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Press release 7,000 UK churches launch major national advertising campaign 05 June 2001 The laughing face of 33-year-old Ade Adebajo is to form the main image of a nationwide advertising initiative supported by 7,000 churches of all denominations in September. More than 1 million people in the UK are now estimated to have taken part in an Alpha course, offering them 'an opportunity to explore the meaning of life' at a local church. This September's campaign will be one of the largest religious advertising initiatives ever seen in Britain. It is expected to be further boosted by a 10-week national television documentary series on ITV ­ Alpha: Will it Change Their Lives? ­ hosted by David Frost starting on July 29.\ The TV programme follows the progress of 10 people who attend an Alpha course at Holy Trinity Brompton, the London church where Alpha is based. The image of Ade Adebajo will appear on: · 1,500 billboard sites across the UK. · Seventy-five London Underground station platforms. · The backs / sides of over 3,000 buses around the country. · Hundreds of thousands of leaflets, brochures and guides to the Alpha course. · Thousands of posters outside churches and homes across the UK. The wording of the poster reads, 'The Alpha Course ­ an opportunity to explore the meaning of life starting soon at a church near you.' Ade Adebajo, who is Nigerian, has been a leader on several Alpha courses at Holy Trinity Brompton. He said, "Photos of me don't usually come out very well. But the photographer said I should pretend I was on a beach in Barbados, lying back and enjoying the sun. "It was January and minus two outside, so that made me feel at ease." This year's campaign is the fourth annual 'Alpha Initiative'. Money has been raised by private donors, churches and trusts. Holy Trinity Brompton is contributing towards the running costs of Alpha in 2001 as well. The Rev'd Prebendary Sandy Millar, Vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton, London, the Anglican church which has pioneered the Alpha course, said, "These poster designs brilliantly convey the fun and relaxed nature of Alpha. They are intended not so much to bring people to the course of themselves, but to make it easier for church members to offer a personal invitation to their friends." The Rev'd Nicky Gumbel, who presents the Alpha material, said, "We have heard so many wonderful stories of people - many of them young - whose lives have been changed by God through the Alpha course in churches of all denominations throughout the country." This year's initiative will build on the success of last year's 'Inviting the Nation to Supper' theme. Once again, thousands of people will be invited to local supper parties. Notes for Editors The 'Alpha' Course A poll conducted by MORI in September 2000 revealed that over three and a half million adults in the UK - 6 per cent of the population - have now either done an 'Alpha' course, or know someone in their circle who has. Devised in the UK, the 'Alpha' course is supported by the Archbishops of Canterbury and York and by leaders of all the main denominations. The course is now running in over 18,000 churches in 122 countries around the world and the materials have been translated into 33 different languages from Shona, French, Croatian, Chinese and Russian. top [ http://www.alpha.org.uk/press/releases/05_06_04_pr_7000ukchurches.htm ] |