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1996.jpg (18999 bytes) 340: Pokenberry Falls, R.F.D., Part 1
341: Pokenberry Falls, R.F.D., Part 2
342: Welcome Home, Mr. Blackgaard
343: The Pretty Good Samaritan
344: Letting Go
345: B-TV: Compassion
346: St. Paul: Voyage to Rome
347: St. Paul: An Appointment with Caesar
348: With a Little Help from My Friends
349: Blessings in Disguise
350: The Time of Our Lives
351: What Are You Gonna Do with Your Life?
352: Memories of Jerry
353: A Question About Tasha
354: Blind Justice
355: The Search for Whit, Part 1
356: The Search for Whit, Part 2
357: The Search for Whit, Part 3
358: The Secret Weapon
359: The Merchant of Odyssey
360: Three Funerals and a Wedding, Part 1
361: Three Funerals and a Wedding, Part 2
362: The Right Choice, Part 1
363: The Right Choice, Part 2
364: Home, Sweet Home
365: Clara
366: Solitary Refinement
367: The Decision
368: The Other Woman
369: It's a Wrap!
370: Christmas Around the World, Part 1
371: Christmas Around the World, Part 2

340: Pokenberry Falls, R.F.D., Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/06/96
Scripture reference: Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6
Theme: God's protection
Plot:
A weird man from a weird town visits the Barclays. He wants George to become the new pastor of his church— in Pokenberry Falls. Pokenberry Falls is a small town, with NO life at all and little things to do. (Contributed by Luke)
Album: Back on the Air (26), More than Sundays (Special)
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Characters:
George Barclay, Mary Barclay, Jimmy Barclay, Donna Barclay, Stewart Reed Barclay, Ellis Birch, Vivian Birch, Amy Birch, Owen Birch, Mark, Bob

Notes:
See Andy Griffith Show references.

 
341: Pokenberry Falls, R.F.D., Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/13/96
Scripture reference: Romans 8:28; Philippians 1:6
Theme: God's protection
Plot:
A weird man from a weird town visits the Barclays. He wants George to become the new pastor of his church— in Pokenberry Falls. Pokenberry Falls is a small town, with NO life at all and little things to do. (Contributed by Luke)
Album: Back on the Air (26), More than Sundays (Special)
Review
Characters:
George Barclay, Mary Barclay, Jimmy Barclay, Donna Barclay, Stewart Reed Barclay, Ellis Birch, Vivian Birch, Amy Birch, Owen Birch, Barry Lionel

Notes:
See Andy Griffith Show references.

 
342: Welcome Home, Mr. Blackgaard
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/20/96
Scripture reference: Matthew 6:14-15;18:21-22
Theme: Forgiveness
Plot:
Edwin comes back to Odyssey because he has inherited The Electric Palace. He thinks he has betrayed Odyssey by running out on them in their time of need, so he tries to clear his conscience by giving away all the stuff at The Electric Palace. (Contributed by Luke)
Album: Back on the Air (26)
Review
Characters:
*Hamlet, Edwin Blackgaard, Walter Shakespeare, Tom Riley, Jack Allen, Morton Dunkee, Bart Rathbone, Doris Rathbone, *John Q. Public

Notes:
Aside from the mentioned parallels to the play Hamlet, this episode contains many lines either directly from the play or slightly adapted from it.  These include "Oh fickle!  Thy name is theater!", "There's the rub", "Alas, Regis.   I knew him well", "You torture me even now", "Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!", "Why must you persist in this torture?", "And now, O prince I take my leave with nary pain or sorrow", "A ha! And to you, good friend, I bid adieu, at least until tomorrow."

 
343: The Pretty Good Samaritan
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Marshal Younger
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 1/27/96
Scripture reference: Luke 10:30-37
Theme: Treating others with kindness
Plot:
Charles and Brenda learn the meanings of two of Jesus stories by experiencing them in real life.
Album: Back on the Air (26)
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Characters:
Connie Kendall, Charles Edward Thompson, Glenn Adams, Brenda Perry, Mr. Perry

Notes:
Contains a Bible story.

 
344: Letting Go
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Marshal Younger
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 2/03/96
Scripture reference: Psalm 147:3
Theme: Dealing with loss
Plot:
Zachary doesn't know how to react when his mother starts dating again.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Zachary Sellars, Eileen Sellars, Blake Anderson, Jill Anderson, *Michael Sellars

Notes:
GOOF ALERT: Zachary plays a video of his father's birthday party. In this video, Zachary's voice is changed. but when we first meet Zachary in 299: The Truth About Zachary and again in A Touch of Healing, his father is no longer living but his voice has not yet changed. (Contributed by Michael.)

 
345: B-TV: Compassion
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 2/10/96
Scripture reference: Galatians 5:14
Theme: Compassion
Plot:
A BTV broadcast with skits about compassion.
Album: The Search for Whit (27), Comic Belief (Classics 5)
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Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, *William Shakespeare, *Marty, *Jesus, *Stephen, *Bartimaeus, *Dan Perdue, *Dale Markwinkle, Courtney Vincent, Sam Johnson, *Moses, *David

Notes:
This episode was made into an AIO Activity Pack, I Want My B-TV, Volume 1

A BTV episode.
Contains a Bible story.

 
346: St. Paul: Voyage to Rome
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 3/02/96
Scripture reference: Acts 24-28
Theme: Bible history: The life and ministry of St. Paul
Plot:
The story of the last few years of Saint Paul's life told through the eyes of Antonius, the son of a Roman centurion.
Album: Back on the Air (26)
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Characters:
Jack Allen, *Paul, *Luke, *Antonius, *Julius, *Zutonius, *Governor Festus, *King Agrippa, *Jesus, *Rama

Notes:
Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast.
Contains a Bible story.

This episode flashes back to 304: St. Paul: The Man from Tarsus.

 
347: St. Paul: An Appointment with Caesar
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 3/09/96
Scripture reference: Acts 24-28
Theme: Bible history: The life and ministry of St. Paul
Plot:
The story of the last few years of Saint Paul's life told through the eyes of Antonius, the son of a Roman centurion.
Album: Back on the Air (26)
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Characters:
Jack Allen, *Paul, *Luke, *Antonius, *Julius, *Zutonius, *Rama, *Bytalius, *Lyvia, *Publius, *Emperor Nero, *Tetulinus

Notes:
Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast.
Contains a Bible story.

GOOF ALERT: Toward the end of this episode, Emperor Nero says, "He's my friend!  Of course he'll make a good senator!" and in the background we hear a horse.  This is probably implying the story of the emperor who put his horse in the senate, but that was Emperor Caligula, not Nero.

 
348: With a Little Help from My Friends
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 3/16/96
Scripture reference:  Romans 12:2
Theme: Peer pressure
Plot:
Connie, Sam, and June struggle mutually discuss their struggles with peer pressure.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Jason Whittaker, Connie Kendall, Sam Johnson, Courtney Vincent, June Kendall, Blair Worthington, Carla Austin, Larry Melwood, Harry Waters

Notes:
Certain elements of this episode were copied from a far earlier episode, Family Portraits 9: A Different Kind of Peer Pressure, including Blair's name as the one who gives into peer pressure, the situation of the father at work (later applied to Connie's mother), "Conformists Anonymous" which was changed to "Peer Pressure Anonymous", and the scripture reference, Romans 12:2.

 
349: Blessings in Disguise
Essential Facts:
Writer:  April Dammann & Marshal Younger
Director: Marshal Younger
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 3/23/96
Scripture reference: Proverbs 12:19
Theme: Trust; friendship
Plot:
Brenda is distressed when her penpal is coming to visit after she exaggerated about herself in her letters.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Brenda Perry, Glenn Adams, Connie Kendall, Thor, Douglas

Notes:

 
350: The Time of Our Lives
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 4/13/96
Scripture reference: Ephesians 5:15-17
Theme: Making the most of your time
Plot:
A Twilife Zone broadcast with two stories about wasting time.  In one a girl spends ten years at the mall.  In another a boy spends his life in front of the television.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Connie Kendall, *Rodlyn Serly, *Kathy Rogers, *Julie Phillips, *Kyle Chambers, *Mrs. Singer, *Jeremy, *Ford **Chipmunk, **Tim

Notes:
This episode contains parodies of Forrest Gump, "Home Improvement", "Leave It to Beaver", "Gilligan's Island", The Fugitive, Columbian coffee, and "The Twilight Zone".

Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast.

 
351: What Are You Gonna Do with Your Life?

Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell

Original Air Date: 4/20/96
Scripture reference: Isaiah 42:16
Theme: God's plans for our lives; career plans

Plot:
Connie tries to figure out what do with her life by trying her interests, what she's good at, and what's familiar to her.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Connie Kendall, Jason Whittaker, Tom Riley, Eugene Meltsner, Harlow Doyle, Mrs. Clydesdale

Notes:

 
352: Memories of Jerry
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: Library
Original Air Date: 4/27/96
Scripture reference: Psalm 73:23-26
Theme: Doing what's right; courage
Plot:
Jason tells a story about the last week he spent with his older brother Jerry before he left for Vietnam.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Jason Whittaker, Connie Kendall, *Jerry Whittaker, *Leonard Plateman (Plato)

Notes:
GOOF ALERT: In this episode, Jason asks about the cabin on Lake Michigan and then asks if they can "go across the lake into Canada".  Canada does not border Lake Michigan.

See C.S. Lewis references.
Contains a history story.

 
353: A Question About Tasha
Essential Facts:
Writer:  Phil Lollar & Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 5/04/96
Scripture reference: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Theme: The importance of Christian marriage
Plot:
Jack confronts Jason about marrying Tasha, who is not a Christian.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Jack Allen, Connie Kendall, Jason Whittaker, Tasha Forbes, Judge Abernathy

Notes:
PARENTAL WARNING: This is an emotional story about the importance of Christian marriage.  It is sensitively told, but may be too mature for younger listeners.   Recommended maturity level: 10 and up

 
354: Blind Justice
Essential Facts:
Writer: Marshal Younger & Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 5/11/96
Scripture reference: Isaiah 59; Micah 6:8
Theme: Justice; peer pressure
Plot:
Eugene and Bernard serve on the jury for a case where the case may be complicated than it seems.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Larry Finn, Donald Wilson, Victor Laslick, Mr. Sanders

Notes:

 
355: The Search for Whit, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 5/18/96
Scripture reference: James 1:16-18
Theme: Knowing what you believe; the joy of reunion
Plot:
After receiving a tape from Whit, Jason and Eugene go to the Middle East to figure out the mystery of the Q document, a supposed "fifth" gospel.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Jason Whittaker, Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Tasha Forbes, Alfred Brownlee, Gary Burkhead

Notes:

 
356: The Search for Whit, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 5/25/96
Scripture reference: James 1:16-18
Theme: Knowing what you believe; the joy of reunion
Plot:
After receiving a tape from Whit, Jason and Eugene go to the Middle East to figure out the mystery of the Q document, a supposed "fifth" gospel.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Jason Whittaker, Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Tasha Forbes, Alfred Brownlee, Benjamin, Stephen Charles

Notes:

 
357: The Search for Whit, Part 3
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 6/01/96
Scripture reference: James 1:16-18
Theme: Knowing what you believe; the joy of reunion
Plot:
After receiving a tape from Whit, Jason and Eugene go to the Middle East to figure out the mystery of the Q document, a supposed "fifth" gospel.
Album: The Search for Whit (27)
Review
Characters:
Jason Whittaker, Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Tasha Forbes, Alfred Brownlee, Benjamin, Stephen Charles

Notes:
AIO went on a three and a half month hiatus after this episode.

 
358: The Secret Weapon
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: Tim Hosman
Original Air Date: 9/21/96
Scripture reference: John 8:32
Theme: Leadership; believing in the right thing
Plot:
Connie convinces Sam Johnson that he can hit better with use of a special bat.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Glenn Adams, Sam Johnson, Connie Kendall, Jack Allen, Bruno Beltser, Arlo Snoden, Coach Mott

Notes:

 
359: The Merchant of Odyssey
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Ramsey Drexler (Mark Drury & Dave Arnold)
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 9/28/96
Scripture reference: James 2:13
Theme: Mercy
Plot:
Bart lends Edwin money on the condition that he will hand over the Electric Palace and the Harlequin Theater if he can't pay the money back.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Bart Rathbone, Edwin Blackgaard, Walter Shakespeare, F. Bailey Babcock, Jack Allen, Harold J. Leech, *Shilock, *Antonio, *Bissinio

Notes:
Contains a Bible story.

 
360: Three Funerals and a Wedding, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 10/05/96
Scripture reference: the book of Ruth
Theme: Bible history: Ruth; loyalty
Plot:
Connie tells the story of Ruth from the Bible.
Album: Welcome Home (28), Bible Eyewitness: Old Testament (Classics 3)
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Characters:
Connie Kendall, Jenny Roberts, Courtney Vincent, *Ruth, *Elimelech, *Naomi, *Mahlon, *Kilion, *Oren, *Boaz, *Orpah, *Nidal

Notes:
Contains a Bible story.

 
361: Three Funerals and a Wedding, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 10/12/96
Scripture reference: the book of Ruth
Theme: Bible history: Ruth; loyalty
Plot:
Connie tells the story of Ruth from the Bible.
Album: Welcome Home (28), Bible Eyewitness: Old Testament (Classics 3)
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Characters:
Connie Kendall, Jenny Roberts, Courtney Vincent, *Ruth, *Naomi, *Oren, *Boaz, *Caleb

Notes:
Contains a Bible story.

 
362: The Right Choice, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 10/19/96
Scripture reference: Psalm 27
Theme: God's plans for our lives; waiting on the Lord
Plot:
Upon returning from the Middle East, Eugene believes that Katrina is getting married to someone else.  After a few embarrassing scenes, the two of them consider their future together.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Whit, Jason Whittaker, Eugene Meltsner, Katrina Shanks, Brandon Tuller, Armitage Shanks, Millie Shanks, Janice Mitchell

Notes:
VERSION DIFFERENCE:  The Lounge Lizard scene had to be cut from the broadcast version of this episode.  It was altered to avoid copyrighted material and then included in the album version.

 
363: The Right Choice, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 10/26/96
Scripture reference: Psalm 27
Theme: God's plans for our lives; waiting on the Lord
Plot:
Upon returning from the Middle East, Eugene believes that Katrina is getting married to someone else.  After a few embarrassing scenes, the two of them consider their future together.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
Be the First to Review this Show!
Characters:
Whit, Jason Whittaker, Eugene Meltsner, Katrina Shanks, Brandon Tuller, Armitage Shanks, Michael, Rodlyn

Notes:

 
364: Home, Sweet Home
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 11/02/96
Scripture reference: Psalm 84:3
Theme: The joy of reunion; the importance of home
Plot:
Whit returns to Odyssey amidst much celebration and Connie races to try to see him.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Jack Allen, Connie Kendall, Whit, Jason Whittaker, Eugene Meltsner, Tom Riley, Bernard Walton, Harlow Doyle, Bart Rathbone

Notes:

 
365: Clara
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 11/09/96
Scripture reference: Proverbs 17:17
Theme: Forgiveness; friendship
Plot:
Jack tells Eugene the story of how he and Whit broke their friendship many years ago.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
Review
Characters:
Eugene Meltsner, Jack Allen, Whit, *Clara, *Anabella, *Peter Portland, *Peggy Portland

Notes:
Young Clara was played by Aria Curzon, who later played Mandy Straussberg.

 
366: Solitary Refinement
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker & Dave Arnold
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 11/16/96
Scripture reference: Philippians 4:6-7
Theme: The importance of solitude
Plot:
As Eugene considers his future and Whit wonders whether he should return to the mission field, they go to a monastary to think.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Bernard Walton, Jack Allen, Jason Whittaker, Brother James, *Katrina Shanks

Notes:
VERSION DIFFERENCE: The album version of this episode adds Bernard's daydream scene, which is not heard in the broadcast version.  (Contributed by JJ Crockroft.)

 
367: The Decision
Essential Facts:
Writer: Phil Lollar
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 11/23/96
Scripture reference: Proverbs 3:5-6
Theme: Seeking God's will for our lives
Plot:
After considering pleads from everyone in Odyssey, Whit makes a decision about returning to the mission field.  JoAnne Woodston shows up and falls in love with Jack.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Connie Kendall, Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Jack Allen, Jason Whittaker, Joanne Woodston Allen

Notes:
GOOF ALERT: In this episode, Jack says that "Whit's wife and son are buried in a local cemetary", but according to Book 4: Behind the Locked Door, Jenny is buried in California.

Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast.

Contains an Imagination Staition adventure.

 
368: The Other Woman
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 11/30/96
Scripture reference: Proverbs 16:28; 1 Peter 3:12
Theme: The danger of spreading rumors; dealing with the mentally ill
Plot:
After a newspaper prints pictures of Tom Riley with a woman, Tom decides to tell everyone about his wife's condition.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Tom Riley, Bart Rathbone, Rodney Rathbone, Doris Rathbone, Whit, Eugene Meltsner, Agnes Riley

Notes:

 
369: It's a Wrap!
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Phil Lollar
Production Engineer: Todd Busteed
Music: John Campbell
Original Air Date: 12/07/96
Scripture reference: Psalm 118:24; Proverbs 27:1
Theme: God's role in everyday life
Plot:
A KIDS Radio broadcast about a normal day at Whit's End.
Album: Welcome Home (28)
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Characters:
Lucy Cunningham-Schultz, Glenn Adams, Whit, Connie Kendall, Eugene Meltsner, Sam Johnson, Harlow Doyle, Hal Snyder, Dr. Huntman

Notes:
Contains a KIDS Radio broadcast.

 
370: Christmas Around the World, Part 1
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Dave Arnold
Music: John Campbell
Music Producer: Tim Jaquette
Original Air Date: 12/14/96
Scripture reference: Luke 2
Theme: Christmas
Plot:
Whit creates an Imagination Station adventure to show the participants about Christmas in other countries.
Album: Not Included in an Album
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Characters:
Erica Clark, Sam Johnson, Tom Riley, Eugene Meltsner, Whit

Notes:
These episodes were taken from a Christmas program produced in 1994, Joy to the World.

Contains an Imagination Staition adventure.

 
371: Christmas Around the World, Part 2
Essential Facts:
Writer: Paul McCusker
Director: Paul McCusker
Production Engineer: Mark Drury
Music: John Campbell
Music Producer: Tim Jaquette
Original Air Date: 12/14/96
Scripture reference: Luke 2
Theme: Christmas
Plot:
Whit creates an Imagination Station adventure to show the participants about Christmas in other countries.
Album: Not Included in an Album
Be the First to Review this Show!
Characters:
Erica Clark, Sam Johnson, Tom Riley, Eugene Meltsner, Whit

Notes:
These episodes were taken from a Christmas program produced in 1994, Joy to the World.

Contains an Imagination Staition adventure.

 
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