Minister’s Oprah bid tops 1.5 million votes

Dr. Tony Roach, minister, author and motivational speaker, said he dropped out of high school because he couldn’t read, but overcame challenges to graduate and eventually get his doctorate degree. Roach is running in an online video competition to get a show on the Oprah Winfrey Network. (Photo by Tina Phan, Abilene Reporter-News)

In what quickly became the most-viewed item so far on The Christian Chronicle’s news blog, we posted last week on Abilene, Texas, minister Tony Roach’s bid to compete on “Your OWN Show: Oprah’s Search for the Next TV Star.”
The Abilene Reporter-News reports that the Chronicle blog post — among other factors — helped push Roach’s vote total over 1.5 million. And his supporters aren’t done yet:

The groundswell has come through a combination of viral marketing, networking among those who know the minister, and the willingness of faithful like (Roz) Evans to spend their time literally clicking Roach’s video up the contest’s ladder.
A bit more than a week ago, the minister’s video submission sported only about 20,000 votes.
But then came “Wi-Fi parties,” open voting at college computer labs, and plenty of phone calls, e-mails, and other communication.
Roach’s story was featured in a Christian Chronicle blog entry, and congregations throughout the country, influenced at various times by the teachings that would form the core of the proposed “A New Approach with Dr. Roach,” joined in.
Now, Roach and his supporters have a comprehensive plan, culminating with a final, grand push for votes on today. Online voting at the contest’s website runs through Saturday.

According to BigCountryhomepage.com, Roach’s proposed show ranks 14th at Oprah.com. To see Roach’s video and vote for him, click here. Or see his “God’s Love Bank” Web site.
“So audience, please, I need your vote so I can have my own TV show,” Roach says on the video. “Judges, please, I need your approval so I can get it done. And I guarantee you this, we will help millions of people all over the world realize that the good news is that the bad news is a lie.”

• Feedback
  I vote for Tony Roach

  Pat Varner

  July, 2 2010

  I agree with Tony; with his own TV show he can help a lot of people – people who don’t know which way to turn; those who are down and; out. He can lift them and help them to help themselves. He gets my vote.

  R. T. McMunn

  July, 3 2010

  I clicked on Dr. Roach’s website and was so deeply disappointed in the first article I did not read any further. I seems to me that his website promotes human self rather than God’s plan for Christian service, and his book is just one more self help/feel good book. I hope I’m wrong. Margaret Alvis

  Margaret Alvis

  July, 3 2010

  My vote is for Dr. Roach.

  Dee Westbrook

  July, 3 2010

  I vote for Tony Roach

  Carol townsend

  July, 4 2010

  Hey folks. We appreciate the input, but just to make sure there’s no confusion, you can’t vote for Tony Roach by posting to this blog.
  You have to vote <a href=”http://myown.oprah.com/audition/index.html?request=video_details&response_id=9186&promo_id=1″ rel=”nofollow”>here</a>. Thanks.

  Erik Tryggestad

  July, 4 2010