TAMPA — The national Igniting Ministry office has awarded the Tampa District two matching grants, one that allowed the district to air commercials during the busy back-to-school time and another to air commercials during Advent.

Igniting Ministry is the denomination’s four-year national media campaign approved at the 2000 General Conference. It offers churches evangelism, welcoming and discipling tools, highlighted by a series of national cable network commercials designed to raise awareness about the United Methodist Church. The commercials strive to reach 25- to 54-year-olds who are either unchurched or don’t have a relationship with a church family. The overall goal is to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

The grant provided $5,472 or half the $10,044 cost of airing 96 commercials Sept. 3-13. The same amount will be given to air 96 commercials during Advent. The district is funding its half of the matching grants through its Council of Ministries.

The Rev. Tim Ehrlich, Tampa District Igniting Ministry coordinator, is pleased his district is part of the Igniting Ministry campaign.

“We know our churches are going to receive visitors as a result of these commercials, and we are working to capitalize on this opportunity,” he said.

Ehrlich said Tampa District Superintendent the Rev. Albert Blomquist has also authorized the purchase of road signs imprinted with the Igniting Ministry slogan “Open Heart, Open Minds, Open Doors” for each Tampa District church. The reusable signs were placed on church property when the commercials aired earlier this month. They will be used again in December and March, September and December 2004, the three times of the year when the ads are placed nationally by the Igniting Ministry office.

The goal of the signs is to enable people who have seen the commercials and formed a positive image of the United Methodist Church to identify churches in their area that have extended the invitation to attend.