
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 9, 1991                   TAG: 9102090378
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A/5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                                LENGTH: Short

PLEDGES TO CBN RECOVER FROM SLUMP

Pledges to the annual telethon of Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network soared this year to $33.7 million after three straight years in the doldrums, the ministry said this week.

The boost in promised funding prompted Jeffrey Hadden, a University of Virginia expert on television evangelism, to say Robertson "has succeeded in reclaiming the confidence that people once had in him."

CBN's two-week telethon in January produced $33.7 million in pledges, up from $23.5 million last year. In 1988 and 1989, pledges were $18.1 million and $21.9 million, respectively, sharp declines from 1987's $34.9 million.

The nosedive came after Robertson left the air in October 1987 to seek the GOP nomination. Also, virtually all television ministries suffered from scandals surrounding evangelists Jim Bakker of PTL and Jimmy Swaggart.

Rob Hartley, a CBN vice president, attributed this year's increase in giving to the public's "getting back to the Bible. That's where they are finding the answers that they aren't finding in the secular world."

Susan Norman, a spokeswoman for the ministry, said people tend to look for spiritual help during periods of world crisis such as now, with the Persian Gulf war.

by CNB