The High Court decides today whether advertisements for the Power to Change campaign can be broadcast on television. Paddy Monaghan writes on the campaign
Ireland has been characterised around the world as a nation where Catholic murders Protestant, and vice versa. Yet there is a deep spiritual longing in our people - as someone said "the Irish have not rejected the true God so much as a false image of the true God".
People need to connect personally with God through a living faith in Jesus Christ. "Power to Change" is a unique Christian initiative which aims to present every individual North and South with the transforming power of Christ. It will be the biggest single evangelistic event to take place in Ireland, with a significant potential for empowering the laity.
For four weeks, from today until October 20th, most media will be saturated with a €1.27million advertising campaign designed to assist local churches, parishes and prayer groups to mobilise members to share their faith. Billboards, TV and cinema ads will focus attention on the life-changing effect of a personal relationship with Christ.
The four main Irish church leaders have written in support of the Power to Change (PTC) initiative. "We are happy to endorse Power to Change as a potentially significant North/South initiative for evangelisation and reconciliation at this critical time in our country and in our world. Power to Change will facilitate local congregations share the Good News with all the people of this island," they said in an agreed statement. The campaign is sponsored largely by Christians in the business community, North and South. The guiding principle is that the business community sponsors 100 per cent of the media costs, while the churches, parishes and prayer groups pay for the material they use. Our hope is that 1,000 churches and parishes will register.
Over 800 have done so, so far. And already 8,000 people have attended training seminars all over Ireland. A further 80 training seminars will take place during the next five weeks.
Churches and parishes can make the most of this initiative by:
organising training seminars and encouraging parishioners to attend;
organising special events. Lots of events are being planned, e.g., in Malahide, Co Dublin, Catholics and Church of Ireland members are organising an outdoor event at Malahide Castle next Sunday. In Dún Laoghaire there is a PTC céilí on October 11th. Many churches are joining together to run Bible courses;
neighbourhood visitation. Many churches are organising to visit homes in their communities during the campaign, offering the PTC pack;
call centre. Ads will offer a free PTC pack, comprising a testimony-based book.
Power to Change is available to everyone. It comes through simple and unreserved acceptance of the indescribable, personal love of God for each one of us, poured out in Christ crucified. In the words of Pope John Paul II: "It is not a matter of merely passing on a doctrine, but rather of a personal and profound meeting with the Saviour."
I encountered this "personal and profound meeting with the Saviour" during a master's degree in finance in UCD. I responded to the incredible, unconditional love of God for me and committed my life to Jesus. I then finished my degree, worked in business and set up a small consultancy firm. Since July 2000 I have been working full-time on this exciting project.
This is a kairos moment for Ireland. There are many indications that the time is ripe for a turning back to a living faith in God. In political, business and church circles, corruption has and is being exposed. I believe that God is showing us Catholic Christians that we are not as spiritually complete as we once thought, and showing us our need for our brothers and sisters in the Protestant and Pentecostal churches.
Many of our young people who have left the institutional church say, in surveys, that they still have a sense of God. They are looking for authenticity. They want to hear and see evidence of the real influence of Jesus in the lives of those who profess to follow Him.Power to Change packs are available at €5 each from Veritas, Scripture Union bookshops, or direct from our offices at 45 Waterloo Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 (01 6671124), or 27 Gordon Street, Belfast BT1 21G (028 90266799).
Paddy Monaghan is project manager of the Power to Change campaign