NY Megachurch Replaces Atheist Ad with Pro-God Message

By By Audrey Barrick Dec 24, 2010 12:18 EST

A ''God is'' billboard, sponsored by Times Square Church in New York City, is seen near the Lincoln Tunnel. The ad replaces an atheist ad that declared Christmas is a ''myth.''

The American Atheists' billboard declaring Christmas is a ''myth'' comes down. The ad was replaced this week with a

Just in time for Christmas, the atheist billboard in New Jersey that declared Christmas is a "myth" was replaced this week with a Christian ad.

The new billboard reads "God is" and features a plethora of words and phrases including "good," "alive," "Jesus," "aware of your struggle" and "the one who loved you."

The ad is located near the Lincoln Tunnel, one of the most traveled tunnels in the world. It was sponsored by Times Square Church which had the same ads plastered on some 1,000 New York City subway cars early this year.

"We want to encourage people to seek God and prove that indeed He is," Senior Pastor Carter Conlon said.

The ad, he said, describes God "in just a few of the infinite ways He proves His presence to us every day."

This is the second pro-God campaign to hit the area since American Atheists launched its anti-Christmas billboard. For about a month, the humanist group had an ad up that depicted three wise men visiting baby Jesus in the manger and the words "You know it's a myth. This season celebrate reason."

The atheist billboard was designed to appeal to "closeted" atheists during the holiday season when most Americans celebrate Christmas. It grabbed a lot of attention and sparked debates.

The Catholic League responded by sponsoring its own billboard near the exit of the Lincoln Tunnel in New York. The ad features Joseph, Mary and Jesus and the phrase "You know it's real. This season, celebrate Jesus."

Times Square Church, which draws more than 8,000 weekly attendees, is the latest to get involved in the debate with its "God is" ad.

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