Bible Hour Sponsorship Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

History and General Information:

When did the Bible Hour first go on the air?
The original broadcast was named the Heritage Hour and first aired in 1975 when Dr. David Jeremiah was Senior Pastor. The name was changed to The Bible Hour a few years later to more accurately reflect the vision of taking the Gospel and the message of hope in the Bible to the people in Fort Wayne and the surrounding area.

Has the Bible Hour always been a delayed broadcast?
The broadcast was originally aired live at 11:00am on WPTA until 1987 when the station moved the time slot to 7:00AM and it became a taped version of the prior weeks service. A few years ago, the time was changed again to the current 8:30 AM time slot and the broadcast was added to their sister cable network, MyTV 33.2, from 9:00am to10:00am on Sunday. The Bible Hour is also aired on the local Comcast Cable library access channel 57 at 5:00pm every Wednesday evening.

Who have been the primary pastors and teachers on the Bible Hour?
Dr. David Jeremiah (1975-1981), Rick Hawks (1981-1990), Russell Moir (1991-1999), Kelly Byrd (1999-present)

What is the vision statement of the Bible Hour?
“Helping seekers in the local community find and follow Christ through the teaching of God’s Word.”

How many people are on the Bible Hour Staff?
Ed Ritchart is the leader for the Bible Hour Team. There are 2 part time paid staff members and the rest of the staff is made up of about 15 other volunteers.

How many people have come to Christ through the ministry of the Bible Hour?
We do not have detailed records, but hundreds of viewers have contacted us over the past 34 years indicating that they have made a decision for Christ.

Demographics:

How many people watch the Bible Hour each week?
Based on the data from WPTA, about 9200 homes and over 10,000 people tune in to the Bible Hour each week on their network channels. The Bible Hour airs every Sunday from 8:30am to 9:30am on WPTA / ABC 21.1 or Comcast Cable channel 7, and from 9:00am to 10:00am on MyTV 33.2. WPTA does not purchase the full Neilson data for these time slots, and additional demographic data is not available at this time. In addition to these times, the Bible Hour airs every Wednesday from 5:00PM to 6:00PM on the Comcast Cable library access channel 57.

Sponsorship Questions:

Why are you starting to request sponsors and ask for money now?
Viewers through The Founders Club have always supported the broadcast. We have decided to freshen the approach to more closely reflect current sponsorship models. This will allow the Bible Hour to remain on the air as a premier television broadcast of the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

Is my sponsorship gift completely tax-deductible?
Corporate sponsorships should be fully tax deductible. If you are an individual, you should check with your tax advisor as to the amount that will be deductible. In many cases this will be 100 %.

Will the Bible Hour staff help me produce a customized spot for my sponsorship?
For Platinum or Gold sponsorship we will support some limited video work such as external shots of a business or a clip of a sponsor at their office. The spot will be designed to follow the PBS model to keep it brief and make it uniform with other spots. We want to make sure that the sponsor approves the spot, but we will not be able to create a custom type of spot for each client at all sponsorship levels. We will contact you to receive your approval before running your Corporate Sponsorship spot on the air.

May I include my phone number or web address with the name of my organization in the Corporate Sponsorship spot?
Yes, a one line phone number or web address may be included.

Will my gift to the Bible Hour be designated to that ministry or will it be re-directed to fund other ministries at Blackhawk?
All gifts to the Bible Hour will be used to support the airtime, staff, equipment and facilities of the Bible Hour ministry.

Who will be my primary contact for handling sponsorship questions and logistics?
Judy Study, in the Blackhawk Business Office, will maintain the master calendar for the availability of day sponsorships and the sponsorship billing. She will also keep track of what spots will run each week and the status of the incoming support through the sponsorship program. She can be contacted at (260) 493-7400.

May I see an example of what a sponsorship spot looks like? Yes, you may go on-line to blackhawkministries.org to view sample videos of how Day Underwriter and Corporate Sponsorships would appear on the broadcast or in the service during Blackhawk on the Run.

May I set up a Day Underwriter or Corporate Sponsorship and pay on-line?
You may go on-line at blackhawkminsitries.org/biblehour to review the sponsorship options and request more information or a callback. Unfortunately, we cannot accept payment on-line at this time.

How do I submit text or logos for my Corporate Sponsorship or Day Underwriting?
You can submit them on-line or e-mail them to Ed Ritchart or call him at (260) 493-7400.

How do I renew my Corporate Sponsorship for the following year?
You can designate automatic renewal when you start your sponsorship or one of our team members will contact you annually to see if you want to make any changes.

How do I make changes to the text or graphics in my Corporate Sponsorship or Day Underwriting spot?
Please contact Ed Richart in the Bible Hour office at (260) 493-7400.

I have been a Founder’s Club member in the past. May I still participate in the Founder’s Club and make a one-time or regular gift?
Yes, we have increased the number of ways you can participate in supporting the ministry, but you may still make one-time or regular donations to the Bible Hour.

Can I be an anonymous Corporate Sponsor or Day Underwriter without public recognition?
Yes, we will simply communicate that a “Friend of the Bible Hour” provided sponsorship.

What are the operating costs of the Bible Hour?
The detailed costs are not publicly available, but the Bible Hour Team works very hard to operate as efficiently as possible. The cost to support the Bible Hour is estimated to be about 1/3 that of similar television ministries.

What is the fundraising financial goal?
We hope to raise between $50k and $100K annually to help support and sustain the ministry in the future. Additional funds would help pay for needed equipment upgrades to support digital broadcast requirements.

As a Corporate Sponsor, can I get a tour of the Bible Hour Studios?
Yes, we would be glad to coordinate a short tour of the facility. Please contact Judy Study in the Blackhawk Business Office at (260) 493-7400 and make your request known.

What if the day I choose for Day Underwriting is already taken?
We will work very hard to find an alternate day that will still allow you to celebrate or remember your event.

Why should I sponsor the Bible Hour Ministry?
You have shared values and believe in the mission to help seekers find and follow Christ through the teaching of God’s Word.

You are a growing disciple of Christ who wants to give more back to your Savior.

You want to help influence viewers and make a positive difference in the community.

You share our target market for your organization.

Your corporate sponsorship gift is100% tax deductible. Individuals should check with their tax advisor as to the amount deductible for tax purposes. In many cases this will also be 100%.