In November of 1942, a group of men headed by Dr. David Otis Fuller inaugurated the first Children's Bible Hour (CBH) broadcast on a local Grand Rapids station. Interest mounted, funds were supplied, and many radio stations were added. By 1943, CBH was now being heard world-wide via HCJB Radio. The year Children's Bible Hour went global, 1943, the one year anniversary celebration was the beginning of a 56-year series of annual rallies. The first rally was held at the Welsh Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids. That same year, 9 year old Charlie Vander Meer was picked out of a studio audience by then host, "Uncle Mel Johnson" to participate in a live broadcast of CBH. From there he went on to a regular spot in the program, reading from "Charlie's Scrapbook," reciting poems, helping in the dramatized stories, and often serving as "junior emcee."
From 1944 to 1999, the song "Boys And Girls For Jesus" was the rallying cry for the Children's Bible Hour (in Grand Rapids, Michigan) ministry. In 1945, Mel Johnson (Uncle Mel left to pursue a position with Youth For Christ. Carl Bihl (Uncle Bill) became the second director of the ministry. Also in 1945, a man by the name of Harry C. Trover came to be a fundraiser as well as a story writer for the ministry. Between 1945 and 1972, Harry wrote hundreds upon hundreds of radio dramas which became the back-bone for the broadcast.
In 1946, the program was trimmed from an hour in length to a half hour, but the name Children's Bible Hour was retained. They figured it sounded better than Children's Bible Half-Hour! In 1947, he needed an office manager. Harry Trover said, "I have a sister in Canton, Ohio who is an excellent business woman and would make a great office manager." And so it was that Bertha came from Canton with husband Ernie Shooks and their daughter Beverly (b. 1936 in OH). Bertha would prove to be a very important addition to the staff. She later became CBH's third executive director until 1972, and became well known as "Aunt Bertha," or "Aunt B." For many years, starting in 1958, Aunt Bertha gathered many interested ladies every month to pray for the ministries.
In 1948, the ministry began falling on hard times. Finances were low, and many of the radio stations which were airing the program (all of which required payment for airtime) were dropped. By the end of the year, the ministry was down to five stations and over $30,000 in debt. The Board of Directors met to talk about the possibility of dissolving the ministry. It was difficult to find anyone who wanted to be the director; no one wanted to go down with the sinking ship. Bertha Shooks offered to "take the job ‘til you can get another director." She had never spoken on the radio, and really didn't have a radio voice. But, Aunt Bertha became the ministry's third director in January of 1949, and it soon became evident that God had His hand on this lady as she began to rebuild the ministry.
She instituted many new things for the ministry. One of the first things she launched was a TV ministry, which is quite an accomplishment since TV was in its infancy. She started a newsletter called "Cheery Chats and Challenges" and she started taking the choir to churches to do programs.
At 17, Charlie Vander Meer left the program for four years of college study, graduating in 1956 with a major in radio and television production. Charlie joined the staff of Children's Bible Hour in 1956 and in 1959 was named Assistant Director. "Uncle Charlie," as he was called, often went along as a "poem and scripture reader", but never as a singer!
Bertha retired in 1972 at which time Charlie (who had been Assistant Director since 1959) took charge. By this time the programs were on over 700 radio stations worldwide. She went to be with her Lord in August of 1980 and we're sure she heard from her Savior the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Aunt B was a servant of Jesus to millions of children around the world and is missed by all!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her Burial information was graciously provided by staff at CBH. Now this memorial just needs a photo of her gravestone.
READ MORE:
The Aunt Bertha story. -- Chicago: Pacific Garden Mission 23 p. ; 13 cm. ("Unshackled" ; 1154.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children's Bible Hour expresses its mission statement as follows:
"CBH Ministries is an international Christian ministry based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which produces and distributes excellent media resources primarily through the age of 14."
From 1944 to 1999, the song "Boys And Girls For Jesus" was the rallying cry for the Children's Bible Hour (in Grand Rapids, Michigan) ministry. In 1945, Mel Johnson (Uncle Mel left to pursue a position with Youth For Christ. Carl Bihl (Uncle Bill) became the second director of the ministry. Also in 1945, a man by the name of Harry C. Trover came to be a fundraiser as well as a story writer for the ministry. Between 1945 and 1972, Harry wrote hundreds upon hundreds of radio dramas which became the back-bone for the broadcast.
In 1946, the program was trimmed from an hour in length to a half hour, but the name Children's Bible Hour was retained. They figured it sounded better than Children's Bible Half-Hour! In 1947, he needed an office manager. Harry Trover said, "I have a sister in Canton, Ohio who is an excellent business woman and would make a great office manager." And so it was that Bertha came from Canton with husband Ernie Shooks and their daughter Beverly (b. 1936 in OH). Bertha would prove to be a very important addition to the staff. She later became CBH's third executive director until 1972, and became well known as "Aunt Bertha," or "Aunt B." For many years, starting in 1958, Aunt Bertha gathered many interested ladies every month to pray for the ministries.
In 1948, the ministry began falling on hard times. Finances were low, and many of the radio stations which were airing the program (all of which required payment for airtime) were dropped. By the end of the year, the ministry was down to five stations and over $30,000 in debt. The Board of Directors met to talk about the possibility of dissolving the ministry. It was difficult to find anyone who wanted to be the director; no one wanted to go down with the sinking ship. Bertha Shooks offered to "take the job ‘til you can get another director." She had never spoken on the radio, and really didn't have a radio voice. But, Aunt Bertha became the ministry's third director in January of 1949, and it soon became evident that God had His hand on this lady as she began to rebuild the ministry.
She instituted many new things for the ministry. One of the first things she launched was a TV ministry, which is quite an accomplishment since TV was in its infancy. She started a newsletter called "Cheery Chats and Challenges" and she started taking the choir to churches to do programs.
At 17, Charlie Vander Meer left the program for four years of college study, graduating in 1956 with a major in radio and television production. Charlie joined the staff of Children's Bible Hour in 1956 and in 1959 was named Assistant Director. "Uncle Charlie," as he was called, often went along as a "poem and scripture reader", but never as a singer!
Bertha retired in 1972 at which time Charlie (who had been Assistant Director since 1959) took charge. By this time the programs were on over 700 radio stations worldwide. She went to be with her Lord in August of 1980 and we're sure she heard from her Savior the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Aunt B was a servant of Jesus to millions of children around the world and is missed by all!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her Burial information was graciously provided by staff at CBH. Now this memorial just needs a photo of her gravestone.
READ MORE:
The Aunt Bertha story. -- Chicago: Pacific Garden Mission 23 p. ; 13 cm. ("Unshackled" ; 1154.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children's Bible Hour expresses its mission statement as follows:
"CBH Ministries is an international Christian ministry based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which produces and distributes excellent media resources primarily through the age of 14."
In November of 1942, a group of men headed by Dr. David Otis Fuller inaugurated the first Children's Bible Hour (CBH) broadcast on a local Grand Rapids station. Interest mounted, funds were supplied, and many radio stations were added. By 1943, CBH was now being heard world-wide via HCJB Radio. The year Children's Bible Hour went global, 1943, the one year anniversary celebration was the beginning of a 56-year series of annual rallies. The first rally was held at the Welsh Civic Auditorium in Grand Rapids. That same year, 9 year old Charlie Vander Meer was picked out of a studio audience by then host, "Uncle Mel Johnson" to participate in a live broadcast of CBH. From there he went on to a regular spot in the program, reading from "Charlie's Scrapbook," reciting poems, helping in the dramatized stories, and often serving as "junior emcee."
From 1944 to 1999, the song "Boys And Girls For Jesus" was the rallying cry for the Children's Bible Hour (in Grand Rapids, Michigan) ministry. In 1945, Mel Johnson (Uncle Mel left to pursue a position with Youth For Christ. Carl Bihl (Uncle Bill) became the second director of the ministry. Also in 1945, a man by the name of Harry C. Trover came to be a fundraiser as well as a story writer for the ministry. Between 1945 and 1972, Harry wrote hundreds upon hundreds of radio dramas which became the back-bone for the broadcast.
In 1946, the program was trimmed from an hour in length to a half hour, but the name Children's Bible Hour was retained. They figured it sounded better than Children's Bible Half-Hour! In 1947, he needed an office manager. Harry Trover said, "I have a sister in Canton, Ohio who is an excellent business woman and would make a great office manager." And so it was that Bertha came from Canton with husband Ernie Shooks and their daughter Beverly (b. 1936 in OH). Bertha would prove to be a very important addition to the staff. She later became CBH's third executive director until 1972, and became well known as "Aunt Bertha," or "Aunt B." For many years, starting in 1958, Aunt Bertha gathered many interested ladies every month to pray for the ministries.
In 1948, the ministry began falling on hard times. Finances were low, and many of the radio stations which were airing the program (all of which required payment for airtime) were dropped. By the end of the year, the ministry was down to five stations and over $30,000 in debt. The Board of Directors met to talk about the possibility of dissolving the ministry. It was difficult to find anyone who wanted to be the director; no one wanted to go down with the sinking ship. Bertha Shooks offered to "take the job ‘til you can get another director." She had never spoken on the radio, and really didn't have a radio voice. But, Aunt Bertha became the ministry's third director in January of 1949, and it soon became evident that God had His hand on this lady as she began to rebuild the ministry.
She instituted many new things for the ministry. One of the first things she launched was a TV ministry, which is quite an accomplishment since TV was in its infancy. She started a newsletter called "Cheery Chats and Challenges" and she started taking the choir to churches to do programs.
At 17, Charlie Vander Meer left the program for four years of college study, graduating in 1956 with a major in radio and television production. Charlie joined the staff of Children's Bible Hour in 1956 and in 1959 was named Assistant Director. "Uncle Charlie," as he was called, often went along as a "poem and scripture reader", but never as a singer!
Bertha retired in 1972 at which time Charlie (who had been Assistant Director since 1959) took charge. By this time the programs were on over 700 radio stations worldwide. She went to be with her Lord in August of 1980 and we're sure she heard from her Savior the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Aunt B was a servant of Jesus to millions of children around the world and is missed by all!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her Burial information was graciously provided by staff at CBH. Now this memorial just needs a photo of her gravestone.
READ MORE:
The Aunt Bertha story. -- Chicago: Pacific Garden Mission 23 p. ; 13 cm. ("Unshackled" ; 1154.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children's Bible Hour expresses its mission statement as follows:
"CBH Ministries is an international Christian ministry based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which produces and distributes excellent media resources primarily through the age of 14."
From 1944 to 1999, the song "Boys And Girls For Jesus" was the rallying cry for the Children's Bible Hour (in Grand Rapids, Michigan) ministry. In 1945, Mel Johnson (Uncle Mel left to pursue a position with Youth For Christ. Carl Bihl (Uncle Bill) became the second director of the ministry. Also in 1945, a man by the name of Harry C. Trover came to be a fundraiser as well as a story writer for the ministry. Between 1945 and 1972, Harry wrote hundreds upon hundreds of radio dramas which became the back-bone for the broadcast.
In 1946, the program was trimmed from an hour in length to a half hour, but the name Children's Bible Hour was retained. They figured it sounded better than Children's Bible Half-Hour! In 1947, he needed an office manager. Harry Trover said, "I have a sister in Canton, Ohio who is an excellent business woman and would make a great office manager." And so it was that Bertha came from Canton with husband Ernie Shooks and their daughter Beverly (b. 1936 in OH). Bertha would prove to be a very important addition to the staff. She later became CBH's third executive director until 1972, and became well known as "Aunt Bertha," or "Aunt B." For many years, starting in 1958, Aunt Bertha gathered many interested ladies every month to pray for the ministries.
In 1948, the ministry began falling on hard times. Finances were low, and many of the radio stations which were airing the program (all of which required payment for airtime) were dropped. By the end of the year, the ministry was down to five stations and over $30,000 in debt. The Board of Directors met to talk about the possibility of dissolving the ministry. It was difficult to find anyone who wanted to be the director; no one wanted to go down with the sinking ship. Bertha Shooks offered to "take the job ‘til you can get another director." She had never spoken on the radio, and really didn't have a radio voice. But, Aunt Bertha became the ministry's third director in January of 1949, and it soon became evident that God had His hand on this lady as she began to rebuild the ministry.
She instituted many new things for the ministry. One of the first things she launched was a TV ministry, which is quite an accomplishment since TV was in its infancy. She started a newsletter called "Cheery Chats and Challenges" and she started taking the choir to churches to do programs.
At 17, Charlie Vander Meer left the program for four years of college study, graduating in 1956 with a major in radio and television production. Charlie joined the staff of Children's Bible Hour in 1956 and in 1959 was named Assistant Director. "Uncle Charlie," as he was called, often went along as a "poem and scripture reader", but never as a singer!
Bertha retired in 1972 at which time Charlie (who had been Assistant Director since 1959) took charge. By this time the programs were on over 700 radio stations worldwide. She went to be with her Lord in August of 1980 and we're sure she heard from her Savior the words "Well done, good and faithful servant."
Aunt B was a servant of Jesus to millions of children around the world and is missed by all!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Her Burial information was graciously provided by staff at CBH. Now this memorial just needs a photo of her gravestone.
READ MORE:
The Aunt Bertha story. -- Chicago: Pacific Garden Mission 23 p. ; 13 cm. ("Unshackled" ; 1154.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Children's Bible Hour expresses its mission statement as follows:
"CBH Ministries is an international Christian ministry based on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which produces and distributes excellent media resources primarily through the age of 14."
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