LLBN Names Geraty Its Board Chair
Lawrence Geraty, a retired president of La Sierra University, has been named the new chair of the board of the Loma Linda Broadcasting Network. The international Christian television network has been in existence since 1996. Geraty takes the place of Thomas Zirkle, a former medical administrator of the Loma Linda University Medical Center, who died after serving as volunteer board chair since the early years of the network. An interim chair was Kerry Heinrich, who remains a member of the board. The board meets quarterly at the network's headquarters off Barton Road in Loma Linda. The new chair is an educator, academic, archaeologist and administrator who retired two years ago from the presidency of La Sierra University in Riverside after serving there for 14 years. Earlier he served as president of Atlantic Union College in South Lancaster, Mass. Geraty was a college and university president for 22 years prior to his retirement. He is best known as an archaeologist, and in retirement continues an active role in archaeology circles. He directs digs in the Middle East every year. "Loma Linda Broadcasting Network started as a small-town dream to reach a big world," states Ganim Hanna, president and chief executive officer of the network. The venue was the Loma Linda University church when William Loveless was senior pastor. He and others on the staff saw the need to telecast the weekly activities of the church to the local community. Since then LLBN has grown from serving the Loma Linda community with a few hours of cable broadcast a week, to maintaining a 24/7 national and international satellite broadcast. LLBN programming is also carried by dozens of cable headends (facilities that receive and distribute broadcasts), many private low and high power TV stations, live Internet video streaming, and IPTV (Internet Protocol Television). "We are reaching millions of people with a message of whole-person wellness," says Hanna. "The programs reach homes and hearts with Christ's healing touch, providing inspiration, entertainment, and education." He says that the network provides a compelling and unique lineup of programming. Although the physical headquarters of the station moved two miles away, LLBN maintains a positive working relationship with Loma Linda University and its famous medical center. "This has helped us to bring in experts on health, lifestyle, religion and education areas that enhance every aspect of the human experience," says Hanna. Apart from one full-time studio coordinator and two other part-time people hired in the past few years, the entire network is directed and operated with volunteer help. About 100 individuals are in one way or another connected with the online and behind-the-scenes production of the programs. In 2007, one year after LLBN launched its signal internationally, the network launched its first foreign-language network, LLBN Arabic. Chaired by Lawrence Geraty until his recent appointment as chair of the board, LLBN Arabic is now chaired by Edmond Haddad. LLBN Arabic was followed by LLBN Chinese, an all-Mandarin network launched in 2008 and now broadcasting to a cable and IPTV company located in Beijing, China. LLBN's fourth network, LLBN Southern Asia, is currently in the works. The board includes 12 other community leaders in addition to Geraty. There are 14 directors, managers and vice-presidents, all with specific duties to perform. They all see working in a ministry like LLBN as part of the fulfillment of Christ's great commission to spread the gospel to the entire world. Don A. Roth
Remarks Hanna, "Through the countless miracles, the financial support of viewers and the work of dedicated volunteers, the existence and growth of LLBN remains a living testament to God's blessings and amazing power."