NASHVILLE — A new $20 million ad campaign by the United Methodist Church coincided with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to boost the level of new attendees in Methodist churches an average of 108 percent in September, according to denominational figures.
The Igniting Ministry campaign, which features TV, radio and print ads with an “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors” theme, launched its television component just a week before the terrorist attacks.
According to a new survey of 100 test congregations in Baltimore, Indianapolis, San Antonio, Portland, Ore., and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., the number of new attendees rose 55 percent during the first week of the TV campaign. That number jumped to 218 percent during week two — after the attacks — and fell back down to 81 percent in week three and 77 percent in week four.
A new attendee was defined as someone who was visiting the church for the first time or who hadn’t been to the church in at least six months.
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