Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada Emerging Spirit @ The United Church of Canada

WonderCafe's "There's Probably a God" ad campaign has won Silver in the Public Service and Advocacy category at the 2009 Extra Awards for the best in Canadian newspaper advertising! 

Created by WonderCafe's ad agency, Smith Roberts Creative Communications, the "There's probably a God" ad was a response to an campaign run in Canada and the U.K. by atheists which claimed, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." 

WonderCafe's ad ran in the Globe and Mail, and a French-version was published in several Quebec newspapers. The ad and subsequent media coverage brought a landslide of new visitors to WonderCafe, where more than 13,000 votes were cast in a poll on the two perspectives.

As you may have heard, the United Church / Emerging Spirit placed an ad in last Saturday's Globe & Mail. The ad was a playful counter to the so-called atheist bus ad "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

Our ad countered "There's probably a God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life." and invited people to the discussion WonderCafe.ca.

Part of that discussion included a poll where people could cast their votes. Currently the 'no God' vote outranks 'God' more than two to one!!!

So where are the United Church voters? Come on.

Could you please:

1) Make an announcement on Sunday urging people to vote at WonderCafe.ca; and

2) Send out a similar message about this on your email lists.

P.S. Congregational leaders - this is a very easy, painless, and fun way to introduce more of the congregation to WonderCafe. While there, encourage them to check out your congregation's microsite.

Thanks for doing this!

Go directly to WonderCafe and vote: www.wondercafe.ca

Media to Date
(not quite a complete list, but details will be added when confirmed)

TV
CP24 TalkTV (Toronto): Moderator David Giuliano on church response to atheist ads. (Feb. 4, 2009)
Goldhawk Live (Toronto): Rev. Norm Seli of Jubilee United Church, along Justin Trottier of the Freethought Association of Canada and Adam Giambrone of the TTC. (Feb. 9, 2009)

Print
MarketingMag: United Church Gives Another Option to Atheist Ads  (Jan. 29, 2009)
Toronto Star: Church ad builds on idea. (Jan. 30, 2009)
Canadian Atheist Bus Campaign response: There probably *IS* a god, now stop worrying.  (Jan. 30, 2009)
Globe & Mail: United Church Hitches Ride on God Campaign  (Jan. 30, 2009)
National Post: United Church gets playful with pro-God ads  (Jan. 31, 2009)
Vancouver Sun: United Church hits back against atheist ads (Jan. 31, 2009)
Toronto Sun: Faith on the side of a bus. (Jan. 31, 2009)
Regina Leader-Post: Converting during crisis. (Jan. 31, 2009)
The Province: United Church plans to respond to Atheist bus ads. (Feb. 1, 2009)
Saskatoon StarPhoenix: Downturn a boom time for religions? (Feb. 2, 2009)
The Torontoist.com: United Church and Atheists Make Great Frenemies. (Feb. 5, 2009)

Radio
CBC Metro Morning Toronto. (Feb. 2, 2009)
Cornwall Radio AM 1220 (Feb. 2, 2009)
Owen Sound Radio (Feb. 2, 2009)
CKWS Radio Kingston (Feb. 2, 2009)
CBC Radio Kelowna - Daybreak (Feb. 3, 2009)
Port Elgin Radio (Feb. 4, 2009)

More to come...