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Three Angels Broadcasting Network

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Three Angels Broadcasting Network
FoundedNovember 15, 1984; 40 years ago (1984-11-15)
FounderDanny and Linda Shelton
HeadquartersWest Frankfort, IL
Location
  • United States
Area served
Worldwide
ProductsTelevision, Radio, Christian music recording, OTT video streaming platform, Video on Demand
President
Greg Morikone
Vice President
Jill Morikone
Website3abn.org
Part of a series on
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
James and Ellen White
History
Theology
Organization

Divisions

Periodicals
Service
Media ministries
People
Adventism

The Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN) is a Christian media television and radio network which broadcasts Seventh-day Adventist religious, music and health-oriented programming, based in West Frankfort, Illinois, United States. Although it is not formally tied to any particular church or denomination, much of its programming focuses on Seventh-day Adventist theology and Adventist doctrine.[1]

History

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In 1984, Three Angels Broadcasting Network was founded by Danny Shelton and his second wife Linda Shelton in West Frankfort, Illinois.[2] In July 2017, 3ABN announced the sale of 60 low-powered television (LPTV) stations and 10 LPTV construction permits to Edge Spectrum.[3] In October 2017, 3ABN announced the sale of 14 LPTV stations to HC2 Holdings.[4] In September 2019, Danny Shelton resigned as president, though he remains a central figure and the highest paid person at the network.[2][5]

Controversies

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In 2004, co-founder Linda Shelton left the network after the couple accused each other of cheating, and then that same year co-founder and then president Danny Shelton filing for a divorce.[2]

On July 19, 2010, Tommy Shelton, the brother of Danny Shelton and a former 3ABN production manager, turned himself in to police in Fairfax County, Virginia, and pleaded guilty to two felony counts of taking indecent liberties with a child.[6][7] Shelton's attorneys and Fairfax prosecutors agreed to a plea deal in which he would serve probation. However, a judge doubted Shelton's alleged remorse and rejected the plea deal.[8] On January 24, 2012, Shelton reached a second plea deal shortly before his scheduled trial, in which he entered Alford pleas on all four of the molestation charges brought against him.[9] On February 24, 2012, Shelton was sentenced to six years in prison.[10]

On June 20, 2011, a lawsuit was filed against 3ABN on behalf of one of Shelton's accusers at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, claiming that the network was negligent in how it handled the allegations against Tommy Shelton.[11]

Since 2011, 3ABN has been a party in a land dispute in the Bahamas, wherein a visually impaired man stated he had attempted to donate one to two acres for the construction of a church sanctuary, while 3ABN stated that he had in fact signed away full control of his 400 acres of land through an irrevocable charitable trust agreement. The dispute is pending in the Supreme Court of the Bahamas.[5]

On December 31, 2018, the network fired Brenda Walsh, host of the show "Kids Time." Later in February 2019, the network released a video on their Facebook and YouTube channels accusing her of mishandling money that was being raised for a children's network in Collegedale, Tennessee. The network never gave the $2 million to her ministry that had been raised, even though they had promised to do so in a separation agreement.[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ About 3ABN, 3abn.org. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d Johnson, Alva; Wieder, Ben (September 26, 2024). "Scandals over the years at the Christian TV ministry". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  3. ^ "Edge Spectrum Inc Acquires 3ABN Stations | Broadcasting Alliance". Archived from the original on 2017-12-22. Retrieved 2017-12-21.
  4. ^ "3ABN Deals Away 14 LPTV Properties - Radio & Television Business Report". 13 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b Johnson, Alva (September 27, 2024). "Miami retiree signs away Caribbean real estate to TV ministry, triggers generational property dispute". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  6. ^ "Sex Assault Victims Come Forward". Fairfax County Police. 2010-03-18. Retrieved 2010-03-25.
  7. ^ Jackman, Tom (July 19, 2010). "Ex-pastor in Fairfax pleads guilty to molesting 2 boys". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  8. ^ Jackman, Tom (November 15, 2010). "Plea deal rejected in molestation case". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  9. ^ Jouvenal, Justine (January 24, 2012). "Plea deal for Fairfax pastor accused of sex abuse". The Washington Post. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
  10. ^ "Former pastor sentenced after Alford plea on molestation allegations". The Washington Post. 2012-02-24. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
  11. ^ "Christian network sued in child sex abuse case". Chicago Tribune. June 20, 2011. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
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