Time of Grace marks 25 years of TV ministry and global expansion

Time of Grace Ministry is celebrating 25 years since its first television broadcast in Milwaukee, growing from one local station in 2001 to a donor-funded media ministry reaching more than 170 countries. The anniversary highlights how the ministry has expanded across TV, radio, digital platforms, and multiple languages while keeping its core gospel message unchanged.

Why it matters: - Time of Grace has grown from a single Milwaukee TV broadcast into a global Christian media ministry with weekly reach in more than 170 countries. - The ministry’s expansion shows how donor funding and digital distribution can extend religious teaching far beyond traditional church settings. - The anniversary underscores continued demand for Bible teaching delivered through television, radio, video, podcasts, books, email devotions, and social media.

What happened: - Time of Grace Ministry marked the 25th anniversary of its first television broadcast. - The program debuted in November 2001 on WITI-TV FOX 6 in Milwaukee with Pastor Mark Jeske as speaker. - The ministry is now led by Pastor Mike Novotny and continues to distribute content across television, radio, YouTube, podcasts, books, email devotions, and social media. - The milestone was announced in Milwaukee, where the ministry is based.

The details: - Time of Grace began in 1999 as an idea from business person Bruce Eberle. - Eberle was inspired by Dr. Walter Maier’s radio program The Lutheran Hour and by hearing Pastor Jeske preach at St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee. - Eight supporters and Pastor Jeske formed the ministry and learned from established media ministries before launch. - The ministry expanded from Milwaukee to the Twin Cities in 2003. - The program later moved onto stations across the United States. - By 2007, Time of Grace was airing on national and international satellite networks. - Short-form video devotions, podcasts, books, and Spanish-language resources followed. - Pastor Jeske served as lead speaker from 2001 to 2019. - Pastor Mike Novotny, lead pastor at The CORE in Appleton, Wisconsin, became lead speaker in 2019. - The ministry says its programming addresses tough topics such as marriage, substance abuse, sexuality, and suicide while presenting God’s truth and tenderness. - Time of Grace says its resources reach people more than one million times per week in 170 countries and multiple languages. - The ministry is fully donor funded and independent. - A YouTube presence is listed at the ministry's YouTube channel.

Between the lines: - The anniversary is as much about distribution as doctrine. - The ministry’s story tracks the shift from local broadcast television to a multi-platform strategy built for longer reach and lower barriers to access. - Donor support remains central, which means audience growth and fundraising are closely linked. - The leadership transition from Jeske to Novotny suggests continuity in message even as delivery methods change.

What's next: - Time of Grace says it plans to keep reaching more people in new ways with the hope of the gospel. - The ministry will continue using existing platforms while expanding its mix of digital and multilingual content. - Novotny said the ministry still has “so much more to do together” as it looks ahead to additional outreach.

The bottom line: - Time of Grace is celebrating a quarter-century of growth without changing its core mission: point people to Jesus through media.