Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, March 12, 1990 TAG: 9003122814
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG LENGTH: Medium
The revenue increase, largely attributed to increased enrollment in a home study Bible course, came in the same year the evangelical television ministry laid off more than 500 employees and sought a $60 million bond issuance.
The Gospel Hour television program raised $36 million in donations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1989, according to ministry figures. Contributions to the program were $40.7 million in 1987-88, a $10 million drop from the previous year. Contributions had not been as low since 1981-82, according to tax records.
Income from Gospel Hour, Falwell's Liberty University and Thomas Road Baptist Church reached a high of $134.8 million during 1988-89. Falwell's best-known organization, the Moral Majority lobbying group, was dismantled before the 1988-1989 fiscal year.
Falwell spokesman Mark DeMoss said income will be significantly less this year.
"There's no question in light of some activities of recent years in the religious broadcasting world that contributions in the traditional sense are a little more difficult to come by," DeMoss said, referring to sex and financial scandals in the ministries of televangelists Jim Bakker and Jimmy Swaggart.
In an interview, Falwell said, "I am hopeful somewhere in the next 10 years we will have absolutely no dependence on direct mail fund raising or fund raising by television."
Sales of the Liberty Home Bible Institute study course generated about $40 million of the total revenue, he said.
The audio-cassette Bible course was first offered in 1976 but sales were slow until Falwell worked out a monthly payment plan for the $1,100 cost, DeMoss said. Enrollment grew from 28,000 to 63,000 in less than a year, De Moss said.
Among changes made by the Falwell organization:
The $2 million jet used by Falwell to travel around the country was sold last fall. Falwell's travel schedule is half what is once was, making the jet's upkeep unjustifiable, DeMoss said.
Liberty Broadcasting Network stopped producing original television programming for cable systems.
Television time has been cut. Gospel Hour no longer buys air time on three or four stations in the same area, DeMoss said.
Falwell canceled his daily Pastor's Study television talk show.
At least 500 jobs were cut last year and more are being cut weekly. Gospel Hour now employs about 1,500 people.
Ministry officials hope a $60 million bond request will help consolidate short-term debt, resulting in savings of $2 million to $3 million a year in debt payments over the next 20 years.
by CNB