This week in Christian history: MLK, ‘Hour of Power,’ first vernacular hymnal

By Michael Gryboski, Mainline Church Editor Sunday, January 13, 2019

First 'Hour of Power' episode taped - January 18, 1970

The Rev. Robert H. Schuller in the first episode of his famous 'Hour of Power' broadcast, which aired Feb. 1, 1970. — The Rev. Robert H. Schuller in the first episode of his famous "Hour of Power" broadcast, which aired Feb. 1, 1970. | (Screenshot: YouTube/Hour of Power with Bobby Schuller)

This week marks the anniversary of when the first-ever episode of the “Hour of Power,” the famous Crystal Cathedral worship broadcast series, was taped.

Later broadcast on Feb. 1 of that year, the worship service featured a sermon by longtime Crystal Cathedral Ministries head the Rev. Robert H. Schuller.

“To everybody out there who is worshipping in the television congregation this morning, you are lucky people, because we have good news for you. We have good news for everybody,” he preached.

“Life can be different, life can be better. Life can be wonderful … the news is that you can become the kind of person you’ve always wanted to be.”

Schuller would go on to host the “Hour of Power” for about 40 years, with the program reaching at its peak approximately 20 million weekly viewers.