wfn.org | United Methodist churches receive grants for television ads

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

June 26, 2003 News media contact: Linda Green7(615)742-54707Nashville, Tenn. 
   10-71B{339}

NOTE: A state-by-state list of grant recipients is attached

By Nancye Willis*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church has awarded matching
grants totaling more than $500,000 to 68 regional church bodies to help
purchase television commercials during the back-to-school and Christmas
seasons. 

The awards are part of the denomination's national advertising campaign
developed and coordinated by United Methodist Communications' Igniting
Ministry office. The theme is "Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors."

This round includes awards to 37 individual congregations, 12 clusters of
congregations and 19 annual (regional) conferences across the United States,
in media markets that reach 60 million people.

The grants, matched dollar-for-dollar by the recipients, make available more
than $1 million to help purchase local television advertising to supplement
the national campaign. 

"Our matching grants enable local congregations to share messages of hope,
comfort and inspiration in their communities," said the Rev. Larry Hollon,
top executive at UMCom.

"Since 2001, when we began airing United Methodist messages on television, we
have heard many amazing stories of how the ads touch hearts and cause people
to connect with our churches," Hollon said. 

The denomination, through UMCom, has to date distributed approximately $3
million in matching grants for local TV advertising, and has used $10 million
to place ads on 17 cable television channels. Agency officials state that
more than 92 million people have seen the denomination's messages.

Igniting Ministry ads air during the weeks before Easter, back-to-school in
August and September, and the time immediately before and after Christmas.
The three seasons were chosen because they represent the times people are
most receptive to spiritual messages, according to UMCom officials.

The campaign's success in raising awareness and helping to increase worship
attendance in the United States has compelled UMCom officials to propose
significantly expanding the program beginning in 2005. 

The plan, aimed at reaching more unchurched people more often, includes
additional U.S. airings, along with youth and global components. Nearly 1.5
million United Methodists live outside the United States. 

The Rev. Steve Horswill-Johnston, a staff executive at UMCom, leads the
Igniting Ministry effort. Jackie Vaughan is director of the Igniting Ministry
matching grants program.

Matching grant application dates for Lent 2004 are Nov. 1-Dec. 2. More
information about Igniting Ministry grants is available from the matching
grants office, by calling toll-free (877) 281-6535; sending an e-mail to
imgrants@umcom.org or visiting the Web site at
www.ignitingministry.org/matchinggrants.  
# # #
*Willis is editor of the Public Information Team at United Methodist
Communications in Nashville, Tenn.

2003 Igniting Ministry Matching Grant Recipients
(Unless otherwise indicated, church bodies listed here received grants for
both the back-to school and Christmas airings.)

Alabama
Dothan District 

Alaska
Alaska Missionary Conference, Anchorage 
St. John United Methodist Church, Anchorage

Arkansas
First United Methodist Church, Harrison (Christmas)

California
Davis United Methodist Church, Davis (back-to-school)
First United Methodist Church, Watsonville

Connecticut
Griswold-Sprague United Methodist Church, Baltic (Christmas)
Windham County United Methodist churches, North Grosvenordale

Florida
Tampa Bay United Methodist churches, Brandon (back-to-school)
First United Methodist Church, Nokomis 

Georgia
Cascade United Methodist Church, Atlanta
Thomasville District, Bainbridge 

Iowa
Collegiate United Methodist Wesley Foundation, Ames (Christmas)
St. Paul's United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids (Christmas)
Iowa Annual Conference, Des Moines (back-to-school)

Illinois
Northern Illinois Annual Conference, Chicago (back-to-school)
First United Methodist Church, O'Fallon (Christmas)
Melrose Chapel United Methodist Church, Quincy
Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference, Springfield (back-to-school)

Indiana
North Indiana Annual Conference, Avon (back-to-school)
South Indiana Annual Conference, Indianapolis (back-to-school)

Kansas
Kansas West Annual Conference, Wichita

Kentucky
Kentucky Annual Conference, Crestwood (back-to-school)

Louisiana
Asbury United Methodist Church, LaFayette (back-to-school)

Maryland
Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, Columbia 

Michigan
West Side United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor (back-to-school)

Mississippi
Mississippi Annual Conference, Jackson (back-to-school)

North Carolina
Providence United Methodist Church, Charlotte (Christmas)

New Jersey
Trinity United Methodist Church, Spotswood

New York
Western New York Annual Conference, West Amherst (Christmas)

 
Ohio
Lima District, Cridersville (Christmas)
Westwood United Methodist Church, Cincinnati 
Dayton South District (back-to-school)
First United Methodist Church cluster, Franklin
First United Methodist Church, Mansfield (back-to-school)

Oklahoma
Oklahoma Annual Conference, Oklahoma City 
Paul's Valley United Methodist Church, Paul's Valley

Pennsylvania
First United Methodist Church, Murrysville
First United Methodist Church, New Castle
Green Lane United Methodist Church, Philadelphia

South Carolina
South Carolina Annual Conference, Columbia

Tennessee
Memphis Annual Conference, Jackson (back-to-school)

Texas
St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Lubbock
First United Methodist Church cluster, Pampa

Virginia
Northern Virginia Districts, Annandale (back-to-school)

West Virginia
West Virginia Annual Conference, Charleston (back-to-school)

 
 

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United Methodist News Service
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