What is the purpose of The 700 Club?

Origin and Historical Context

The 700 Club is a television program originally launched under the umbrella of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Its name arose from an early fundraising appeal for seven hundred partners to each contribute a set amount in support of the ministry. Over the years, it has grown into a daily show featuring news segments, scriptural teaching, personal testimonies of faith, and prayer for viewers around the globe.

The 700 Club’s founders and ongoing leadership have always intended it to be a platform that merges media outreach with evangelical fervor. Its approach aligns with principles seen in Scripture, such as spreading the gospel message to all (Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”). Inspired by such verses, the program has developed a format that integrates teaching, interviews, and real-life stories of transformation through faith in Jesus Christ.

Core Mission and Evangelistic Purpose

Among its primary aims is to present and explain the truths of the Bible in a contemporary, television-friendly format. The program regularly highlights topics like salvation, prayer, healing, and miraculous interventions. It seeks to demonstrate the enduring relevance of biblical teachings and to encourage believers and nonbelievers alike to consider the claims of Scripture.

This direct approach to evangelism aligns with the instruction in Romans 10:17: “Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” By offering daily broadcasts, The 700 Club intentionally places Scriptural messages into a media venue, thereby helping individuals hear and respond to the gospel.

Biblical Foundation and Theological Emphasis

Scripture is central to The 700 Club. Each segment or testimony circles back to biblical truths about God’s sovereignty, the authority of Christ, and the ongoing ministry of the Holy Spirit. The program’s emphasis on repentance, forgiveness, and reliance upon God reflects core teachings found in passages like Acts 2:38: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.”

Within its theological framework, viewers are reminded of Christ’s atoning sacrifice and the power of His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3–4). Testimonies include accounts of individuals who experienced life-changing encounters with God, reinforcing the biblical claim that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Focus on Prayer and Testimonies

A notable hallmark of The 700 Club is its segment dedicated to praying for viewers. Prayer requests, phoned in or submitted electronically, are addressed on air. This aligns with the exhortation in James 5:14–16 to pray for the sick and trust God for healing.

In addition, The 700 Club frequently features personal testimonies of individuals from diverse backgrounds—people who have encountered physical, emotional, or spiritual difficulties and turned to faith in Christ for help. These anecdotal cases serve to illustrate eternal truths, much like the biblical record of miracles and divine interventions (John 9:1–7, for instance, recounts Jesus healing a man born blind). Such stories reinforce confidence in the power of God at work today.

Educational and Informative Content

Besides spiritual teaching, The 700 Club incorporates news reporting and discussions on current events from a biblically informed viewpoint. This represents a strategy to help viewers interpret world happenings through the lens of Scripture.

Regular correspondent reports sometimes include archaeological or historical findings that correlate with biblical accounts. For instance, the consistent discoveries around the region of the Dead Sea Scrolls have reinforced the reliability of biblical manuscripts. By featuring such segments, the show endeavors to show that faith in the Scriptures is neither ignorant nor uninformed, but grounded in substantial corroboration.

Outreach and Humanitarian Involvement

The program frequently highlights humanitarian work—both from its affiliated organizations and from global partners—reflecting passages like James 2:15–17, which underscores the necessity for practical acts of compassion. Through disaster relief, medical missions, and community development projects, the outreach aims to demonstrate the tangible love of Christ.

In showcasing these efforts, The 700 Club underscores the responsibility of believers to care for those in need and to live out the teachings of Jesus (Matthew 25:35–36). This melding of teaching and practice is fundamental, affirming that faith is meant to be both professed and practiced.

Encouraging Personal Relationship with God

Viewers are often guided through personal reflection to recognize that salvation and a transformed life begin by accepting Christ as Savior. The program presents the viewer with an invitation to pray, repent of sin, and begin a committed relationship with God, anchoring on verses like Romans 10:9: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

By giving airtime to prayer for salvation and facilitating connections to local churches or online resources, The 700 Club seeks to foster discipleship and support spiritual growth.

Addressing Cultural and Social Issues

As modern society faces numerous ethical and moral dilemmas, The 700 Club offers perspective on these issues from a consistent biblical worldview. From family-focused topics to discussions on broader social challenges, the program determines its stance by referencing scriptural principles rather than merely popular opinion.

This is grounded in passages urging believers to stand upon the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.”). Rather than advocating personal preference, the show’s hosts explore how biblical ethics apply to real-world challenges.

Conclusion

The 700 Club exists as a multilingual, cross-cultural ministry that endeavors to share the gospel, encourage faith, promote prayer, and provide reliable biblical teaching within a news and media format. Its purpose is to help individuals discover and grow in their relationship with the living God, who invites all to find salvation through Christ’s resurrection and finished work on the cross.

From its historical roots in a small broadcast studio to its current global reach, the program consistently affirms biblical teaching, celebrates accounts of God’s miraculous role in people’s lives, and encourages believers to stand firm in the faith. Viewers of The 700 Club are thus given accessible avenues to explore Scripture, to pray for and receive both physical and spiritual help, and to encounter the transforming power of Christ, in keeping with the timeless truth found in Psalm 105:1: “Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations.”