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It is hoped that a total of 2000 bus shelter ad spaces will be bought. By visiting www.ChurchAds.net and entering the church postcode, churches can buy bus shelters for just £105.
To accompany the bus shelter posters special radio ads have been produced and these can also be sponsored.
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, churches need to constantly tell the story of his birth in ways that engage positively with the public.
Church leaders have welcomed the campaign, urging churches to participate. The Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Revd David James, says: 'This year's atheist bus adverts backfired (for the atheists) by putting God on the public agenda and provoking people to ask if God is there. Well, Christians now have a chance to say a firm and confident 'yes - and he looks like Jesus! Christmas is his festival.'
Mike Elms, from ChurchAds.Net, said: "If churches all over the country buy 2000 bus shelters and fund 2500 airplays of the radio commercials, then 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."
The website www.ChurchAds.net has numerous materials to download - all free of charge - including the poster artwork and radio commercials.
Notes The bus shelter posters 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.
