By Bobby Davis
When I first heard of Fred Moore from 3ABN engineer Dan Peek, I was instantly impressed at the many ways God has to reach His children who are seeking truth.
On the surface, Fred’s story may seem like so many coincidences, but a closer look reveals the unmistakable fingerprint of God directing every step of his path!
“I grew up in La Crosse, Wisconsin,” Fred begins. “My father was a funeral director, and my mother managed the insurance department for a local manufacturer.
From an early age, I showed interest in all things electronic. In fact, my mother told me that at nine months of age I was watching the back of the TV set! Apparently I was more interested in the glowing tubes than what was showing on the screen!” He chuckles, and then adds, “I enjoyed adjusting TV sets, too!”
During his high school years Fred says he kept busy with ham radio and electronic projects, and during the summers he fixed church organs, CB radios, and audio gear to help pay for his education. “Yes, I was really geeky,” he laughs.
Spiritual Journey
“I was born into a Norwegian-American Lutheran family that, by tradition, was pietistic,” he says, referring to a seventeenth century religious movement in Germany that stressed personal piety over religious formality and orthodoxy.
“I experienced infant baptism, Sunday School, and confirmation. I read the Bible once through, and the New Testament a half dozen times when I was in high school, yet without life experience, much of its meaning was unclear.
“I would say that my spiritual journey has been a winding road, leading back pretty much to where it began. Like C. S. Lewis, the author of The Chronicles of Narnia, I tried out a lot of ideas before finally coming to understand what I have in Jesus.”
While attending Saint Olaf College in Minnesota, where he majored in physics and religion, Fred became interested in other religions. “As too often happens,” he says, “when I encountered the world’s religions, I became a little confused. I thought I was thinking more like a Buddhist than a Christian, so I moved in that direction and spent the next 18 years in Buddhist study and practice. I studied both the main schools of Buddhism, and spent five years in part time study of Buddhist ethics.”
Working with 3ABN
“I’ve been an amateur radio operator since fifth grade, and before that, I was a shortwave radio listener,” he continues. “So there I was one day in the late 1990s, playing with an analog TV tuner and exploring life above channel 47. Suddenly I found a snowy picture from a 3ABN station in Madison! I’d watch it now and then, and as I look back on that, I believe it was a turning point for me.
“After finishing my doctorate, I taught for two years. I tried really hard to be a professor at a college that was becoming secular, and that’s when I felt a calling to visit 3ABN to help them with my electronics skills.”
The Influence of Friendship
There’s no doubt in our minds that God brought Fred to 3ABN. We were in the midst of building the 3ABN Worship Center, and his electrical skills were sorely needed!
“Fred hadn’t contacted anyone about volunteering,” says 3ABN engineer, Dan Peek. “He just showed up out of the blue. We didn’t know he was coming, so he was just camping out in his van. When I discovered this, I invited him to at least come and take a shower at my home—and that’s how our friendship began. Some time later, I called Fred and asked if he’d be willing to help me change our Madison station over to channel 23. He seemed happy to do so, and he was a great help.
“Our friendship deepened, and he began inviting me to stay at his home when I was in town. He also took meticulous care of that station over the years, and even came to church with me when we installed a studio there at the Madison East Seventh-day Adventist Church.”
As Christians, we must be aware that others watch us carefully, and that our influence can be far-reaching.
“I’ve been working with 3ABN and Dan Peek for over a decade now,” Fred says, “and I have to say that I’ve always been struck by his simplicity, intensity, and earnestness. More than once I have seen his prayers answered—not only in the big things, but in many little ways, too. His favorite verse must be James 2:17, ‘Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead,’ because he sure keeps himself busy!”
Last summer, we also kept Fred busy installing digital transmitters, and building a new 3ABN station in Michigan. But it was his commitment to this work that proved to be the Holy Spirit’s opportunity!
Surprises
“All this time, Fred continued to maintain the television equipment at the Madison Church,” Dan says, “and I continued to pray for his family regularly. So I was thrilled when he called and told me that since there was no one to videotape the services each Sabbath, he’d decided to do it himself.”
However, Fred had something else on his mind when he met the pastor.
“I had the privilege of meeting Fred for the first time just before Sabbath School,” says Pastor Titus Naftanaila of the Madison East Seventh-day Adventist Church. “After he was introduced to me by Paul Britain, he told me, ‘Pastor, I want to tell you two things: First, I came to help you broadcast your services on TV channel 23; and second, I want to become a member of your church.’
“I was so surprised by both tremendous opportunities,” he adds. “Things like this don’t happen every Sabbath!”
Dan Peek was unaware of all this, until he called Fred to see if he could help on another job.
“Fred apologized and said he couldn’t leave until Sunday because he was going to be baptized on Sabbath!” Dan exclaims.
“‘Fred!’ I said. ‘You’re supposed to tell me these things so I can be there!’”
Dan laughs about it, then adds, “Our full-time volunteer, Dan Giguere, had also been praying for Fred and wanted to go to his baptism. But although neither of us could be there in person, we were rejoicing with him
in the Lord!”
On Becoming a
Seventh-day Adventist
“I returned from Buddhism to the Lutheran faith of my childhood and remained in it over the last fifteen years,” Fred says. “So why would I want to become an Adventist?
“First, I believe all of the many Christian denominations, as well as all the world’s major religions, have important roles to play in God’s great purpose of drawing all of Creation to Him. We need to be sensitive to the social and historical contexts of faith traditions. We shouldn’t be judging God’s work in human events.
“Second, I think there’s something indisputably unique, precious, and transformational about Jesus. I gotta tell ya, I tried really hard to find something better, and failed. So, yes, I’m a ‘Jesus freak’!
“Third, many Christian denominations have made, and are continuing to make, key contributions to Christianity, both in the Christian community, and in the larger course of human history. God is using the Church—indeed He has been using many churches, and many congregations!
“The Lutheran Church made two great contributions. Salvation through grace is a battle the Lutherans waged for 500 years, until the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification was signed in the late 1990s. But the other great task that fell on Luther’s shoulders was the Reformation, which inspired much Catholic reform in the following century, and to this day.
“Today other churches and new congregations must carry the Great Commission forward. Being with the Adventists, and especially with Dan Peek, allowed me to see that the Seventh-day Adventists are a small, growing, and sincere Christian faith. That greatly impressed me.
“I believe I’ve found in the Seventh-day Adventists the things that the theologian Karl Barth calls the Old Protestantism. He said that what’s missing today is the capacity to confront and engage with evil in triumph. That is still present in Adventism. They believe that sin can be overcome, and I think it’s one of the qualities that makes it a Remnant Church.”
Pastor Titus Naftanaila is happy to have such an enthusiastic new member in his church and appreciates his contribution of time and effort in its television ministry. “Since his baptism, Fred has continued to be very actively involved in video production and broadcasting of our services on TV,” he says. “He spends a considerable amount of time and resources to accomplish his dream of spreading the good news in Madison.”
We asked Fred what difference he’d noticed as a young Seventh-day Adventist, and he didn’t hesitate. “All of a sudden I’m blessed with work!” he exclaims. “I’m still discovering the joys of the Sabbath,” he adds, “but the whole weekend seems to work better—and that is a joy!”
“Fred’s a happy man,” Dan Peek agrees, “and now he’s even happier in the Lord! He’s always ready and willing to help someone. It’s not about what he can get out of it; he’s just always eager to help. I’m absolutely thrilled that he’s come to a greater knowledge of the Lord!
“I am also humbled as I look back and see how the Lord developed our friendship,” he continues. “I wasn’t intentionally trying to convert him to my faith, but a while back I decided I didn’t need to apologize for practicing my faith in my vehicle, house, church, or my ‘space.’ I’m still a little shy sometimes, but my job is to pray that I might be useful in the Lord’s service, and let the Holy Spirit use me.”
Visit the Madison East Seventh-day Adventist Church
