This past weekend, more than 400,000 viewers tuned in to watch Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International and senior pastor of Granite Bay Seventh-day Adventist Church, present several live programs, including Sabbath School and worship services, setting a stunning new record in total viewership.
Because the novel coronavirus is spread through human contact, governments have asked churches and other houses of worship to suspend in-person meetings for the time being. Thus, an uptick in online viewing was expected following the many “shelter-in-place” orders across the United States, Canada, and other countries.
This presented a unique opportunity for Amazing Facts and Granite Bay Church. A 2019 survey of pastors by LifeWay Research showed that only 22 percent livestreamed their services. While that number likely grew this past weekend, Granite Bay services have been broadcast via the Internet and Amazing Facts TV to viewers around the world long before the start of this pandemic. When restrictions on public meetings were put in place, the ministry was ready to respond—and the results were extraordinary!
Said Pastor Doug, “The massive viewership numbers for our Sabbath services are gratifying considering the circumstances. Much of our online viewership was also on Sunday morning, meaning we reached a Christian audience not fully aware of the three angels’ messages. We’re grateful for the visitors, and we thank God for this opportunity of sharing His message online.”
From March 27 to 29, three programs were broadcast on Facebook, YouTube, Amazing Facts TV (aftv.org), and other online venues. A small crew shot the programs from the W.O.R.D. Center campus, the new headquarters for Amazing Facts and the future site of the Granite Bay church.
On Friday night, Pastor Doug and Pastor Jëan Ross, vice president of evangelism at Amazing Facts, hosted a special program called Prophecy and the Pandemic: Is There a Connection?, which attracted 138,000 views. On Saturday morning, Sabbath School Study Hour saw 54,000 viewers, and the weekly Sabbath worship service 430,000. As each view could have also represented an entire household tuning in, the Word of God may have reached countless more!
This time of crisis is a vital time for spreading the gospel, and Amazing Facts International is dedicated to doing just that. Thank you for your support during this difficult but profound time for God’s work! Your continued support is much appreciated.
Prophecy and the Pandemic: Is There a Connection?