History of BEA

The Beginning:  BEA Ministries (Brazilian Evangelistic Association) was organized in 1969 as an evangelical organization using modern technology to communicate the gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Missionaries to Brazil, Jack Moore, Lou Knowlton and Walter Kaschel (Brazilian evangelist) formed a Brazilian organization called ABRASE - Associacao Brasileira de Evangelizacao (Brazilian Evangelistic Association or BEA) and its technical division called COMEV - Communicacoes Evangelicas (Evangelical Communications).  They also organized a mission agency and board in the United States and named the organization BEA - Brazilian Evangelistic Association.

The Early Years:  The BEA board in the USA was comprised of Ed Kuhns, Bill Jacox, James Troxel and Frank Miller.  The ministry focus was evangelism but soon the missionaries determined that media was needed to help with this effort.  Lou Knowlton started a recording studio in a room in the back of Calvary International Church. His wife, Mary taught history at the missionary school PACA - Pan American Christian Academy. 

This studio was used to translate and dub into Portuguese 16mm Christian films like Moody Science films.  Cullen Rast was a missionary with PTL (Pocket Testament League) in Brazil and had a passion for using films as an evangelistic tool.  He lived next door to Lou Knowlton and together they formed a strategy for producing, renting or selling USA Christian films in Portuguese.  Cullen soon joined BEA as a missionary.  His wife, Janet, was a math and science high school teacher at PACA - Pan American Christian Academy. 

Ken and Karen Anderson who had worked for many years at WEEC 100.7 FM in Springfield, Ohio came to Brazil to assist as a technician in the recording studio.

The Later Years: