Who could have anticipated what extraordinary fruitfulness would come from such small beginnings.
A radio program in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan beaming across the Prairies was the first step in implementing a vision that would literally bring the gospel message to nearly 3.0 billion homes across the world.
In 1946, the radio broadcast Tract Club of the Air was launched on the heels of World War II, sending out the message of living hope through the airwaves. Founder Jack MacAlister was a young 22-year-old pastor at the time and believed that the gospel of Christ was intended for all people everywhere.
That was a big vision for a pastor in a small city of about 13,000 people in western Canada.
Soon he would challenge his Canadian audience to take on the challenge of this bold vision. Millions of gospel tracts were sent out to communicate the good news of Christ through the hands of Christians in Canada and soon through the hands of Christians in a few other nations as well.
After visiting Japan and seeing the density of the population, Jack began to ponder how to reach the vast multitudes of people who had yet to hear the name of Jesus. In 1953, after praying and planning with others, the systematic every home strategy was launched in Japan.
Very quickly this effective outreach strategy spread throughout the continents of the world where today national ministry operations are being carried out in 177 nations and are led by our brothers and sisters who live in those nations.
EHC’s ministry is supported by key essentials: Prayer mobilisation, research, local national leadership, volunteers, every home and every person outreaches, follow-up for discipleship, Christ Group fellowships, and special needs ministry partnerships. These all work together to communicate the life-giving message of salvation through Christ to as many people as possible, everywhere possible.
The 80th anniversary celebration took place at the international office of EHC in August. Several hundred leaders from every continent around the world gathered and celebrated the goodness of God.
It was a stirring time as we listened and connected with so many precious people. Sadly, due to travel and visa restrictions many were not able to attend.
Due to security restrictions public photos were not permitted because throughout the audience there were many precious people from restricted access nations. The testimonies of God at work through these precious brothers and sisters were deeply moving.
Here are a few indicators of the ministry’s fruitfulness enabled by God’s grace for the year of 2025 alone.
- An average of 791,238 believers each month have served with EHC in prayer, evangelism and follow-up work, through giving and serving in administration. Most of these thousands of people were volunteers.
- On average each month, 69,846 churches partnered with EHC.
- 1,953,534 Christians were trained in EHC’s outreach work.
- 148.1 million homes were reached with a message plus millions more through internet outreaches and public events. Also included in this number are outreaches to seniors’ residences, prisons, orphanages, women’s shelters, hospitals, and battlefields in war zones.
- 23.9 million positive responses were received.
- 41,221 Christ Groups were started to follow up new believers.
- 6,314,872 Bibles and New Testaments were distributed.
These statistics represent only what we’ve been able to track. Only God knows how many others were exposed to the gospel. Lives, homes and communities are continually being changed by the power of the Holy Spirit as the gospel advances.
In a world of increasing uncertainties, the One who said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” is certainly doing that. And you and I are his junior partners.
What a privilege and responsibility it is to communicate the good news of eternal life through Christ our Lord and Saviour. Let’s pray for even more fruitfulness as the gospel seed is sown faithfully around the world.
