[1]NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Southern Baptists’ “TruthQuest: California” teen reality series received a first-place People’s Choice Award from the National Religious Broadcasters TV Committee during the NRB’s annual meeting in Nashville, Tenn.
The 13-week series, which premiered in October, currently is in its second run on FamilyNet Television, the cable/broadcast arm of the Southern Baptist North American Mission Board.
TruthQuest: California was jointly produced by Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention’s news service; FamilyNet; and the B&H Publishing Group of LifeWay Christian Resources, which publishes the TruthQuest line of student discipleship resources. NAMB’s multi-city summer missions outreach World Changers assisted as a series sponsor.
The NRB award, in the children/teen category, was announced Feb. 9.
Martin Coleman, FamilyNet vice president of programming and TruthQuest’s executive producer, said, “The fact that this show was recognized by our peers in religious broadcasting is affirmation that God has honored our efforts to shine a light in the midst of this popular genre of reality television.”
Coleman also observed, “It’s ironic to me that the most popular reality show on television right now begins with the premise, ‘We’re telling a lie’ [Fox’s ‘Joe Millionaire,’ who isn’t actually a millionaire]. That kind of symbolizes what the secular media is selling. Our show begins with the premise, ‘We’re telling the truth’: that God is truth and his Word is reliable.”
[2]Todd Starnes, TruthQuest’s creator and creative consultant, said, “The TruthQuest: California team did an incredible job producing this ground-breaking series. This award recognizes the countless hours of creative energy resulting in one of the best reality-based television programs on television.” Starnes recently became director of university communications at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., after serving as Baptist Press’ assistant editor since 2000.
TruthQuest follows the adventures of 12 evangelical teens as they apply their faith in outdoor settings such as Yosemite National Park and in Christian ministries stretching from San Diego’s beaches to San Francisco’s inner city.
More information about the teens featured in TruthQuest and their experiences in California is on the Internet at www.truthquest.sbc.net [3]. FamilyNet’s broadcast schedule can be accessed at www.familynet.com [4].
–30–
(BP) photo posted in the BP Photo Library at http://www.bpnews.net. Photo title: TOP PICK.