By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent
CAMP SPRINGS, Md.—Prince George’s Association has a unique, under-utilized venue for churches to share the gospel and advertise their events—good old television. The association’s Prince George’s American Christian Television System (PG ACTS) runs sermons and advertising viewable in all of Prince George’s County and parts of Anne Arundel and Charles Counties as well as Washington D.C. and parts of Northern Virginia.
“We reach over 1.4 million households in the Metropolitan area. Our goal is to win souls for Christ,” Station Manager Crystal Jones said.
The Prince George’s Association began the station in the mid-nineties, at that time, partnering with a new Southern Baptist Convention initiative. Now the station is a self-supported 501 (C) 3 organization.
The station currently broadcasts on Verizon Fios1 and they just launched in September on Cable Channel 8 TBD. Viewers can also watch on-demand programs on the website.
BCM/D churches utilizing the station including Cornerstone Peaceful Bible Church and Church of the Great Commission along with nine other churches and ministries, many of them part of the Prince George’s Association.
Jones and Reynold Carr, Prince George’s Association’s director of missions, agree that the price for broadcasting, about $400 per half an hour, is very reasonable compared to other stations.
“We’re the cheapest guy in town,” laughed Carr, who also serves on the PG ACTS board of directors.
And according to Jones, there’s a lot of return in that small investment. “It’s very effective,” she said. Jones said she knows of churches that have grown substantially as a result of broadcasting on television.
“We have people call the station all the time interested in finding out more about a certain ministry and asking how they can purchase a particular program they saw on television,” she said.
In addition to buying half-hour segments, churches can purchase advertising to promote upcoming events, such as VBS, camps and holiday programs.
Jones said the station offers assistance preparing advertising and with production and editing.
“We really want to encourage churches, especially those who record videos of their services, to broadcast on PGACTS,” Carr said.
Jones said she’s especially interested in getting a quality children’s program.
Churches need not be affiliated with the Prince George’s Association, or even be Baptist to participate, but they must abide by the station requirements to be Bible and trinity believing.
For more information about PG ACTS, or to watch shows on demand, see the website, http://www.pgacts.org.