LONNIE MELASHENKO
      Lonnie Melashenko is director-speaker for the Voice of Prophecy, the world's second oldest religious broadcast, which celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2004.  He began working with the radio ministry in January 1989, serving as announcer while continuing as senior pastor of the 1400-member Paradise, California, Seventh-day Adventist Church.  He was associate director-speaker from May 1991 through December 1992, and upon the retirement of H. M. S. Richards Jr. became director-speaker on January 1, 1993.
      Pastor Melashenko has presented several evangelistic series by satellite -- from Cebu City, Philippines in 2006 for the Pacific Rim countries; from Columbia, South Carolina in 2003 for North America; and from Lusaka, Zambia in 2003 for all of Africa.  The Zambia event was viewed by 1,000,000 persons at 2,000 downlink sites, and the Philippines meetings were seen in Asia, Australia, Africa, Europe, and North America.
      Besides the satellite events, Pastor Melashenko has presented evangelistic series since 2001 in Caracas, Venezuela; the Cayman Islands; Los Angeles; Miami; and Bismarck, North Dakota.  The common theme for all his evangelistic messages is that understanding prophecy provides the security and peace that people seek amidst today's crises.
      "The Voice of Prophecy Speaks" evangelistic series is available on DVD, video, and cassette.  The messages are also archived as text, audio, and video at the website www.prophecyspeaks.com.
Global Evangelism
      In 2001 the Voice of Prophecy launched "The Voice to the World," a new strategy of global evangelism, comprised of three parts: Plant the Word (setting up Bible Schools in countries where there are none); Preach the Word (evangelistic meetings around the world); and Preserve the Word (following up persons who make decisions through broadcasts and Bible studies).   
      The new global project builds on a decade of Voice of Prophecy evangelism by Pastor and Mrs. Melashenko in Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, and the Philippines.
      Fifty years of Voice of Prophecy ministry in the Philippines were commemorated in 1996 with Target 50,000 -- which achieved the goal of 50,000 baptisms following evangelistic meetings held by pastors, students, and others from the Philippines, the United States, Canada, and a dozen other countries.  Pastor and Mrs. Melashenko participated in reaping rallies throughout the country
      During Brazil '93, Pastor and Mrs. Melashenko and the North American VOP team joined the Brazilian VOP to present rallies throughout South America's largest country.  Audiences ranged from 4,000 to 30,000 in arenas, stadiums, and public gymnasiums.  By the end of Brazil '93, half a million persons graduated from VOP Bible courses and more than 25,000 were baptized.
      Pastor and Mrs. Melashenko also held an evangelistic series in Perm, Russia during 1993.  The 75 members of the host church personally distributed more than 100,000 handbills.  Double sessions were held to accommodate the crowds, and more than 500 persons were baptized as a result of the series. 
      Their 1992 meetings in Borislav, Ukraine, resulted in the first Adventist church in that city.  Jeannie says, "Meeting precious people from the former USSR, learning of their oppression, yet unshakable faith in God, changed my life."
Voice of Prophecy History
      The Voice of Prophecy was begun in 1929 by H. M. S. Richards on one Los Angeles radio station and is now aired either weekends or daily on 400 stations in North America, on shortwave worldwide, and on the Internet as audio-on-demand and podcasting at the VOP website www.vop.com Pastor Melashenko's teaching telecast airs on the Hope Channel, 3ABN, and Safe TV.  Overseas, programs in dozens of languages are aired by more than 1,000 radio stations, including shortwave facilities whose signals reach nearly every country. 
      The ministry also utilizes Bible lessons to proclaim the good news that Christ will soon return.  The Bible Correspondence School at VOP headquarters was established a month after the radio broadcast went coast-to-coast in 1942. 
      Locally operated Discover Bible Schools have been established at 2,400 churches across North America.  The Discover Bible Guides are available in printed form and also on the Internet (www.discoveronline.org).  The Focus on Prophecy lessons present the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation.  
      Around the world, Bible courses in 66 languages and dialects are offered by 127 affiliated schools.  One of the newest is the reopened office in Havana, Cuba.  Pastor Melashenko was present in July 1994 for the dedication and presentation of diplomas to the first 600 graduates.
      Goals for this decade include not only planting a new Bible School in every country that does not have one, but also translating and printing the Discover Guides in all the world's major languages.
Pastor Melashenko's Education and Career
      Pastor Melashenko was born in Regina, Saskatchewan, and was only a year old when he first came to the VOP.  His father, Joe, was bass in the King's Heralds quartet and an instructor in the Bible School from 1948 to 1950. 
      Lonnie graduated from Highland View Academy in Hagerstown, Maryland.  He received his bachelor of arts degree in theology from La Sierra University. 
In August 1967, just prior to his senior year at La Sierra, Lonnie married Jeannie Jones, a native of Frederick, Maryland. 
      After receiving a master of divinity degree from the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary at Andrews University, Lonnie was assigned to the Vallejo Drive Seventh-day Adventist Church in Glendale, California, as an associate pastor.  In 1972, he was appointed pastor for the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Camarillo, where the 350-seat sanctuary was built during his tenure.  He was ordained during a camp meeting at Lynwood, California, in 1974.
      Pastor Melashenko joined the It Is Written telecast staff in 1977, serving as associate director-speaker until 1981.  His responsibilities included coordinating and directing Revelation Seminars with George and Nellie Vandeman.  In 1980, he helped coordinate the launch of "Prayer Alert," a telecast segment which featured stories of answered prayer and changed lives.
      In 1981, he accepted the position of senior pastor at the Paradise Adventist Church, where he adapted the worship service into a radio program, "Sounds of Praise."  He also served on the boards of Feather River Hospital and the Chico Exchange Club for the Prevention of Child Abuse in Northern California. 
      Pastor Melashenko's recent book, What the Bible Says About, presents study outlines on 31 Bible topics along with a Bible marking plan.  Among the books he has co-authored are The Joy of Jesus, Parables for a New Millennium, Galactic News From Three Angels, Walking With Angels, Stand at the Cross, Your Most Radical Decision, In the Presence of Angels, Sex: The Myth and the Magic, An Insider's Guide to the Kingdom, A Kid Named Joe, More Than Amazing Grace and Popcorn, the Pearly Gates, and Other Kernels of Truth.
      Appointments have taken him to many states and provinces in North America, as well as Mexico, Bermuda, Brazil, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, the Netherlands, Italy, England, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Zambia. 
      Pastor Melashenko has hosted or narrated a variety of video productions, and has appeared on It Is Written and Lifestyle Magazine telecasts.  In 1990, he was the television anchor for the first live telecasts of the General Conference in session.  He was also the host anchor for the 1995 General Conference session telecast live by satellite from Utrecht, Holland.
      Pastor Melashenko, his parents, and his four brothers have presented gospel concerts across the U.S., Canada, and Bermuda.  They have also been featured on television and radio.  Their recent CDs include Generations, Step Into the Water, Brothers in Song (Lonnie and Joedy), and Keep Holding On (Lonnie and Jeannie, Joedy and Judy). The family's most recent video, God's Leading Through the Generations, a musical docu-drama, received Hollywood's "Golden Halo" Award.  Their previous videos were Melashenko Family Singers--Live From Arizona Camp Meeting, which included 23 members of the Joe Melashenko family, and A Melashenko Family Christmas.  Previous Chapel Records albums were The Happy Home (1964) and The Melashenko Family Sings.