Frank Ezell, Senior's Legacy to the Faith Community and News Channel 7

Sundays at 11 am, News Channel 7 presents a live broadcast of the worship service at First Baptist Spartanburg.

The First Baptist broadcast has been presented, without interruption, every Sunday since November 21, 1956.

It is by far the longest-running program in WSPA-TV's history.

And from now on, when I watch the service, I will remember Frank Owen Ezell of Spartanburg.

His obituary on the Floyd Mortuary website states: "In 1956 he became the first director of the Church's television ministry, serving in that capacity for 24 years."

Mr. Ezell passed away August 6 at age 90.

Gayle and I are good friends with Mr. Ezell's son Robert and his family, and we had the honor of attending Mr. Ezell's funeral service Saturday.

In all my years of knowing Robert, somehow I never knew (or forgot) that his father played a huge role in the television ministry that has thrived for 50-plus years.

That ministry was mentioned several times during the funeral. Stories were told about then-owner and founder of WSPA-TV, the late Walter J. Brown, going to Mr. Ezell whenever there was a "problem" to be worked out with the broadcast (it was also noted, with humor, that the "problem" was always worked out Mr. Brown's way).

Robert told me of his childhood memories seeing cameras being wheeled out of the television station (which was in downtown Spartanburg in those days) and into the church (practically next door to the station) and watching his father direct the broadcast.

You see for yourself that the First Baptist broadcast is very well done, utilizing modern media very effectively.

Its regular viewers include Dr. Billy Graham.

The glory is to God, and the credit for a quality broadcast goes to the church. No longer are cameras wheeled from one building to another. First Baptist has its own top-notch equipment and facilities, and qualified people to run them.

Mr. Ezell left his family much to be proud of. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the D-Day invasion. He was a successful businessman. He and his late wife of 64 years, Louise, raised three sons. He had membership in fifteen business and civic organizations.

But his lifelong membership at First Baptist and his work establishing and maintaining the Sunday 11 am television broadcast is a legacy of faith and service that grows each week. It means the sick, elderly, shut-ins and others who don't make it to church in person have a means of worshipping and hearing inspiring messages and music in their own homes via television or the church's website.

Television has faults, but it also has many great offerings.

Thanks to people like Frank Owen Ezell, every Sunday morning at 11 there's a good television program, one that changes lives.

Just put it on News Channel 7.