The Gospel Broadcasting Network (GBN) is an American Christian satellite broadcast network, which broadcasts 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
All of the programming is produced by congregations and ministries affiliated with Churches of Christ. Although organized as a separate 501(c)(3) legal entity, GBN is under the oversight of the elders of the Southaven Church of Christ (Southaven, Mississippi), which serves as its sponsoring church.
The GBN headquarters are in Olive Branch, Mississippi. Programs are recorded at the Olive Branch location, as well as in individual studios of local congregations of Churches of Christ located throughout the country. Syndicated programs that air on GBN include Pulaski, Tennessee (Preaching the Gospel), Edmond, Oklahoma (In Search of the Lord's Way), Dunlap, TN ( Good News Today), McMinnville, TN (The Gospel of Christ), Cantonment, FL (Have a Bible Question), and Maxwell, Texas (World Video Bible School programming).
History
GBN was started by Barry Gilreath Sr. and began broadcasting in November 2005. Jim Dearman worked alongside Gilreath throughout the early years and served as its first Program Director.
Originally based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, GBN relocated to Olive Branch in 2011 (shortly upon Gilreath's death) when the Southaven Church of Christ took over as its sponsoring church. Following Barry Gilreath, Don Blackwell took over as the executive director of GBN in December of 2010.
Transmission
GBN transmits simulcasts over the Internet over GBNTV.org, through its own Roku channel, on Android and iOS devices, and over the air via both low-powered radio stations (all of which are individually owned and operated by local congregations) and television stations (primarily smaller cable networks located in the Southern United States). On April 27, 2011, GBN launched its public Roku channel. In addition to the live GBN broadcast, the channel also contains many archived programs. In June 2012, the GBN Roku channel was one of the 10-highest rated Roku channels with five out of five possible stars.
As of May, 2018, 24 cable companies in six states broadcast the network over their systems.
The January 2007 (IV) Issue of GoodNews reported that the two jails within the Dallas County, Alabama Sheriff's Department will broadcast GBN 17 hours a day (where deputies would like access during down-time 24/7).
Financial support
Unlike many religious networks, GBN does not solicit contributions over the air. (i.e., there are no fund-raising telethons, 'pledge' times, or on-air pleas for financial support). Several of the network's personalities have stated that "...you will never hear a plea for money on this network." GBN further states on its website that it "... is fully supported from the donations of members of the churches of Christ around the world. We do not solicit donations from non-members of the church of Christ." GBN does not accept paid advertisements.
GBN sends out a free newsletter for the network, which covers events, network news, and special memorial and honorarium contributions made since the last newsletter. The newsletter is sent via regular mail upon request, or it can be downloaded from their website.
Featured programs
All of GBN's programming is based on the Bible only, and is produced by local Church of Christ congregations in the United States.
GBN produces a call-in program entitled "GBNLive" hosted by Mike Hixson. It airs on a weekly basis February through May, and during September and October each night at 6PM Eastern and 7PM Central. Joining Hixson on the program are two guests, who are qualified to deal with the subject of that particular episode. Viewers can ask their questions via email, telephone call or through Facebook.
GBN is home to the syndicated TV program Preaching the Gospel. James Watkins was the original host, and Cliff Goodwin has assumed the role after Watkins' retirement. Preaching the Gospel airs on the Christian Television Network (CTN) on Sunday mornings.
Counterpoint is a GBN program that is also syndicated on the Christian Television Network (CTN) and eight local television stations. This program features BJ Clarke and Mike Hixson discussing a Bible subject in a conversational setting.
In Search of the Lord's Way, one of the most widely distributed religious programs in the US (and the largest among churches of Christ), also broadcasts on GBN. Originally created by Mack Lyon (died 2015), Phil Sanders currently serves as the host of this program, for which the Edmond Church of Christ serves as the sponsoring church.