CARLTON BYRD

casts airing on Hope Channel, which
also airs on DirecTV 368; Three Angels
Broadcasting Network; the Word Network;
and local subsidiaries in Atlanta
and Huntsville. And John Huynh, an
intern also based at the media center,
helped Byrd develop a presence on Facebook
and Twitter, an online store, and a
mobile app to allow smartphone users
easy access to sermon archives. He also
e-mails three-minute Breath of Fresh Air
devotional videos that contain edited
snippets of Byrd’s sermons and serve as
spiritual appetizers for recipients.
In the pastor’s study at the North
Bronx church, the driven and choleric
Byrd also wants to share some needs.
“We need to get Breath of Life on some
mainstream television networks, and,
even there, I will continue to preach
[Adventist] doctrine because people
need to know what we believe and that
we’re a Christian community that celebrates
Christ by keeping His commandments,”
he said.
In addition, Byrd sees a need to book the
half-hour preaching program on subsidiary
networks in major metropolitan areas
so when he prepares to conduct a series of
meetings, the church can promote it and
locals can view it before the evangelistic
meeting begins in the community.
This brought him
to the need for
usable, televisionquality
programs.
“Though there are
churches that bear
our name, we also
need to establish
some televisionready,
satellite BOL
churches,” he said.
“These churches
should be seekersensitive,
missionoriented,
and in a
nice facility, because
they will be the face
of Adventism to
viewers.”
Finally, Byrd
believes BOL needs
an outreach compotime,
1 Corinthians 10:13: “No temptation
has overtaken you except such as is
common to man; but God is faithful,
who will not allow you to be tempted
beyond what you are able, but with the
temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you may be able to bear it”
(NKJV).
“God spared my life,” Byrd now concludes,
“because I wasn’t ready; or perhaps
He still had a work for me to do; or
maybe it was all of the above. I surmised
that it’s all of the above.”
As a result Byrd is more passionate
about the mission. “I’m not just talking,
I’ve lived it,” he says, “I’ve lived [through]
tragedy and survived. . . . My sense of
urgency for the second coming has
grown tremendously.”
at NY13, congregants raise their hands to an appeal.
Needs and Next Steps
Since December 2010, when he took
over the storied, albeit financially
strapped, media ministry, Byrd has
traveled extensively to raise awareness,
raise funds, and conduct evangelism
initiatives. The field services arm,
directed by Danielle, is reaching out to
donors with personal letters and
updates. BOL manager Linda Walter,
based at the Adventist Media Center in
Simi Valley, California, keeps the broadnent,
so that when a natural disaster
occurs they’ll have people on the ground
ready to help. “We need to be actively
engaged in community ministry and service,”
he concluded before heading to the
platform to share a sermon from Acts 21
titled “Prison Break.”
Fired Up
Then, just as Alecia Anderson from
Long Island and her dad, Orley, expected,
Byrd presented a simple and clear message
punctuated by Bible reading, storytelling,
and his trademark doxology.
As good people of the Book, the Friday
night worshippers of various hues
and cultures didn’t miss a beat. “The
church that prays together,” Byrd
started, testing the waters.
“Stays together!” they finished in
unison.
“ ‘For he shall give his angels charge over
thee,’ ” he quoted Psalm 91:11 (KJV) . . .
“ ‘To keep thee in all thy ways!’ ” they
rejoiced.
“ ‘No weapon formed against thee,’ ”
he began, citing Isaiah 54:17 (KJV) . . .
“ ‘Shall prosper,’ ” they cheered.
Some were now on their feet, and
when Byrd moved from texts to songs,
they quickly chimed in: “ ‘If it had not
been for the Lord on my side,’ ” he
crooned in melodious tenor, “ ‘Where
would I be?’ ” they chorused.
With the hour spent, the sweat pouring,
and his mission of firing up the
base accomplished, Byrd brought the
message home: “Let’s take New York by
storm!” he shouted to thunderous
applause. “Let’s take New York by
storm! Let’s take (pause) New York
(pause) by storm!”
He did. And they will. n
Celeste Ryan Blyden enjoys
telling stories about what God
is doing in and through His
people in the Columbia Union,
where she serves as communication
director.
www.AdventistReview.org | February 21, 2013 | (147) 19