Better Life Television Gets a Better Station

After more than two years of planning and fundraising, Better Life Television, based in Grants Pass, Ore., is finally getting to spread its wings—thanks to a new studio expansion and some help from volunteers.

From Oct. 8–29, 2002, more than 70 volunteers from Maranatha Volunteers International, met in Grants Pass to help with a building expansion and remodeling project at the station. By the end of the three-week project, volunteers had added a 1,700 square foot studio, two offices, and converted the existing studio into management, production, and engineering offices.

Using volunteers helped reduce labor and overall costs for the expansion. The station came in contact with Maranatha through Ken Casper, Maranatha board member, and Owen and Neva MacPhee, Maranatha volunteers and members of the Grants Pass Church. After discussing the vision for the new studio, Casper and the MacPhees suggested that the station apply for project assistance through Maranatha. Once accepted, Maranatha coordinated all the volunteer labor for the project.

The new space will allow the station to continue growing to reach a larger audience. In October of 2001, Better Life Television became the first Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) commercial television station. They expect to begin transmitting to most of southern Oregon and Northern California soon, with a potential viewing audience of more than half a million people.

Better Life Television is a viewer-supported, non-profit organization working in cooperation with the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The station is a downlink affiliate of 3ABN, producing local programming for the communities it serves. Better Life Television strives to provide for their viewers programs supporting a healthy and spiritual lifestyle.

Featured in: February 2003

Author

Julie Lee

Maranatha Volunteers International communications coordinator