Ads to set context for UM special events

Southwest Texas residents should see and hear lots of “open hearts, open minds, open doors” messages from United Methodists in coming weeks.
Advertising to support the United Methodist Open House Month outreach and public witness campaign is running on 21 cable TV networks and seven Southwest Texas radio stations in early September.
The General Commission on Communication in Nashville, Tenn., has scheduled 1,150 30-second television commercials on cable networks during the next three weeks. Those ads, appearing throughout the day, are to begin Sunday and conclude Sept. 16.
The network list includes Cable News Network, Fox News Channel, Hallmark Channel, Univision and the Weather Channel.
The Southwest Texas Communications and Public Witness Office has purchased 60-second ads on Texas State Network radio stations in Falfurrias, Fredericksburg, Halletts-ville, Liberty, LaGrange, San Antonio and Yoakum. Those spots are to run from Sept. 3 through 16.
The advertising establishes a media backdrop for Open House special events planned by United Methodist congregations across the region, said Douglas Cannon, communications and public witness director. The radio and TV commercials are designed to raise public awareness about The United Methodist Church.
The radio commercials, produced by the Nashville-based communications commission, say:
“If you’re searching for something to believe in—one that could actually change the world—meet us at The United Methodist Church, and rediscover how God is working in our lives every day—even when we aren’t always aware of it.”
Both the TV and radio commercials end with the tag line: “Our hearts, our minds and our doors are always open. The people of The United Methodist Church.”
On the radio ads an announcer then directs listeners to the conference Web site “to find a United Methodist church near you.”
Bishop Joel N. Martinez has proclaimed September Open House Month in United Methodist congregations across Southwest Texas. That’s a time when United Methodists focus specifically on planning special events to offer Christ to people outside their congregations.
Open House Month has been an annual event in Southwest Texas since 2000. The outreach effort is part of the denominationwide Igniting Ministry hospitality and image campaign.
Open House Month is one way the conference tries to empower ministries in local congregations so they can offer Christ to all.