$1 Million Planned for UMCom Television Outreach
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than $1 million will be spent for the United Methodist advertising outreach program, “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors television campaign” for the 2003-2004 year. Half of the million will be awarded as grants by the denomination to 68 regional church bodies; the recipients will match the grants dollar for dollar
"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 United Methodist Communications’ Igniting Ministry office.
"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.
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To date, UMCom has delivered approximately $3 million in matching grants for local TV advertising, and distributed $10 million for cable television ads on 17 channels. In the coming round, 37 individual congregations, 12 clusters of congregations and 19 regional conferences across the United States will be offered the grants. According to UMCom officials, more than 92 million people have seen the messages
According to UMCom officials, Igniting Ministry ads air during the weeks before Easter, back-to-school in August and September, and the time immediately before and after Christmas, because the three seasons represent the times people are most receptive to spiritual messages.
For 2005, UMCom officials plan to expand the program; they aim to reach more unchurched people through additional U.S. airings and youth and global networks.
The following is the list of the 2003 Igniting Ministry Matching Grant Recipients
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)
