The Jesus Army on TV

Although the Jesus Fellowship does not allow televisions or radios within their communal houses, there have been many television programmes made about them. Ranging from documentaries focussed on life surrounding the fellowships communal households and style of worship, to more analytical programmes covering the concerns of ex-members, and members families. There has even been a chat show where elders from the group, and critics of the group came face to face in front of the cameras.

Many of the programmes have been criticised by the Fellowship for not showing a full and fair picture of group. Programmes have also been criticised by those outside the fellowship for being to easy on them.

The most recent programme 'True Stories: BattleCentre' was shown on terrestrial television in December 2001. The fly-on-the-wall documentary by award winning director Leo Regan followed the lives of some of the people in and around one of the Jesus Fellowships North London community households. Focussing mainly on a few key members of the group, and would be members on the fringe, it showed little of the lifestyles of actual members.

Below is a list of programmes aired regarding the Jesus Fellowship.

True Stories: BattleCentre

16 Dec 2001 - Channel 4 - True Stories: Battlecentre

29/10/2001 : DOCUMENTARY WILL STUDY JESUS ARMY

13/12/2001 : DOCUMENTARY ON LIFE WITH THE JESUS ARMY IS 'AN EYE-OPENER'

The Guardian 05/12/2001 : Baptism on the box

This Is London 02/11/2001 : Are you ready to be saved?

BattleCentre : The BBC interviews Loe Regan The BBC interviews Loe Regan (real media audio clip)

Spiked Culture, a review of True Stories : BattleCentre

The Observer : BattleCentre (Half way down page)

The Guardian : Baptism on the box

'Battlecentre' reviews at The Guardian, Films

Electric Sky offers a chance to buy BattleCentre

About Anglia

08/01/1986 - About Anglia - Special Feature.

07/01/1986 : TV SPOT ON JESUS PEOPLE

The Lord Took Hold of Bugbrooke

25/06/1974 - ITV - 'The Lord took hold of Bugbrooke'

20/06/1974 : JESUS PEOPLE GO "ON THE AIR"

26/06/1974 : TV CLOSE-UP OF JESUS PEOPLE : GLARING OMISSIONS

27/06/1974 : THE JESUS FELLOWSHIP ON ITV

27/06/1974 : JESUS PEOPLE ARE GAINING IN SUPPORT

Other Television Programmes and Appearances

17/10/2002 - BBC Working Lunch - Goodness Foods - Principles before profit

~early 2001 - Anglia News - Coverage of Cinema proposals.

25/03/1999 - ITV (Granada) - This is the word.

10/12/1998 - ITV - For the love of: Jesus Army.

03/01/1998 - EO Hilversun (Holland) - Otto op zoek: God in de commune.

22/09/1993 - BBC 2 - Jon Ronson Mission - 'How to Form a Cult'.

~1993 - LWT - Dial Midnight - Discussion, Chat Show.

28/01/1993 - BBC 2 (regional) - Matter of Fact [Jesus Army]

30/04/1992 - BBC 2 (regional) - Matter of Fact 'Your Health in Their Hands'

19/12/1991 - BBC 2 (regional) - Matter of Fact 'Warriors of the Spirit'

01/08/1989 - Channel 4 - Native Land 'Giving up the ghost'

07/05/1989 - ITV (Thames) - Thames Visions: Love Power and Sacrifice

30/09/1989 - BBC 1 - Hearts Of Gold (recovering a ring for Ester Rantzen)

~1988 - BBC - Newsnight - Report on the Jesus Army.

14/09/1980 - ITV (ATV) - Jay Walking: City on a hill

(Our thanks go to John Campbell, spokesman for the Jesus Fellowship for filling in the gaps in the list)

The Jesus Army on TV

True Stories: BattleCentre

Everyman: Jesus Army - Brothers In Arms

Jesus Army - Church or Cult

Network 7

About Anglia

08/01/1986 - About Anglia - Special Feature. 07/01/1986 : TV SPOT ON JESUS PEOPLE

The Lord Took Hold of Bugbrooke

Other Television Programmes and Appearances

08/01/1986 - About Anglia - Special Feature.

07/01/1986 : TV SPOT ON JESUS PEOPLE