RCI History

Revival Crusade, Inc. was founded by radio-ministry pioneer, Rev. Robert Ralph Mathews. Beginning in 1947, Rev. Mathews preached live during the daily 6:45 AM slot at a small, local West Virginia radio station.  The broadcast, known as The Country Church of the Air, continued until the fall of 1952, when Rev. Mathews accepted a pastorate in Attalla, Alabama.  On the first Sunday of October, 1961, he returned to the radio, and began Revival Crusade, a weekly program that aired at 9:00 AM on WCHS (580 AM), located in Charleston, West Virginia.  He maintained that program until he went to Heaven on August 23, 1964, just short of his fifty second birthday.  The Revival Crusade broadcast continued under the supervision of his brother-in-law, Walter Guy Smith, until Rev. Smith’s passing in September, 1976.

Not long afterward, Rev. Mathews’ son, Glenn, reorganized Revival Crusade, Inc., as a 501(c)3, non-profit, religious organization, and began to expand the ministry’s outreach.  Weekly broadcasts continued, and by 1977, a daily radio format had been developed.   Currently, individual programs focus on verse-by-verse teaching – no music, announcements or discussion of current events – and may comprise several weeks’ worth of broad- casts, as illustrated by Dr. Mathews’ monumental exposition of I and II Peter.  Similarly, his series of lessons on Romans 6 totaled nine hours, and his 90-program series on Bible prophecy totaled over twenty-two hours. It is not surprising, then, that master discs of programs which aired in the early days of the ministry could be rebroadcast today with very little editing, because air time is still completely given to teaching and preaching of the Word of God.

In addition to a thriving radio ministry, Revival Crusade, Inc. is deeply committed to the support of foreign and domestic missions.  Dr. Mathews compares RCI’s involvement in missions to a family giving a tithe to their church thusly – “Through the years, Revival Crusade, Inc. has operated on the principle of ‘… trust the Lord and tell the people…’.  Since this ministry has been blessed by support from individuals and churches, we should pass along some of that to missions.  This practice of ‘giving as has been given’ is rather unusual in ministries that are known as operating by faith.”  For more complete information regarding missions supported by RCI. As of June 1, 2008, we marked our 2,431st weekly broadcast.  Each broadcast concludes with the now-familiar enjoinder, “May this week be for you, a time of blessing…”  We’re so glad you stopped by to visit, and pray that this time has indeed been a time of blessing for you.