Sarah Mitchell
The Hour of Power is a weekly American television program that was founded and first hosted by televangelist Robert H. Schuller. It is currently hosted by Bobby Schuller, Robert H. Schuller's grandson. The program was first aired in 1970 and was formerly one of the most-watched religious broadcasts in the world, with an estimated two million viewers at its peak. The Crystal Cathedral, the original home of the Hour of Power broadcast, was purchased by the Orange County Catholic diocese in 2011 and reopened as a Catholic church in 2019.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of program | American Evangelist television program |
| Host | Bobby Schuller |
| Host's relation to founder | Grandson of founder Robert H. Schuller |
| Founder | Robert H. Schuller |
| Founder's religion | Protestant |
| Program's aim | To empower people to become "happy and whole students of Jesus" |
| Program length | 1 hour |
| Edited program length | 30 minutes |
| Former broadcast location | Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California |
| Current broadcast location | Shepherd's Grove Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California |
| Former broadcast location's new use | Catholic church |
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What You'll Learn
Hour of Power is a Protestant evangelical television program
The program is currently hosted by Bobby Schuller, who is Robert H. Schuller's grandson. Bobby Schuller serves as the lead pastor of Shepherd's Grove in Irvine, California, where the program is now broadcast from. Hour of Power is a weekly program, typically lasting for one hour, although some networks broadcast a 30-minute edited version. It has been a popular religious broadcast, with approximately two million viewers at its peak.
The program aims to empower viewers to become "happy and whole students of Jesus" and to live a life of hope and service to God and others. It provides a spiritual home for people across the globe through its television reach and online community. The content of the program includes discussions on demonstrating the power of God in one's personal life and the importance of patience and longsuffering in difficult circumstances.
The Crystal Cathedral, which was once the home of the Hour of Power broadcast, has since been transformed into a Catholic seat. It was purchased by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange in 2011 and renamed Christ Cathedral. The interior of the cathedral underwent significant changes to accommodate Catholic Mass, including the addition of a substantial altar area and the erection of limestone walls to create a sense of enclosure.
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It was founded by Robert Schuller, who died in 2015
The Hour of Power is a weekly American television program with an evangelical focus. It was founded by Robert Schuller, who died in 2015. Schuller founded the program in 1970, and it was originally broadcast from the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California. The program was the first-ever weekly televised church service, and it quickly gained a large following, becoming the most-watched weekly religious program in the United States by the 1980s.
Robert Schuller was an influential televangelist who began his evangelical Protestant ministry in 1955. He preached from a unique location: atop the snack stand of a Los Angeles drive-in movie theatre. Schuller's positive and uplifting message resonated with people, and by the 1970s, he had become one of the country's top televangelists. The Crystal Cathedral, with its distinctive glass architecture, became a symbol of his success.
However, in the early 21st century, Schuller's ministry faced challenges due to a decline in membership and donations, as well as family disputes. The Crystal Cathedral filed for bankruptcy in 2010, and the property was acquired by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange in 2011. The building was transformed into a Catholic church, renamed Christ Cathedral, and reopened in 2019.
Despite these changes, the Hour of Power program continued to air, with Schuller's grandson, Bobby Schuller, taking on the role of lead pastor and president. The program is now broadcast from Shepherd's Grove Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California, and continues to share the positive hope of Jesus Christ with people around the world.
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The program is now led by Schuller's grandson, Bobby Schuller
The Hour of Power is a weekly American Evangelist television program broadcast from the Shepherd's Grove Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California. The program was founded and first hosted by Robert H. Schuller, who began his evangelical Protestant ministry in 1955. Schuller was among the first foreign religious figures invited to preach on Russian television.
After Robert Schuller's death in 2015, the program is now led by Schuller's grandson, Bobby Schuller. Bobby Schuller started preaching voluntarily and was named pastor for the Hour of Power in February 2013. He is also the president of Hour of Power, the ministry's weekly televised church service. The program has been broadcast to millions around the world since 1970.
The Hour of Power is designed to empower viewers to become "happy and whole students of Jesus" so they can live a life full of hope and do amazing things for the Lord and for others. The program provides a spiritual home for people across the globe through its television and online community.
The Crystal Cathedral, the original home of the Hour of Power, was acquired by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange in 2011 and renamed Christ Cathedral. The cathedral filed for bankruptcy in 2010 due to declining membership and donations. The landscape began to change around the turn of the 21st century, as Schuller's large following of white evangelicals aged and the population of non-white residents in California increased.
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The Crystal Cathedral was home to the Hour of Power broadcast
The Crystal Cathedral, an architectural wonder and religious landmark in Southern California's Orange County, was home to the Hour of Power broadcast for nearly 30 years. The broadcast was founded and first hosted by Robert H. Schuller, who began his evangelical Protestant ministry in 1955, preaching from a drive-in movie theater. Schuller captured the positivity of mid-century America and became one of the country's top televangelists.
The Crystal Cathedral, designed by the modernist architect Philip Johnson, was a symbol of Schuller's success. It was the largest glass building in the world at the time, standing at 128 feet tall and seating almost 3,000 people. The Hour of Power telecast, filmed in the Crystal Cathedral's main sanctuary, attracted a worldwide audience of 20 million at its peak.
The program, which has been broadcast for over five decades, aims to empower viewers to become "happy and whole students of Jesus" and to live a life of purpose and impact through faith in God. It is currently hosted by Bobby Schuller, the grandson of Robert H. Schuller, who carries on the legacy of the Hour of Power.
However, in 2013, the Crystal Cathedral Ministries held its final service and the congregation moved to the smaller Shepherd's Grove church in Irvine, California. The building was sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange and renamed Christ Cathedral. Despite the move, the Hour of Power broadcast continues to reach audiences worldwide, with Bobby Schuller as its leader and pastor.
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The Crystal Cathedral was sold and became a Catholic church
The Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California, was founded by televangelist Robert Schuller and became famous for its televised "Hour of Power" services. It is known for its unique architecture, being described as "the largest glass building in the world" when it opened in 1980.
However, the Crystal Cathedral Ministries faced financial difficulties and was forced to file for bankruptcy after receiving several lawsuits and writs of attachment. The ministry then received offers for the Crystal Cathedral campus from various organizations, including Chapman University, which offered $59 million.
In 2011, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange announced its interest in purchasing the Crystal Cathedral campus. They recognized the opportunity to acquire a significant and iconic location at a lower cost than building a new cathedral. The diocese served a large and diverse community of 1.3 million Catholics in Southern California, and the Crystal Cathedral campus provided a more accessible and central location.
The Crystal Cathedral was eventually sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange for $57 million, with some sources stating the amount at $57.5 million or even $77 million, including renovation costs. The diocese renamed it Christ Cathedral and acquired the entire campus, including architecturally significant buildings.
The transition of the Crystal Cathedral into a Catholic church sparked interesting discussions about the pairing of a New Age monument with a traditional faith. The cathedral's unique design and association with "Possibility Thinking" created by Schuller seemed at odds with the formality often associated with Catholic buildings. However, others viewed the takeover as an act of architectural preservation and an opportunity to give new life to a worship space, blending traditions and embracing California's spirit of innovation.
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Frequently asked questions
The Hour of Power is a weekly American Evangelist television program that has been broadcast since 1970.
Robert H. Schuller founded the Hour of Power and was the first host.
Bobby Schuller, Robert H. Schuller's grandson, is the current host and president of the Hour of Power.
The Hour of Power was originally associated with evangelical Protestantism. However, the Crystal Cathedral, where the show was filmed, was acquired by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange in 2011 and transformed into a Catholic church, now known as Christ Cathedral.
After the Crystal Cathedral was sold, the Hour of Power started broadcasting from Shepherd's Grove Presbyterian Church in Irvine, California.
