National Ad Campaign May Boost Evangelism Efforts
Episcopal News Service. March 14, 1990 [90063]
A national campaign of advertisements suggesting that people "Invite a Friend" to church may boost the Episcopal Church's Decade of Evangelism, according to Wayne Schwab, who heads the Episcopal Church's Evangelism Office in New York.
The "Invite a Friend" ads will soon appear on billboards and buses and in national newspapers and magazines as part of the campaign of Religion in American Life, a nonprofit, interfaith agency that provides the nation's religious community free public messages through the Advertising Council.
Schwab reported that the ads will include a toll-free number that will direct callers to resources linking them with the denomination of their choice. "Anyone interested in the Episcopal Church will be directed to the Evangelism Office of the Episcopal Church Center for a list of resources and a poster," he said.
Prior to the ad campaign, local diocesan evangelism units will have received an educational brochure, Get Ready, Get Set. Invite a Friend, for distribution to congregations in their dioceses.
In addition to the March campaign, another round of messages will appear in September. Schwab said that he believes that the "Invite a Friend" campaign supports the Decade of Evangelism by "emphasizing the importance of church members inviting friends to church."