John Hallett Q

Continuing in John Hallett: From A to Z

Quartet

John Hallett was the Music Director for the Children’s Bible Hour (a one hour weekly national radio broadcast) from 1943 to 1946. His responsibilities included being the pianist for the Children’s Bible Hour Quartet of “Uncles!” Front row left to right: Carl Bihl, Morry Carlson, Mel Johnson. Back row: Johnnie Hallett, Malcom Cronk (See the undated picture above.)In 1942 when the program started there was not ONE “Uncle” but FOUR! Carl Bihl, Morry Carlson, Mel Johnson, Malcom Cronk. http://www.cbhministries.org/about/img/pics/pho255x175_1943_uncles.jpg

You can find more information about the quartet in the blog. Look under: Look under John Hallett A Accompaniment and C Children’s Bible Hour.

Each of the men in the quartet went on to ministries that touched the nation and the world. Here is a brief account of each of the men:

Carl Bihl: friend of John Hallett’s from their days together at the Moody Bible Institute, friends for the past sixty years. He gave the eulogy at Johnnie’s Celebration Service.
Among his ministries, Carl “Kelly” serves as the President of Youth For Christ International from 1963-65, right after Ted Engstrom and before Sam Wolgemuth.

Morry Carlson: early pioneer of Youth for Christ, and served on the Constitution Committee for Youth For Christ International. He became known as "Uncle Morry" when he sang with the Uncles Quartet on the Children's Bible Hour. In addition, he served as Director of the Winona Lake Bible Conference, and was one of the originators of Gospel Films in Michigan. Morry and his wife established Youth Haven Ranches in Rives Junction, Michigan, and Picacho, Arizona. The vision for the Youth Ranches sprang from Morry’s work as the founder of the original Youth Haven Boys Home for troubled teenagers in Muskegon County, Michigan.

Mel Johnson: A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Mr. Johnson was converted as a child under the ministry of Mel Trotter. Upon graduation from Moody Bible Institute, he returned to Grand Rapids as director of music, radio and young people at the Mel Trotter Mission, and also helped to begin the Children's Bible Hour broadcast.

Following a pastorate in Toronto, Ontario, he became director of Chicagoland Youth for Christ and then became regional director and later first vice-president of that organization, with headquarters in Minneapolis. He was best know for his radio program, "Tips For Teens.” He traveled extensively speaking and writing books and materials especially for young people.

Malcom Cronk: In 1940 Dr. Malcom Cronk became pastor of Calvary Church (Grand Rapids, Michigan) at age 26. Three years later, Dr. Cronk felt called to travel with the Children’s Bible Hour. Then in 1945, he resumed leadership of Calvary Church, where he ministered until 1948. He pastored Wheaton Bible Church from 1952-1967. Later taught at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. Later served churches in California and Arizona.

As you can see, these four men, in addition to John Hallett, have impacted countless numbers of people through their ministry not only together on the CBH radio network, but then over many years of ministry in the local church, through the media of radio and writing books, as well as the music John wrote.

What an amazing group of “Uncles!”