Faith for Today History
Dr. John McDougall, world-renowned author and internist, along with Mary McDonough, star of The Waltons, hosted Faith For Today’s insightful and cutting-edge health show, McDougall, M.D. Some of the shows most popular and thought-provoking topics included the dangers of dairy products; new ways to combat diabetes; and how to control depression naturally. While McDougall, M.D. is no longer in production, its topics are still relevant and the show is broadcast worldwide through TBN and the Hope Channel.
Out of the Night was Faith For Today’s biggest success in film. This docudrama about former navy diver Stephen Arrington’s involvement in the John DeLorean drug trafficking scandal, and his remarkable conversion in the aftermath, garnered three prestigious awards, including the Gold Medal at the 28th Annual Wordfest-Houston International Film Festival.
Christian Lifestyle Magazine paved the way for Lifestyle Magazine, launched five years later. The 1990 Lifestyle Magazine team included Dan Matthews, Clifton Davis, Tami McGrew and Patty Cabrera. The show, which took on a talk-show format, centered around timely health issues and also addressed people’s physical and emotional needs. Powerful topics include forgiveness, overcoming addictions and the power of prayer.
In 1985 Faith For Today launched Christian Lifestyle Magazine, a program that set new standards in religious programming. CLM followed a news-feature format and was hosted by Dan Matthews and Suzanne Austin (later, Lena Nozizwe). Television audiences saw powerful stories of Christians who have made a positive influence in their communities and in their world. The show broke down barriers and helped viewers overcome their prejudice towards Christianity.
In 1980 William Fagal passed the leadership of Faith For Today on to Daniel G. Matthews, who faithfully served the ministry for the next 19 years. Before becoming speaker-director of Faith For Today, Dan served as a pastor in the Pacific Northwest.
An important milestone was reached in 1975 when Faith For Today produced its first hour-long dramatic film, John Hus. Inspired by its success, Faith For Today ventured into “TV drama specials” with The Harvest in 1979. This one-hour film about the healing of a stress-torn family won an Angel award for “the highest production and artistic excellence” in February, 1980.
In 1972, after a move from New York to California, Faith For Today discovered possibilities in television drama and Westbrook Hospital was born. This weekly dramatic series with a hospital setting showed that Christian virtues such as honesty and love work in the real world. The program won Gold and Silver awards at the Houston International Film Festival and the Silver Plaque at the 1977 Chicago International Film Festival.
FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover met with William Fagal to congratulate him on the ministry’s important contribution in promoting “wholesome family life and emphasizing those basic values of love, discipline, faith and work, which give true meaning to life, performing a commendable public service.”
Faith For Today started its own Bible School in 1952. Dedicated staff, led by Virginia Fagal, assisted thousands of viewers in their spiritual studies. Over the years, more than 450,000 people have completed one of Faith for Today’s correspondence courses, and at least 30,000 people are known to have joined the church through its ministry.
Since the very first broadcast, Faith For Today offered viewers Bible lessons, books and other spiritual and personal growth materials. Mr. and Mrs. William Farrar from New Jersey watched that first program on May 21, 1950 and wrote to enroll in the Bible course. So thrilled were the Farrars about what they were learning from the lessons and the telecast that they started telling their family, friends and co-workers.