In the mid-1960s, the U.S. faced social and racial unrest, including rioting and violence protesting the inequitable treatment of African-Americans by the police. Amid the chaos, Walter Arties, a gifted musician and Seventh-day Adventist pastor, began to dream of creating uplifting Christian programming for the Black community.

Arties championed his vision until Breath of Life Ministries finally launched in 1974. Dynamic preacher C.D. Brooks served as its first speaker/director and Arties as program producer, singer, and founder of the Breath of Life Quartet.

On Friday, Dec. 6, 2024, Breath of Life Ministries celebrated 50 years with its Legacy Night, held at Oakwood University Church (OUC) in Huntsville, Alabama — its home since 2012. The evening reflected on the ministry’s evolution and honored key contributors. It also featured performances by 10-time Grammy winners Take 6 and the current Breath of Life Quartet, as well as a message by former speaker/director Carlton P. Byrd, now president of the Southwest Region Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

Legacy Night was the culmination of a year of celebration, including a Giving Tuesday Praise-a-Thon and a Mediterranean tour tracing the evangelical path of the Apostle Paul.

Video: NAD Communication & Chosen Connection, Cerron Pollard

One Man Plants, Another Man Waters

In his welcome, Debleaire Snell, current speaker/director, acknowledged the legacy of those who came before him — founder Arties and his predecessors Brooks (1974-1997), Walter Pearson (1998-2010), and Byrd (2010-2021). “One man plants, another man waters, but God gives the increase,” he said, referencing 1 Corinthians 3:6-9.

Snell later commented, “Each speaker brought their passion, temperament, and perspective. And I think God customized the gifts to meet the needs in the body of Christ and the larger culture … in each era of Breath of Life.”

Today, the ministry continues to thrive, sharing the gospel through TV and online media programs, books and other resources, public evangelism, and community outreach. Since 1974, the ministry of Breath of Life leaders has resulted in tens of thousands of baptisms and the planting of more than 17 churches globally. “Breath of Life, at its core, is evangelism,” said Byrd.

Showcasing What Makes Breath of Life Special

Byrd noted that from its inception, Breath of Life was unique among media ministries for its emphasis on music and preaching, “encompassing the whole worship experience.” Accordingly, Legacy Night showcased both aspects.

Byrd preached a message of thanksgiving based on Psalm 100. He highlighted promises we take for granted — our creation by a loving God and the promise of salvation inherent in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He called for the audience to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord” regardless of circumstances. “Your situation does not eclipse the goodness of God.”

He highlighted the night’s theme: “We praise God for the Breath of Life ministry. Souls have been won through this ministry. Burdens have been lifted through this ministry. Somebody found Jesus through this ministry.” He added, “Breath of Life has been around for 50 years, and guess what? We’re not going anywhere. This is God’s ministry.” He concluded, to an enthusiastic response,“Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord, and praise God for Breath of Life!”

Music enhanced the program, beginning with a reunited Breath of Life Quartet. They opened with an orchestral arrangement of “For the Beauty of the Earth” by former member Adrian Westney, then sang several crowd-pleasing standards such as “Nobody’s Fault But Mine.”

Take 6 took the stage later, beginning with their spirited rendition of “If We Ever Needed the Lord Before,” a Breath of Life Quartet song they popularized. Founder Claude McKnight shared that while students at Oakwood College (now University), four original members were singing this song in the men’s dorm bathroom when Mark Kibble, who would become their primary arranger and help them expand to six members, first heard them.

“It’s really special for us to be part of [Legacy Night] because we started off singing Breath of Life music,” said Kibble in a pre-event interview. Take 6 honored their musical roots by performing two sets of songs by the group who, per bass Alvin Chea, “gave us a sound … and an identity.”

Ministry Builders Recognized at Breath of Life Legacy Night

On Legacy Night, several honorees received inscribed plaques for their contributions, including:

• All three former speaker/directors and two associate speaker/directors;
• Former and current Breath of Life quartet members (12 total);
• Former quartet arranger/accompanist;
• On-air personalities, including a cohost and a former announcer; and
• A dedicated local fundraiser.

Accepting in person were former speaker/director Byrd; former associate speaker/director Malcolm J. Taylor, who ministered alongside Walter Pearson; and the current Breath of Life quartet. Other awards were mailed to recipients who could not join, and family members of honorees who had passed away received awards on their behalf. Among those, Walter Arties’ wife, Beverly, received his award in March, and Deidre Brooks Tramel accepted an award for her father, C.D. Brooks during the ministry’s legacy cruise.

In a video interview with Snell, Tramel noted that even in his final days, Brooks knelt by his bed and prayed in a weak voice, “If there’s a way that I can touch just one more soul, give me that chance.”

On December 6, Patricia Pearson accepted an award for her husband, Walter, sharing that watching Snell’s sermons gave them strength before his passing. Snell, in turn, lauded Walter as one of his ministry heroes as a young convert. Later, reflecting on the evening, Pearson said, “I thought it was such a beautiful snapshot of the 50 years of ministry, not just to our community but globally.” She also spoke about the ministry’s enduring impact: “It was the same message but different delivery. Times have changed, but the principles and mission did not change.”

Exciting Plans for The Future of Breath of Life Ministries

G. Alexander Bryant, NAD president and chair of the Adventist Media Ministries board, affirmed Breath of Life, stating, “It’s not only been a blessing to the African-American community, but it’s also been a blessing to the entire church.” Bryant shared that the division would donate $50,000 — $1,000 for each year of Breath of Life, “for God to continue to work miracles” through them.

Snell thanked Bryant for the NAD’s generosity and mentioned that they had raised more than $48,000 during the Praise-a-Thon, which would expand their digital footprint and add the television broadcast to more cities.

Viewers then learned more about Breath of Life’s recent activities, including young adult rallies, media and leadership training, diversified online programs on real-life issues, the updated “Breathe” podcast.

After the event, Snell shared that in 2025 and beyond, Breath of Life will continue pursuing bold, “unrealistic,” God-inspired goals. These include participating in the Pentecost 2025 initiative, training ministry leaders, and conducting evangelistic series across diverse communities. They are also launching their first animated show, “Evie’s Treehouse,” based on their audio devotional for children. Each episode will include a downloadable Bible study.

He concluded, “We want to see Breath of Life become the nexus of spiritual life for the African-American. [When] they're looking for things for health, work, their spiritual life, [their relationships], we want them to be able to come to our website, our YouTube page, our podcast, and find something that speaks to them.”

Click here to read more about Breath of Life Ministries.