Christmas Starts Here

In January churchgoers were dismayed by atheist bus adverts proclaiming that ‘There’s probably no God’. They will be encouraged to hear that recent research by Theos reveals that 85% of people agree that ‘Christmas should be called Christmas because we are still a Christian country’. But, research also shows that only 12% of adults know the facts of the Christmas story in any detail – the figure dropping to just 7% amongst 18‐24 year olds. So, to keep Christmas focused on Christ, we need to constantly tell the story of his birth in ways which engage positively with the public.

Churches of all denominations are therefore being urged to participate in an advertising campaign: ‘Christmas Starts with Christ’. Posters on bus shelters feature a painting by the renowned artist, Andrew Gadd, depicting the traditional nativity scene in a modern day equivalent of a stable – a bus shelter. Radio commercials cleverly and light‐heartedly set the nativity in the context of a soccer match, a horse race, a police car chase and the Christmas pop chart countdown. The ads have been created by ChurchAds.net, an ecumenical charity comprising senior communications officers from the Anglican, Methodist and Baptist churches; plus the Church Army and Salvation Army, together with Christians from media and advertising organisations. Church leaders have welcomed the campaign, urging churches to participate. Nick Baines, Bishop of Croydon says: ‘This year’s atheist bus adverts backfired (for the atheists) by putting God on the public agenda and provoking people to ask if he is there. Well, Christians now have a chance to say a firm and confident ‘yes – and he looks like Jesus! Christmas is his festival.’

By visiting http://www.ChurchAds.net and entering the church postcode, churches can buy poster sites on bus shelters for just £105. Radio campaigns can also be bought. There are numerous materials to download, all free of charge – including the poster artwork and radio
commercials. The aim is for churches all over the country to buy 2000 bus shelter posters over the last 3 weeks of December and to fund 2500 airplays of the radio commercials. This means the campaign would be seen or heard by around 60% of the UK population. Imagine the impact that will be created by this powerful gospel proclamation. Then, on Tuesday December 22nd, churches across the country will be encouraged to stage the country’s largest ever street carol singing event, simply by each church gathering together at the appointed time at ‘their’ bus shelter. Effective outreach for individual churches, and collectively, what a tremendous display of Christian unity and commonality of purpose. But, while Christmas Starts with Christ, the campaign starts with churches. So, sign up at http://www.ChurchAds.net

Mike Elms (Trustee of ChurchAds.net)