Lent Television Campaign Starts Today: New Commercial Focuses on Self-Discovery

NASHVILLE - A new television message entitled “Finding Yourself” recognizes that what people show on the outside is not always what is happening in our hearts.

The commercial is the latest component of The United Methodist Church’s “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.” media campaign, and airs for the first time today.

“Through this commercial, we are encouraging people to find themselves as they show others what’s really going on inside. In doing so, they can find a path to God within a loving community – the people of The United Methodist Church,” said the Rev. Larry Hollon, chief executive of United Methodist Communications.

The commercial features various people exhibiting one face to the outside world, but wearing a screen that functions as a window to their hearts and shows what they are really feeling.
The national ad campaign will run now through Easter on the following cable networks: BET, CNN, Animal Planet, CNBC, Hallmark, CNN Headline News, HGTV, MSNBC, Oxygen, SciFi, TBS, TVLand, USA, the Food Network, and the Weather Channel. The commercial will air 963 times at a cost of nearly $1.5 million and is expected to reach 55 million adults 25-54 years of age.

Designed to appeal to thoughtful, intentional spiritual “seekers” 25-54 years old, the advertising spot provides the basic theme, illustrated in various ways, for complementary advertising for radio, print, outdoor and other media.

The commercial and all related collateral pieces are available free at www.IgnitingMinistry.org . United Methodist Communications offers $1 million in matching funds annually to local churches, districts and conferences to aid in community advertising efforts.

The “Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.” campaign, now in its seventh year, was designed to raise awareness of The United Methodist Church.