Christian singer films part of TV show at Heritage Farm

By Dave Lavender
The Herald-Dispatch
Tuesday, September, 18, 2007

HUNTINGTON -- A few months ago, when Carroll Roberson was at Heritage Farm Museum and Village, he noted that one of these days he'd like to film part of his TV show from there.

One of these days has arrived.

Roberson, a preacher and Christian singer based in Ripley, Miss., is here for a second day with a crew filming one of his TV shows. He is seen around the world on such TV networks as The Church Channel, Sky Angel Satellite, TCT Network and Daystar.

Mike Perry, who owns the living history farm and museum with his wife Henriella, said the farm has been featured many times regionally on television, but this is the first national television exposure for the museum and village.

"They were at revival up in Gallipolis about three or four months ago and they came down and said one of these days they would like to do this," Mike Perry said. "They called the other day and said they were on their way."

Perry said the film crew, led by David Webb, has been filming at the farm's log cabin church as well as the village's bridges, including a new covered bridge that opened this year.

Since 1998, Webb's Sonlight Studios have produced "This is Carroll Roberson," a 30-minute gospel music program that airs on INSP, TBN, SKY Angel, Gospel Music Television, Church Channel and 20 other major market stations.

Webb has recorded the show at many locations around the world, including Jerusalem, Israel, Smoky Mountains National Park, Estes Park and Garden of the Gods Colorado Park City, Utah, and at Lake Tahoe, Nevada, where shooting took place at the Ponderosa Ranch, which is the old NBC set of the TV show "Bonanza."

Roberson has been preaching revival crusades and singing around the world since 1987. He sold more than 100,000 copies of his CD, "His Hand In Mine," and claims such fans of his music as President George W. Bush.

Carroll was last in the area for a May revival in Princeton, W.Va., and a June concert at Grace Baptist Temple in St. Albans.

Carroll and the crew are staying all night at the farm's log cabin bed and breakfast inns, and will wrap up filming today.

"We are kind of anxious and pleased with the opportunity," Perry said. "We are delighted to have something filmed here with us in the background."