Opinion Articles

SOUL MATTERS: JAAL Campaign focuses the spotlight clearly on Jesus
By John Donnelly

One thing most people can agree upon is that the person of Jesus provides a great role model for life, a fine example of how best to live this human existence.

Hunter Region churches have been working together for years and the current Jesus. All About Life (JAAL) campaign is another example of what can be achieved when Christians work together for the common good.

Originally a local initiative planned for Easter, the Bible Societies campaign, Jesus. All About Life was postponed and extended throughout New South Wales. The longer lead-in has provided the opportunity to plan more effectively and involve more churches. Currently some 170 churches of various denominations are registered and active in the JAAL campaign locally.

Representatives of the Anglican, Baptist, Catholic and Christian City Churches, the Salvation Army and some independent church representatives have been working behind the scenes for over 12 months. Their aim was to have an impact on the Hunter community through the media across the region. With the aid of many small local groups, many of them inter-denominational, the organizing committee will see this aim achieved.

Most encouraging are initiatives that see local churches working together on projects such as family picnics, band competitions and art festivals. All these serve the common purpose of presenting the name of Jesus to the general public.

Could all this deteriorate into a bun fight for new members? No, not if you can believe the promotional material. The aim is to offer people a relationship with Jesus. Such a relationship is central to what we Christians hold as essential to a good life. There is no greater gift.

In a world of global economic crisis many have concerns - employment, mortgage rates and rising prices. To this world of uncertainty and fear the Christian churches plan to communicate the name of a person who is synonymous with hope: the name of Jesus.

The first stage of the campaign invites believers and non-believers to post messages of thanks on www.allaboutlife.com Some of the resources portray the world as God’s masterpiece which has been mutilated by vandals. Proposing Jesus as the source of answers to life’s challenges bypasses religion altogether.

This simple plan with its limited goals is certainly open to cynicism and ridicule. Many are already questioning the naivety and hypocrisy of these churches. Some have suggested the money could be spent more wisely on present needs.

At a time when religions and churches get little credit, the JAAL campaign goes to the authentic source of our faith, the person of Jesus, and focuses the spotlight clearly on him. Like all advertising the ultimate choice is the consumer’s. Whether this campaign is successful in attracting non-believers to faith in Jesus Christ is entirely up to the general public.

One success is already evident – different Christian churches can work together in harmony and with purpose. They can put their differences aside and work on a common mission.

John Donnelly is Director of Evangelisation and Catechesis of Children for the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. This article is submitted by the Churches Media Association www.cmahunter.com.au.

*This article was published in The Herald, 21st September 2009