ORIGIN Of A BIBLE ANSWER
Mike McDaniel
On May 31, 2004, a new television program began to air in West Tennessee and the Missouri Bootheel called A Bible Answer.
When the Searching The Scriptures television program ceased to air at the end of 2003 after having being on various local stations since the mid-1970’s, many people were dismayed and expressed their hope that something might be done to fill in the gap. Many liked the question and answer format which utilized three different area gospel preachers each month to answer questions sent in by viewers because it had proven to be successful. Mike McDaniel, long time regular panelist on Searching The Scriptures since 1986, begin to talk with elderships about the possibility of continuing this good work. Following an announcement about the need at a Preacher’s Luncheon at the Gardner church of Christ in Martin, Tennessee, Dustin Forthun, preacher for the church at Phillips Street, expressed the desire to assist in making this vision a reality. Together, the two gospel preachers approached the good elders of the Phillips Street church of Christ in Dyersburg, TN. Fortunately, the elders of Phillips Street, a long time supporting congregation ofSearching The Scriptures, foresaw the good which might be done by a continuation of the program.
In speaking with the elders at the Green Plain church of Christ in Murray, Kentucky, the overseers of Searching The Scriptures, it was learned that they intended to begin a new program with a different format that would be seen just in their local area and desired to retain the name. Thus, a new name was selected for our program which we believed suited it well.
Mike McDaniel and Dustin Forthun began working together to contact possible supporting congregations for a new program. Finally, enough money was raised to begin production in May.
The program would be produced in the studios of Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky and would appear initially on UPN-16 Jackson, Tennessee, TCT-33 Dyersburg, Tennessee and Lion’s Club Channel 7 in Caruthersville and Hayti, Missouri.
The first day of taping was May 14, 2004 and included those closely associated with the program: Tom Bright, Dustin Forthun, and Rick Lawson. Dustin and Rick did a lot of instrumental work in making the opening and closing of the program. They would also produce commercials to be aired on UPN-16. The first tracts to be offered on the program were “What To Expect When You Visit The Church of Christ” and “What Must I Do To Be Saved.” The first six questions addressed were those not covered on the last day of taping of Searching The Scriptures on Oct. 10, 2003. Mike McDaniel had served as a panelist on that day. The first question was: “Did men in the Old Testament who had a number of wives do so with God’s approval?” It was given a Bible answer by Tom Bright. The second taping of the program on June 8, 2004 included Curtis Cates, David Lemmons and Larry Powers as seen in the picture below.
As the program began, Mike McDaniel served as the moderator and was responsible for compiling the questions and scheduling the panelists and the tapings. Dustin Forthun served as Secretary and Treasurer. Rick Lawson, preacher for the Gardner church of Christ in Martin, TN, served as Literature Director. With these men working together under the oversight of a good eldership, A Bible Answer had a great beginning.