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January 20, 2006 - Also Read the Herald Journal article--Sign Sparks Debate.
We were excited about all the interest we recieved—positive and negative—about our 3 new billboards in Spartanburg and Greenville County. Thanks to a grant from Spartanburg Christian Community Foundation, we were able to pay for this billboard campaign ($4000.00). The campaign did exceed what we wanted to spend by 1000.00, but we believed that it was the direction we needed to go. Otherwise we would not have been able to reach the Greenville area. The first billboard, pictured above, is the one that sparked the media press. We have one of the owners at the Beacon Drive In to thank for this one. They donated this space to Truth Ministry for one month, and all we had to pay was the $250.00 for the paper to be put up. They received a lot of flak from many sides on this, but they believe in Truth Ministry’s cause. They told me that they considered it an honor to stand with Truth in this way.
The billboards are located at: The Beacon Drive In (up for one month), 176 across from First Baptist North Spartanburg (still up), and Pleasantburg Drive and 385 in Greenville (was up for three months).
The coverage has had a varied media impact. First we received a call from the Herald Journal, and then News Channel 7. These two ended up working together to break the story. First Channel 7 broke the story on their 6 o’clock hour briefly introducing the story and then covering it as their Top Story on their 10 o’clock and 11 o’clock hour, and again the next morning. As a part of their story they told viewers about the Herald Journal having the article in the next morning’s Saturday paper. Headlines of the paper with the billboard 4” by 8” under HOMOSEXUALITY: INHERENT OR CHOICE? (The story is here for you to read.) That ignited an online forum debate on the Herald’s internet site between readers, that continues to go on with letters to the editor every day—one and two each day. Most are pro-gay individuals talking about how bad this all is. There have been a few letters asking what their problem is, but most are holding back while several are speaking up on the online forums. Then the next Wednesday we got calls from WYFF News 4 and WHNS-Fox 21. Both asked if they could come to the office right then and interview me for that nights story. Both began their news hours as this being the breaking Top Story of the night. All three networks gave us an incredible opportunity and did a wonderful job in covering the story. (If you would like a copy of any or all of these news broadcasts or the Herald’s paper, give me a call to arrange that for you.)
All of this attention has resulted in a number of calls and emails to the office. We need your help to do this work! We are overwhelmed by people that want the help of this ministry. Most Exodus ministries are part time, but few have the opportunities that we have been honored to have such as this incredible media coverage and the traffic of persons’ wanting help. Please consider what part you can play—large or small. Give me a call today to meet and discuss what you can do. We need board members, volunteers, help with connections to pastors and donors, financial partners, church partnerships, mentors, ministry leaders for support groups, and prayer partners. Now is the time to step up—We Need You!
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