Carpenters found Television/radio station

3ABN is the abbreviation for the name of a Christian television station, which includes a ground station for television satellite transmission. The name is Three Angels Broadcasting Network. It was founded by the two Shelton brothers, carpenters from Illinois, USA, and their families. They set up the station over 10 years ago on their own initiative, and it was to serve only one purpose, to spread the biblical message.

In November 1984, Danny Shelton saw a television programme that spread gross errors about the Christian faith. Early the next morning during devotions, he was urged by the Holy Spirit to build a television station that could reach all of America, even the whole world, to dedicate it exclusively to the proclamation of biblical truth. After intense prayer with his brother, they received the certainty and laid everything on his altar: their few resources, their time, their entire existence and promised the Lord that they would do everything he would ask of them.

As they had no idea about the requirements for such a communication tool, they started by visiting a neighbouring television station. They met one of the senior engineers there, Clarence, who had only become a Christian three months earlier but was not a member of any church. He told them: „I don't know why I'm telling you this, but I feel compelled to: you're going to have a TV station like this, a ground station from which you can reach the whole continent via satellite.„ The brothers asked back: “The whole world too?„ “Yes, the whole world too, if you want. Via more satellites". At that moment, they thought of the prophet's words about the angels flying through the midst of heaven (Revelation 14:6) and came up with the name for this project: 3ABN, 3 Angels' Broadcasting Network.

The engineer had even more to tell them: „Because of the position of the various communications satellites and the many microwave transmitters in the telephone network, it is not possible to set up a ground station everywhere in North America. Only a few very specific locations are free from interference and suitable for this purpose. And these are usually already occupied by other transmitters. In addition, the FBC (Federal Bureau of Communications in the USA) has to issue a licence. That's why I've been feeding my computer with information for a year and a half to look for such possible locations. 10 kilometres north and 16 kilometres east of their current home is the only place far and wide where this would be geographically possible“. But the brothers had neither property nor acquaintances there, nor could they afford to buy land.

At this station, they also met one of the senior directors, the pastor of an evangelical church. He also told them a strange story: „We are forced,“ he confessed, „to sell a complete set of studio equipment worth over $100,000. Yesterday a potential buyer was here, but he could only offer me $ 30,000 for it. So I declined. I prayed about it and asked God if we should keep the equipment. God answered no. I asked him if we should sell it. He also answered no. What should I do then? I wanted to know from God. He said: „Keep it and when the right people come to you, give it to them. But now I have the certainty that these people are standing in front of me. That same day, the Shelton brothers signed a deed of gift for the technical equipment for a complete television studio, worth at the time $ 100,000.

Now they had the equipment, but no building for it and no land to build on. That Wednesday evening was prayer meeting. Among the 10 or so people who had come to the Thompsonville church was Mrs Fonda Summers, a 70-year-old widow and acquaintance of the two brothers' mother. She was not a member of the congregation at the time. She owned an 8,092 square metre property that she had wanted to sell several times. But each time she had a dream that prevented her from doing so. The night after this prayer meeting, she had the dream again, but this time with the request to give the land to the two brothers.

So she phoned mum Shelton and told her the land was a bit out of the way: 10 km north and 16 km east of the town they lived in. From that moment on, they knew that this was their place: the exact spot that the expert had pointed out as the only possibility! And this land was given to them as a gift!

The lengthy process of obtaining a licence to build a ground station from the US government now began. 3.5 months later, the government had granted the licence. The expert in this office could hardly believe it, because in all his practice it had never happened before that the first site examined was suitable for any type of satellite transmission without restrictions.

While they were still waiting for the permit, they used the time to have an access road built to the site; a crazy idea, as many thought, without the security of a licence and without money. Because the pavement and hiring the road construction machinery cost $ 6,000, which they didn't have. So they needed another miracle from God. However, when the work was completed and the company demanded their money, two letters arrived on the same day: one with $ 2,000 and the second with $ 4,000.

The shell alone for 5,000 m² of covered ground, two storeys, the minimum equipment for a broadcasting studio, would have cost $ 50,000. But as there was no money, they started digging the trenches for the foundations themselves. During this work, a retired couple offered to help and asked: „How are you going to fill the trenches with concrete if you don't have any money?“ „We trust God,“ replied the Shelton brothers. „We have learnt one thing: if he wants us to do something, then we simply have to go ahead in faith. God will provide the right thing in His time.“ When the couple said goodbye after five days, they handed them $ 50,000 by cheque. This financed the entire building shell.

After the construction of the parabolic antenna (dish with a diameter of around 11 metres) was also financed by unforeseen donations, God provided the necessary specialist staff. A TV director and programme producer from Alabama was asked if he would be willing to come to 3ABN. He pointed out that he had a secure and very well-paid position. He was also in the process of building a new house. But he wanted to fast, pray and think about it with his family. Three days later, their little daughter came and asked: „Mum, did you see the angel last night too?“ Mum enquired: „What did the angel look like? What did he say?“ And the child said: „He told me to pack all my toys and my brother's toys. Because we are moving to Illinois“. The family now knew what God's path was for them. Only, the unfinished house was not for sale. Nevertheless, they prepared for the move. And when the removal van was already at the door, another buyer arrived for the house.

One of the most important specialists for the installation was an electrician who could plan and carry out all the wiring. The Sheltons knelt down on the concrete floor of the still empty hall and prayed: „Lord, you know how badly we need an electrician. Send us one!“ 20 minutes later the phone rang. A fellow believer from Chicago said: „I heard that you need an electrician. I've been trying to reach you for a whole week. Now I've finally succeeded. I would be willing to work for you for free in my spare time.“

A neighbour asked them: „Do you know that the station will also cost money when it's finished?“ The Shelton brothers report: „In 1986 we started with 18 hours of airtime and on 1 April 1987 we were already at 24 hours non-stop. We had opportunities to sell airtime. That would have relieved us of all our financial worries in one fell swoop. But we promised the Lord that we would only broadcast selected Christian programmes. So we refused. God has been taking care of „his“ station for over 14 years now.

In 1990, we built our first UHF ground station. This means that our programme can be received freely within a radius of approx. 30-50 km without a satellite dish. In 2001, we had 73 such television stations distributed throughout the USA. In addition, there are 32 other television stations that co-operate with us and take over our signal in part or in full and broadcast it free of charge. 3ABN is also received by 54 cable television stations and fed into their networks. There are also hospitals and retirement homes that feed us into their internal cable network.

The running costs of such a TV station are enormous: the rent alone for the five satellites costs around $ 200,000 per month. If this payment is delayed by even 30 days, 3ABN loses its channel on the satellite. With the cost of salaries, electricity and the maintenance of equipment and buildings, an average of $ 1,300,000 is needed every month. But the funds have always come in at the right time, even though there is no massive fundraising in the broadcasts, as is the case with many other religious broadcasters in the USA.

However, the main purpose of this self-supporting missionary organisation is and remains to proclaim the message of Jesus' love in connection with the eternal gospel of the three angels. Literally thousands have already found Christ through this blessed work.