations to clergy and laity. Members attending camp meetings and convocations endorsed the concept. The music of the original Breath of Life Quartet—Clyde O. Allen, James L. Kyle, Shelton E. Kilby III, Walter E. Arties—along with Myrna Matthews-Haynes, arranger/accompanist, helped open the way for the telecast. Samuel D. Meyers was the speaker on the pilot program. Brenda Blackmon Wood, news anchor in Atlanta, Georgia, for station WSB, was program announcer and filled this position for several years.
When C. D. Brooks accepted the challenge to be director/speaker, in addition to his elected post, the program’s strategy became more focused. In cities where public evangelism was planned, the telecast was aired 13–26 weeks prior to the meetings. The objective was to direct viewers to the meetings and church fellowship. The Washington, D.C., campaigns, conducted consecutively in 1978 and 1979, stand out as the best example of this plan. Church members advertised the telecast and the meetings. Baptisms totaled more than 500, and a new church was organized. Now located in Fort Washington, Maryland, the Breath of Life church bears the name selected by the new converts that commemorates its origin.
More than 12,000 persons rejoice in the blessed hope as a result of crusades from Palau (Micronesian island in the Pacific), across America to the United Kingdom and the West Indies. Churches have been established in many areas with the first being in Memphis, Tennessee, 1974, and the most recent being in Nassau, Bahamas, 1993. This unique blend of television and public evangelism continues to yield rich dividends.
Scripts for the telecast were written early on by Louis B. Reynolds, associate director of the Sabbath School Department of the General Conference and former editor of Message magazine. He particularly assisted with the Heritage Series, which focused on the spiritual connection that our forefathers had with their God and the continued legacy it provides Black Americans today. His contributions added a special quality and dignity to the telecast. Special emphasis was placed on health with a series of programs in which Brooks interviewed physicians and other health professionals. Dr. Samuel L. DeShay provided the spark and substantial financial assistance, through the General Conference Health Department, to produce these programs.
With the emergence of cable TV, the door was opened for Breath of Life to become a weekly program in the United States on the Black Entertainment and VISN networks, and in Canada on the VISION Network. Other cable systems air the telecast in local areas to their subscribers. The PTL and ACTS networks carried Breath of Life for a substantial period.
With limited resources provided by a relatively faithful few and General Conference appropriations, Breath of Life has made significant strides. In 1981 Dorothy Valcarcel introduced and implemented the direct mail system for consistent contributions. Its steady growth is a principal source of support. Fiscal responsibility is a hallmark of the telecast as well as its high standard for production and spiritual quality. C. D. Brooks continues to set the pace in public evangelism and addresses current spiritual themes on the telecast. Arties serves Breath of Life as ministry coordinator/director of production. In addition to other assignments, he is also assistant to the president of the Adventist Media Center.
To maintain the ministry’s growth pattern, Reginald O. Robinson joined the staff in 1982, succeeding Kyle. He is the associate speaker, evangelist, director of field services, fund-raising and development, and several other departments. Also, the rich music of Ron Murphy enhanced outreach engagements. While viewers are asked to write in for free materials (or call via the 800 number), they are also invited to join the Bible school. Thousands have graduated from this course. These names provide a ready source of interests for follow-up and church membership.
A host of people contribute their time and energy to make the actual telecast succeed in its mission, such as program announcers Michael Conner and Maria Anderson, and health professionals Donna L. Willis, M.D., and Gwendolyn L. Foster. The best of music is provided by the Breath of Life Quartet II, namely: Roger C. Smith, Ronald A. Woodfork, Loren Mulraine, and Myron S. Ottley; “Joy” (Deidra Brooks) Tramel, Sharon Brathwaite, and Melvin Bryant; and vocalists Janice Chandler, Ullanda Innocent, and Pastor T. Marshall Kelly. Adrian T. Westney, Jr., serves as music director for the ministry. They offer their expertise on a volunteer basis. Completing the support staff are Mardel Duldulao, administrative secretary; Joyce Shepperd, secretary/departmental assistant; Gerri Banfield, Bible school counselor; and Grayce Grant, trust officer.