Michael Guido, who founded a radio and TV ministry that spread the Christian message across the globe and drew thousands of visitors each year to the small town of Metter, Ga., died Saturday at Candler County Hospital. He was 94.

Dr. Guido broadcast his Seeds From the Sower radio program from Metter, population 3,800, for more than 50 years. The Sower Ministry’s programs are aired on 423 radio stations and 94 TV stations, according to the ministry's Web site. A print ministry mails monthly sermon series to 33,000 addresses and prints more than 1.5 million pieces of literature annually. A column, also titled Seeds From the Sower, is published in 1,300 newspapers.

The ministry is also known for Guido Gardens, a Metter landmark that draws about 50,000 visitors a year. The gardens were designed by Augusta landscape architect Roger Davis.

Each December an event now known as the Nights of Lights draws more than 40,000 people to the gardens, where Jesus’ birth is celebrated with some 2 million lights and dozens of displays, including a huge manger where the Rev. Guido can be heard in a taped message reading the Christmas story from the Bible.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday at the ministry’s gardens on Georgia Highway 121 in Metter. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at the gardens.

Kennedy Morgan Brannen funeral home in Metter is in charge of arrangements.

Reach Bill Norton at (706) 823-3341 or bill.norton@augustachronicle.com