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Online service provides ad campaign resources to churches

2/20/2003 News media contact: Kathy Gilbert · (615) 742-5470 · Nashville, Tenn.

By Nancye M. Willis*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - Media Warehouse, a new online service, offers local churches economical and step-by-step instructions on how to launch a welcoming media campaign.

"Media Warehouse offers every local church the opportunity to be a part of Igniting Ministry," said the Rev. Steve Horswill-Johnston, executive with the welcoming and advertising ministry of the United Methodist Church.

Launched in mid-January, this service at www.mediawarehouse.ignitingministry.org "puts at the fingertips of the local church all the necessary components to launch a media campaign and to be a part of Igniting Ministry," he added.

Local churches will find the service economical - with a preview and free download of a full media campaign, Horswill-Johnston said. Guidelines and instructions "mean a local church can undertake new welcoming community projects with confidence," he said.

Users can browse the menu to locate and preview a full complement of Igniting Ministry resources, including all the TV ads, graphics and ads for local church and vendor use, MP3-format radio spot ads, dozens of newspaper ads in six standard sizes, and downloadable informational files that guide users in knowing how to place and work with the advertising files.

"Its shopping-cart format and user-friendly nature simplify the process of getting the most up-to-date Igniting Ministry evangelism tools," Horswill-Johnston said. "Media Warehouse takes seriously Igniting Ministry's 'open hearts, open minds, open doors' theme by opening a direct path to downloadable Igniting Ministry tools."

Customers with less than optimal computers or those who want sizable resources, such as outdoor advertising, can order a CD or a VHS for any single theme at a nominal charge.

Igniting Ministry, highlighted by a series of television commercials, also includes a matching-grants program, regional training and an Internet presence. The effort is designed to support and encourage local churches to become active partners in reaching out to "unchurched" people and creating renewed enthusiasm among members.

The 2000 General Conference authorized United Methodist Communications to coordinate the effort and to create the commercials being used.

More information on Igniting Ministry is available from www.ignitingministry.org or by calling (877) 281-6535.

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*Willis is editor, public information, for United Methodist Communications in Nashville, Tenn.

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