The Here’s Help Network (HHN) has been an important part of New Life Evangelistic Center’s (NLEC) ministry for over 25 years.

HHN is dedicated to the service of faith-based, wholesome and educational radio and television for the public and, through these media, advocacy for the poor and homeless in Mid-America.

Since its founding in 1972, NLEC has never wavered in its passion to give direct care to those in need. NLEC’s founding of the Here’s Help Network in 1982 was, in fact, just one more bold extension of this deeply-rooted drive.

When NLEC celebrated the on-air launch of KNLC-TV Channel 24 (now NLEC TV), in September of 1982, one of the first major series developed by Larry Rice was the HERE’S HELP series. This series, along with so many others since, built upon NLEC’s direct services to the poor and homeless by equipping communities and people with the awareness, information, and courage to know that they already have the power – through countless “how-to” approaches – to lighten others’ burdens – and their own.

Since that important new launch, other major means of outreach to the homeless and hurting have been made available through a variety of media (television, radio, newsletters, sermons, books and websites) as well as continued direct services such as free stores, shelters, food distribution and utility assistance programs, educational and training programs in job skills, and in a number of NLEC Help Centers. Some NLEC networking approaches that launched and were developed included:

• Initially, KNLC-TV (now NLEC TV) extended its outreach through reaching many urban and rural communities in metro St. Louis and in rural areas in Missouri and Illinois.
• In the second phase of its help-oriented efforts, NLEC constructed and/or acquired about eleven Low Power TV stations in Central, Southern, and Western Missouri and extended down to Arkansas. These stations reached persons and families through the HERE’S HELP-produced programs from NLEC, and also helped generate interest in opening free stores, some shelters and/or outreach centers working with local communities in these out-state areas.
• Since the 1990’s and continuing through the present, major efforts were made by KNLC to set up a non-commercial radio satellite, available nationally. This signal was also fed to 18 Missouri, Illinois and Kansas communities through new or acquired noncommercial radio stations, and up to nine commercial radio stations. Many of these stations worked together with NLEC free stores, shelter facilities and food and clothing distribution centers.
• In the past five years, NLEC’s Renewable Energy project, Missouri Renewable Energy, has helped persons not only learn how to survive but also to learn skills in working with renewable energy theory and devices, in reducing utility costs and in running their own dwellings more efficiently. Once again, the HERE’S HELP concept became a reality, which continues to expand.