The United Methodist Hour Then and Now
The United Methodist Hour began as a radio program in 1971. Reverend John McCay, serving as Superintendent of the Hattiesburg District of the United Methodist Church at that time, supervised the start-up of the half hour program dedicated to spreading the gospel. By 1975, the program was airing on 15 radio stations across Mississippi. Executive Directors who followed McCay continued to expand the ministry to include what is now a half hour television program, which is broadcast on 16 television stations throughout Mississippi and other states in the Southeast. Time That Makes The Difference currently reaches into an area of over 5 million homes with an ecumenical program of hope and encouragement.
In 2006, The United Methodist Hour won broadcasting awards from Mississippi Baptists in Broadcasting which included The Award of Excellence for Best Video Program for a Worship Service, Sept 11, 2005; Beyond the Storm; Best Video Program, Feature Presentation; and Best Audio Program, Radio. At the 2006 Annual Meeting of the United Methodist Association of Communicators (UMAC) The United Methodist Hour was recognized for outstanding work in broadcasting and received the highest award given, the Award of Excellence, for a radio episode of Time That Makes The Difference, best of division for the television/cable category. And a certificate of merit was awarded for the video production, “Remembering Katrina."
From the humble beginnings of The United Methodist Hour, there has always been a spirit of love and a hunger for fulfilling God’s will in the life of this ministry. God has continually blessed this ministry, preparing it for and pushing it toward new goals. It is this spirit that makes The United Methodist Hour’s history a special and meaningful one. The faith of men and women who pioneered a new kind of ministry in Mississippi and in Methodism, along with those who continue the tradition of ministry today, is what has made the difference.
About The Hour Ministry
Core Values:
The mission of The United Methodist Hour is to, through media and technology, proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ and to resource the local church to live faithfully and boldly in the world.
Our core values are:
1. We believe in the Bible as the living, breathing
Word of God in action.
2. We believe that faith in Christ is sufficient for
transforming lives, both present and eternal.
3. We believe in the promise and potential of the
Local Church as the “hope of the world”.
4. We believe in the medium of technology as a
means for reaching the unchurched, dischurched
and under-resourced with hope and a future.
5. We believe in the “servant life” as the hands and
feet of Christ.
6. We believe in the unconditional love and
forgiveness of God and in our responsibility to
express that to the world.
Statement of Faith:
We are a radio and television witness serving as an extension of the local church’s mission and ministry for the glory of God. We pledge unceasingly to seek higher standards of excellence in presenting the story of Jesus Christ with truth and clarity throughout the world so that “they may know the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom God sent.” (John 17:3)
In carrying out our mission we acknowledge the futility of human efforts without the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Mission Statement:
Offering hope by extending the friendship of God.
