For more than 10 years, Amazing Facts has been broadcasting Sacramento Central Church’s Central Study Hour with Pastor Doug Batchelor, helping Sabbath school leaders and participants around the world to mine the precious gems of God’s Word through their quarterly lesson studies.
“We would just like to thank all of you at Amazing Facts for your wonderful ministry and your online Sabbath School lessons! They are a blessing to us, and may God continue to work through your program to reach, teach, and love those worldwide! Praise God for technology!” London, England
Along with the talented staff at Sacramento Central, Pastor Doug and guest speakers have been providing sanctified cerebral exercise virtually nonstop since the program first aired on December 19, 1996. If you’re counting — that’s more than 520 weekly Sabbath school study services so far!
However, you might be surprised to learn that when 3ABN first approached Pastor Doug about recording his church’s popular Sabbath school study hour, he was reluctant.
Overcoming Obstacles
“To be honest,” he explains, “I was a little hesitant. For one, I knew that for it to be a useful program, we’d be somewhat constrained to the quarterly lesson material, even if the topic wasn’t really exciting to the pastors or viewers.”
Of course, that was also the perfect reason to broadcast the program. Thousands of Sabbath school teachers and church members around the world are longing for some help, especially with adding relevant, timely content that can spice up their Sabbath school class discussions.
But another obstacle was particularly daunting. Pastor Doug explains, “Second, it’s very expensive to record and edit a television program. When you realize the Sabbath school study is focused on a specific date, it may only have one broadcast time — and then simply gather dust. I always prefer to invest God’s resources in something with a longer shelf life.”
Nevertheless, with the help of Amazing Facts’ supporters and the church’s outstanding team of media volunteers, Pastor Doug believed God was opening doors to help make the project much more affordable.
Most important, Pastor Doug, the Central Church staff, and the congregation felt the need in God’s people was so great for a biblical series like this that they were impressed to move forward. And the Lord has truly blessed that decision. Pastor Doug adds, “We never dreamed it would fill such a pressing need and be received so well by so many around the world.”
An Expanding and Eager Audience
As satellite and internet television distribution of the program has increased, letters have arrived from all over the world praising the Lord for this extra “doctrinal adrenaline” coming into their Sabbath school classes.
“Just writing from Brazil to thank you very much for the inspiring lessons at the Central Study Hour. God bless you and your ministry!”
Pastor Doug believes that Central Study Hour already had a built-in audience just waiting for it. “The average church in North America has 100 members or less,” he explains, “So many Sabbath schools are not only small, but many churches must share a pastor on rotation with sister churches in their district. That means there are times some churches really need this supplemental, biblical teaching.”
Moreover, thousands of Christians who live in isolated areas with no nearby church — or those who are unable to attend their church because of health issues — now have direct access to Sabbath school programming, adding depth and clarity to their personal quarterly studies.
Over time, the program has become so popular that some regular attendees of the Central Study Sabbath school class are recognized and greeted by name as they travel. “You are like our family,” one viewer writes. We pray that Central Study Hour will continue to be successful, used by the Lord to bless His people as they come together to study His Word.
How It Works
Each Central Study Hour program is recorded three weeks in advance of the quarterly study date, providing time for the Amazing Facts studio to edit the program, attach closed captioning, and ship the tapes to various networks, including 3ABN, Hope Channel, Safe TV, and many others. In addition, more than 20 radio stations broadcast the program every week!
This enables participants to match their current quarterly lesson with the program on their own time. But if you want to stay ahead with Sacramento Central, the program is streamed live every Sabbath morning at www.saccentral.org.
While you’re there, you can interact with the program by submitting a hymn request, a very popular feature of the weekly broadcast. We have received requests from nearly 120 nations! Send yours today by visiting www.saccentral.org and be sure to watch each week!
Watch the Program Whenever, Wherever
Do you want to watch Central Study Hour right now? You can, anytime day or night by clicking here! Scott writes, “My wife and I drive over the road in a semi truck and only get home once every 6 to 8 weeks. We log onto Sacramento Central Church every Sabbath and participate in the services there. We look forward to it every week!”
Be sure to keep coming back every week for powerful, biblical insight into your weekly quarterly lessons!
Finally, we want to share a special thanks to the networks that provide airtime for Central Study Hour without charge. Please let them know that you appreciate their contribution to this program!
“I study every week with Pastor Doug online. I teach the lesson every Sabbath and glean everything I can from the Sabbath school lessons with the points he makes. The lesson done on ‘Wise Words for the Families’ went through the roof with me. … It is a hard lesson for me to teach, but … I have received words of wisdom for my class.”