Alexander Media Inc., a not-for-profit media entity in Auburn, Indiana, participated in the county fair located in Auburn from September 27 - October 2, 2021. The fair draws well over 100,000 attendees annually, and this year was no exception.
Alexander Media Inc., a not-for-profit media entity in Auburn, Indiana, participated in the county fair located in Auburn from September 27 - October 2, 2021. The fair draws well over 100,000 attendees annually, and this year was no exception.
After providing an insurance certificate for one million dollars, a booth was assigned down the street from the county courthouse amid vendors selling cotton candy, elephant ears, caramel apples, donuts and grilled chicken. Occupying a 10x20 space in one of the highest foot-traffic areas of the fair, the tent highlighted 1570 AM broadcasting 3ABN radio, and TV 26 broadcasting 3ABN (26.1), Esperanza TV (26.2), Hope TV (26.3), LLBN His Word (26.4); Smart Lifestyle TV (26.8), Amazing Facts (26.6) and Quo Vadis (26.7) networks.
WGLL 1570 AM and Channel 26 were on display in the booth so visitors could see the plethora of programs airing in the local area. In a landscape full of various methods for consuming video content, 1570 AM and TV 26 are in a unique position to reach a large number of viewers via conventional over-the-air means, without requiring any subscriptions or specialized equipment. As people stopped by the booth and learned about the station’s availability and programming, the reception was largely positive.
Christopher Alexander, who oversees technical operations at the station’s facilities said that in the wake of the pandemic and uncertainty of the prior year, they found that there are a lot of people hungry for the Word. “They were excited to learn that there is a Christian television and radio station that’s freely available in their local community,” said Alexander. “We also found that there are a lot of people, especially parents of young children, who are looking for wholesome, family-oriented programming, and TV 26 fills that need quite well.”
Flyers were circulated highlighting 3ABN and the other channels available for the area – Comcast 287 serving the Fort Wayne area, Comcast 1677 serving most of Indiana and Michigan, WFWC-CD 45.1 serving Northeast Indiana and Northwest Ohio, and Mediacom 90 serving cities across the entire country, with an emphasis in the Midwest states of Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. Materials for distribution were provided by Remnant Publishing, 3ABN, Fort Wayne Church, and the Body of Christ Church. Rhona Alexander recruited and directed teams of volunteers from nearby Adventist churches (Angola, Wolcottville, and Fort Wayne) to distribute literature and promote the station to fair goers. Volunteers from these churches were also on hand to interact, share and pray with visitors on-site.
Dr’s David and Sonja DeRose shared material on upcoming health seminars while his presentations aired on the television located in the booth. “His willingness to speak to individuals and interacting with young families was exemplary as he became the embodiment of the right arm of the message,” noted Alexander.
John Treat, an elder at the Fort Wayne Church, who shared material, enrolled Bible students, prayed for residents, and shared Bible text was excited about the vast opportunities for sharing Christ. “This is evangelism on steroids,” Treat explained.
Dr. Jeff and Mary Squires, also of the of the Fort Wayne Church, were faithful witnesses, pressed into service donating and distributing thousands of pieces of literature on health, Steps to Christ and children’s story books, even providing Bible study enrollment sheets. Over 100 people signed up for the Amazing Facts Bible Study course via mail, and others took the Amazing Facts Bible Study Guides that were available as an introduction to get them started.
“I considered it a lot of fun and very exciting to meet and interact with the people, and encouraging them to read the literature we were handing out,” said Mary. “We really enjoyed helping people prepare for the soon return of Jesus.”
Citizens, attorneys, firemen, city councilmen, the local sheriff, the county commissioner, Auburn Mayor Michael Ley and even the Dekalb County fair queen stopped by the booth and were impacted by Adventist Media and the volunteers’ personal outreach.
Alexander Media is a non-profit located in Fort Wayne, Indiana with studios located in Auburn, Indiana. To support the continued broadcasting of Adventist radio and TV programming in Northeast Indiana, visit Alexander Media’s website.
Christopher Alexander, Alexander Media technical director
