Well, they had to do something. TMC has had a rough couple of years after the Deweerts and their loyal entourage left the building. Mervin Mediwake and the Bennetts just don't seem to have the pizazz (or should I say, "believability") to bring in enough dough to keep the station growing. So it doesn't come as any real surprise that they found someone new to "steer the ship" in an attempt to revive the glory days of TMC.
Here's the announcement from their electronic newsletter:
2010 means change at TMC*Note - The above link has been updated with a new video. The original video is on youtube and can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMSg-8uHAyU
Over the past year the Board of Directors of the Miracle Channel Association has prayed about and worked toward finding a leader of God's choice, to take this ministry to where He wants it to go. The Board has sensed the Lord's leading and is now pleased to announce that Leon Fontaine will assume the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Miracle Channel as of January 1, 2010.
Leon, who heads the Springs mega-church, has an extensive background in church and media ministry and is excited about what God wants to accomplish in Canada and beyond through the channel.
Please join us in welcoming Leon and Sally Fontaine to the Miracle Channel and in praying for them as they seek God's wisdom for the direction He is leading all of us. The Board, Fred & Val Bennett, and the entire Miracle Channel team will continue the work set before us, and want to thank you for your continued prayer and support.
Please watch this 30-second video greeting from Leon: www.miraclechannel.ca/index.php?page=o_ceo
I perceive this as a marriage of not only convenience but of necessity for both parties. The
Miracle Channel needs the skills of someone like Fontaine who can
extract top dollar from those he appeals to. His reputation, loyal
following and connections will no doubt be a major asset to the
station. But it is also perhaps a last ditch effort on
the board's part to keep TMC afloat. In the last fundraiser, Fontaine
proved his worth, as TMC had one of its most lucrative fundraising
broadcasts since the Deweerts departure.
For Fontaine, it is a golden opportunity to be able to walk into such a well equipped
business with a host of benefits, without having to spend any of his own fortune to get to the
next level of his career. His ministry must at the very least parallel the
likes of other mega-church leaders who have their own television
station, such as Peter Youngren or the Mainse' empire. Merely having a television "program" is not sufficient for today's "spiritual" superstars.
The Miracle Channel has
tried to fill the vacant position of crafty salesmanship once held by the Deweerts through
people like Faisal and Sabina Malick and Fred and Val Bennett, but to
date they have been unable to re-obtain the trust of a large portion of
viewers/donors, that TMC always has been and continues to be a true
work of God's hand. This is clearly evidenced by the low funds generated during their partner
weeks over the past couple of years. When people are persuaded that God is in this station, the
operators know that they will faithfully open up their wallets again
and I believe this is precisely why the help of Fontaine has been
enlisted. Based on the significant amounts pledged by certain key
donors during the last fundraiser, it seems evident that Fontaine has
met, or at the very least, enticed their approval.
So is this
truly a marriage made in heaven or is it merely a case of the starving
prostitute just getting a new pimp with shinier bling? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
http://www.themiraclechannel.ca/article.php?story=20091229101955215