NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than $1 million will be spent for the United Methodist advertising outreach program, “Open Hearts. Open Minds. Open Doors television campaign” for the 2003-2004 year. Half of the million will be awarded as grants by the denomination to 68 regional church bodies; the recipients will match the grants dollar for dollar

"Our matching grants enable local congregations to share messages of hope, comfort and inspiration in their communities," said the Rev. Larry Hollon, top executive at United Methodist Communications’ Igniting Ministry office.

"Since 2001, when we began airing United Methodist messages on television, we have heard many amazing stories of how the ads touch hearts and cause people to connect with our churches," Hollon said.

To date, UMCom has delivered approximately $3 million in matching grants for local TV advertising, and distributed $10 million for cable television ads on 17 channels. In the coming round, 37 individual congregations, 12 clusters of congregations and 19 regional conferences across the United States will be offered the grants. According to UMCom officials, more than 92 million people have seen the messages

According to UMCom officials, Igniting Ministry ads air during the weeks before Easter, back-to-school in August and September, and the time immediately before and after Christmas, because the three seasons represent the times people are most receptive to spiritual messages.

For 2005, UMCom officials plan to expand the program; they aim to reach more unchurched people through additional U.S. airings and youth and global networks.

The following is the list of the 2003 Igniting Ministry Matching Grant Recipients

Alabama

Dothan District

Alaska

Alaska Missionary Conference, Anchorage

St. John United Methodist Church, Anchorage

Arkansas

First United Methodist Church, Harrison (Christmas)

California

Davis United Methodist Church, Davis (back-to-school)

First United Methodist Church, Watsonville

Connecticut

Griswold-Sprague United Methodist Church, Baltic (Christmas)

Windham County United Methodist churches, North Grosvenordale

Florida

Tampa Bay United Methodist churches, Brandon (back-to-school)

First United Methodist Church, Nokomis

Georgia

Cascade United Methodist Church, Atlanta

Thomasville District, Bainbridge

Iowa

Collegiate United Methodist Wesley Foundation, Ames (Christmas)

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids (Christmas)

Iowa Annual Conference, Des Moines (back-to-school)

Illinois

Northern Illinois Annual Conference, Chicago (back-to-school)

First United Methodist Church, O’Fallon (Christmas)

Melrose Chapel United Methodist Church, Quincy

Illinois Great Rivers Annual Conference, Springfield (back-to-school)

Indiana

North Indiana Annual Conference, Avon (back-to-school)

South Indiana Annual Conference, Indianapolis (back-to-school)

Kansas

Kansas West Annual Conference, Wichita

Kentucky

Kentucky Annual Conference, Crestwood (back-to-school)

Louisiana

Asbury United Methodist Church, LaFayette (back-to-school)

Maryland

Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, Columbia

Michigan

West Side United Methodist Church, Ann Arbor (back-to-school)

Mississippi

Mississippi Annual Conference, Jackson (back-to-school)

North Carolina

Providence United Methodist Church, Charlotte (Christmas)

New Jersey

Trinity United Methodist Church, Spotswood

New York

Western New York Annual Conference, West Amherst (Christmas)

Ohio

Lima District, Cridersville (Christmas)

Westwood United Methodist Church, Cincinnati

Dayton South District (back-to-school)

First United Methodist Church cluster, Franklin

First United Methodist Church, Mansfield (back-to-school)

Oklahoma

Oklahoma Annual Conference, Oklahoma City

Paul’s Valley United Methodist Church, Paul’s Valley

Pennsylvania

First United Methodist Church, Murrysville

First United Methodist Church, New Castle

Green Lane United Methodist Church, Philadelphia

South Carolina

South Carolina Annual Conference, Columbia

Tennessee

Memphis Annual Conference, Jackson (back-to-school)

Texas

St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Lubbock

First United Methodist Church cluster, Pampa

Virginia

Northern Virginia Districts, Annandale (back-to-school)

West Virginia

West Virginia Annual Conference, Charleston (back-to-school)