HISTORY
| History of Revival Crusade, Inc. |
| "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Romans 10:17 |
| MENU |
Revival Crusade, Inc. was founded by
radio-ministry pioneer, Rev. Robert Ralph
Mathews. Beginning in 1947, Rev. Mathews
preached live during the daily 6:45 AM slot
at a small, local West Virginia radio station.
The broadcast, known as The Country
Church of the Air, continued until the fall of
1952, when Rev. Mathews accepted a pas-
torate in Attalla, Alabama.
On the first Sunday of October, 1961, he
returned to the radio, and began Revival
Crusade, a weekly program that aired at
9:00 AM on WCHS (580 AM), located in Charleston, West
Virginia. He maintained that program until he went to
Heaven on August 23, 1964, just short of his fifty-second
birthday. The Revival Crusade broadcast continued under
the supervision of his brother-in-law, Walter Guy Smith,
until Rev. Smith's passing in September, 1976.
Not long afterward, Rev. Mathews' son,
Glenn, reorganized Revival Crusade, Inc.,
as a 501(c)3, non-profit, religious organ-
ization, and began to expand the mini-
stry's outreach. Weekly broadcasts con-
tinued, and by 1977, a daily radio format
had been developed. Currently, indivi-
dual programs focus on verse-by-verse
teaching -- no music, announcements or
discussion of current events -- and may
comprise several weeks' worth of broad-
casts, as illustrated by Dr. Mathews' monumental
exposition of I and II Peter. Similarly, his series of lessons
on Romans 6 totaled nine hours, and his 90-program series
on Bible prophecy totaled over twenty-two hours. It is not
surprising, then, that master discs of programs which aired
in the early days of the ministry could be rebroadcast today
with very little editing, because air time is still completely
given to teaching and preaching of the Word of God.
In addition to a thriving radio ministry,
Revival Crusade, Inc., is deeply committed
to the support of foreign and domestic
missions. Dr. Mathews compares RCI's in-
volvement in missions to a family giving a
tithe to their church thusly - "Through the
years, Revival Crusade, Inc. has operated
on the principle of '... trust the Lord and tell
the people...'. Since this ministry has been
blessed by support from individuals and churches, we
should pass along some of that to missions. This practice
of 'giving as has been given' is rather unusual in ministries
that are known as operating by faith." For more complete
information regarding missions supported by RCI, click here.
As of June 1, 2008, we marked our 2,431st weekly broad-
cast. Each broadcast concludes with the now-familiar
enjoinder, "May this week be for you, a time of blessing...”
We're so glad you stopped by to visit, and pray that this
time has indeed been a time of blessing for you.
radio-ministry pioneer, Rev. Robert Ralph
Mathews. Beginning in 1947, Rev. Mathews
preached live during the daily 6:45 AM slot
at a small, local West Virginia radio station.
The broadcast, known as The Country
Church of the Air, continued until the fall of
1952, when Rev. Mathews accepted a pas-
torate in Attalla, Alabama.
On the first Sunday of October, 1961, he
returned to the radio, and began Revival
Crusade, a weekly program that aired at
9:00 AM on WCHS (580 AM), located in Charleston, West
Virginia. He maintained that program until he went to
Heaven on August 23, 1964, just short of his fifty-second
birthday. The Revival Crusade broadcast continued under
the supervision of his brother-in-law, Walter Guy Smith,
until Rev. Smith's passing in September, 1976.
Not long afterward, Rev. Mathews' son,
Glenn, reorganized Revival Crusade, Inc.,
as a 501(c)3, non-profit, religious organ-
ization, and began to expand the mini-
stry's outreach. Weekly broadcasts con-
tinued, and by 1977, a daily radio format
had been developed. Currently, indivi-
dual programs focus on verse-by-verse
teaching -- no music, announcements or
discussion of current events -- and may
comprise several weeks' worth of broad-
casts, as illustrated by Dr. Mathews' monumental
exposition of I and II Peter. Similarly, his series of lessons
on Romans 6 totaled nine hours, and his 90-program series
on Bible prophecy totaled over twenty-two hours. It is not
surprising, then, that master discs of programs which aired
in the early days of the ministry could be rebroadcast today
with very little editing, because air time is still completely
given to teaching and preaching of the Word of God.
In addition to a thriving radio ministry,
Revival Crusade, Inc., is deeply committed
to the support of foreign and domestic
missions. Dr. Mathews compares RCI's in-
volvement in missions to a family giving a
tithe to their church thusly - "Through the
years, Revival Crusade, Inc. has operated
on the principle of '... trust the Lord and tell
the people...'. Since this ministry has been
blessed by support from individuals and churches, we
should pass along some of that to missions. This practice
of 'giving as has been given' is rather unusual in ministries
that are known as operating by faith." For more complete
information regarding missions supported by RCI, click here.
As of June 1, 2008, we marked our 2,431st weekly broad-
cast. Each broadcast concludes with the now-familiar
enjoinder, "May this week be for you, a time of blessing...”
We're so glad you stopped by to visit, and pray that this
time has indeed been a time of blessing for you.
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| PO Box 145 ~ Charleston, WV 25321 ~ (910) 948-4307 ~ glennandfleta@juno.com |
| Copyright © 2008 Revival Crusade, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |