THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 24, 1997 TAG: 9701240757
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: 76 lines
LOCAL CHRISTIAN ministries will spread their message to homes in Hampton Roads through the tendrils of cable television this month.
``God's Gospel Televised'' is a mix of music, preaching and scripture dramatizations. The program is being organized by Benita R. Thomas, 31, who works at a credit union and directs a sign-language gospel group for a local church.
With an initial budget of $375 per show, Thomas says she hopes her show will help local ministries reach new audiences each month. Then the show will try to go weekly, with hopes of purchasing national airtime.
The ultimate goal, explained Thomas, ``is global expansion.''
The local premiere is Sunday at 8 p.m. - during the Super Bowl. In Nielsen terms, that's pretty stiff competition for a cable TV debut.
Whatever happens, Thomas said, ``it will be a big day for me and a lot of football fans.''
Thomas grew up in Norfolk and attended Granby High School, where she took a course in sign language that sparked an interest in the technique, which allows deaf people to communicate through an alphabet of manual motions. While in high school, she also became active at First Pentecostal United Holy Church in Norfolk, the church Thomas attends today.
After graduating from Norfolk State, Thomas was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army, and served four years before returning to Hampton Roads as the wife of Prince C. Thomas, 28.
Reunited with First Pentecostal, Thomas began teaching sign language and founded the Interpreters For Christ. The group signs to gospel music, allowing the hearing-impaired to understand the meanings in spiritual songs. The group also incorporates pantomime and modern dance into performances. Thomas choreographs the numbers.
There are 10 members, mostly teen-agers, and in September the Interpreters traveled to New York to compete in amateur night at the Apollo Theater, the legendary Harlem venue. They qualified for a return trip to compete again.
``(The Apollo trip) inspired me to expand,'' said Thomas. ``It inspired me to get the television program so we can continue to expand locally.''
So after a few months of planning, production began Jan. 11, and the Interpreters will be the centerpiece of the debut.
Stephanie Daniels, 13, joined the Interpreters almost two years ago after seeing them perform. ``I'd never seen anything like that before,'' said Stephanie, who sings alto. Since joining, she has learned to sign.
Though she is nervous about performing on television, she is excited about what Thomas has put together.
``I think she's very energetic,'' said Stephanie. ``She's doing all of this in the name of the Interpreters and God.''
Doreen G. Daniels, Stephanie's mother, said, ``It's going to give local talent an opportunity to be seen, and for local people to see local ministries.''
The program will be shown wherever Cox Cable airs. Thomas had feared that the program would not air in Chesapeake, since TCI ran the cable monopoly around there while the show was in the planning stages. But the recent cable shuffle between Cox and TCI will allow the show to be seen in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth and Virginia Beach.
After the initial show, Thomas will search for new ministries to feature on the program. The show is selective. She is looking for Christian-themed groups. She is also looking for sponsors to run ads between segments of the program.
Thomas said she hopes ``God's Gospel Televised'' will use the backing to begin the march toward global expansion. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by JOHN-HENRY DOUCETTE
Benita R. Thomas has organized ``God's Gospel Televised,'' which
will air Sunday at 8 p.m. on cable channel 71.
Graphic
TV PREMIERE
`God's Gospel Televised'' airs Sunday at 8 p.m. in Virginia
Beach, Norfolk and Portsmouth, the program airs on channel 71. In
Chesapeake it airs on cable channel 10.
For information on appearing on the program, contact Benita
Thomas at 545-2895.