The focus of of our advertising for this series is a website, iamturnedon.com. We did not invent this idea, but we are still very excited about using this tool to get the word out to people that a church in our area is going to be doing something different in February.
Among other things, we are seeking to advertise in local papers. One of them, the NWA Times, required us to revise our ads to make them acceptable. We took that as confirmation that our edgy approach was right on the edge, right where we wanted to be.
However, the other local paper company, the Morning News, is refusing to run any of our ads in any of their papers. They have given us amazingly little explanation, even though we've asked for it by email and phone. They simply have said that our ads are "a little seductive" and that "we choose not to run these ads in any of our publications." Literally, that's the explanation we have gotten. Besides being disappointed that we won't be able to get the word out about Turned On to readers of the Morning News, I am infuriated because one of their publications, the Fayetteville Free Weekly, this week ran a full page ad of a bikini-clad woman - for a strip club!
So ... grenzian friends, tell me, are these ads too hot for the news?
32 comments:
i think they're stunning... seductive? no. playful, fun, beautiful? yes.
good for you.... i wish we could drive up there every sunday to support you guys for this - but we will with our prayers, okay?? it's about stinkin' dang time we start talking about it... it's the one thing that i see destroying couples left and right - it is SO distorted in EVERY way. there is so much shame deeply rooted, from one source or another, with just about everyone i talk to about this.... everyone. will you be making podcasts? that would be great!
right on, man!!
If you go to iamturnedon.com, it will take you to a page on our Vintage site. During the series, videos of the services will be uploaded there each week.
Thanks for your support, Darla!
I am turned on.
Well Robb,
These ads make people think of sex. While girls in bikini's might only make men think of sex...these ads make everyone think of sex.
Unfortunately sex is a touchy subject even for our sexualized culture today. Sex still makes even people who have had it uncomfortable to even admit that they not only think about it but that they do it.
I only say this because everything that i learned about sex came from reading books, watching movies, and sex education at school. My father never once talked to me about sex and my mother only gave me a brief sex talk when i was 6yrs old and that was just so she could kill 3 birds with one stone.
I only have the view on sex that i do today because of a few people like Vanessa, you, Colin Smith and a couple of good christian authors that have helped me to have a proper perspective.
Face it the ads make the majority of the public population uncomfortable, sex makes the majority of the population uncomfortable and then ad the words..'Sex and GOD' well then you've really made people uncomfortable.
I can understand why the press would be hesitant, doesn't make it right...definitley doesn't make it fair...but i can understand.
Sara, I know this probably goes without saying, but the ads are supposed to make people think about sex. The series at church is about sex.
duh, i knew that much i'm just saying that is probably one of the reasons the newspaper doesn't want to run it...lol
A, this isn't the Barack Obama thread.
I know ... I am just very, very frustrated by it.
hey, what about trying other avenues? i know that a lot of the churches here put up flyers and stuff at publix (grocery store). they have a bulletin board when you walk in, and there's always something from a church up there. maybe you could even meet with the manager and explain what it's about?? let's think positive - what are some other creative ways you can get the word out w/out costing a fortune??
Darla - it's funny you should mention that. In addition to the newspaper ads, we are going to be doing something I am calling "The Urinal Offensive." My goal is for us to put cards advertising iamturnedon.com in every public bathroom in Northwest Arkansas.
Any other ideas?
yes, i was just sitting here thinking - (can you tell you hit something i'm passionate about - no pun intended!) ha ha!!
do you have any place in town that has like alternative/vintage clothing, coffee shops, tattoo parlors?? i think that crowd (a lot of young people) would definitely be intrigued by this - God and sex?? huh?? draw on that -the curiosity of what in the world you would be talking about? even though we know it's totally natural and amazingly connected with the Creator, i think others might be interested to see how in the world it IS connected... do you understand??
still thinking.... just tell me to stop if you need to! :-)
robb-
In most states there is a News Commission which takes complaints from individuals who feel they were discriminated against in editorial content or in advertising. Even if you don't want to make a big stink about it, you might just want to check with them and see if they think it's too "seductive." Lol.
If you want, I'd run it in my paper.. put it right on the front page... no better way to get college kids to pick one up... lol.
Yep - a lot of those places are on our list.
I didn't say why I was turned on. And no, it does not have anything to do with Barack Hussein Obama.
Justin, thanks for the input. Is it typical for papers to have written guidelines for ads and how hard would it be for us to get a copy of them from this paper? It just makes no sense to me why they are being so tight lipped.
Evidently their lips aren't the only thing that is a little tight . . .
I wonder if we are finding something out before we even get started with this series....
...people are weirded-out by sex and church together in the same thought, which really reveals the distortion. We try to say that God is pro-sex, but the truth is that we don't hear too much at church that really adds anything to the the dimentions of our sex lives.
What church has been very successful with has been teaching kids for generations now that there is nothing hotter than gettin' some in the back of the church van because it is SO BAD. The thrill threshold is very high and hard to beat in normal circumstances.
Okay...now that I finally figured out what I think of this whole thing...
Darla, you crack me up. I love your perspective.
Church vans are dens of iniquity.
When is Vintage buying one?
I rest my case.
How you doin?
I'm good Baby. How YOU doin'?
Ahhhh, the church van . . .
Tell me you guys aren't sitting on opposite sides of the living room in silence communicating via the Grenz?!?
And sometimes we email each other when we are in the same room too.
I"ve had sex. It does not make me uncomfortable to think about or that I want to do it.
I think I may be the only member of the human race to have never "Done it" in a car or van.
In a Church, Yes. On the Dean's Desk-Yes. On Stage at CMU, Yes, YES YES OH GOD Yes..oh..heh heh.
Sex is Powerful. I have more I want to write about this regarding the alternative HIgh School I help at..But I'm WAYY ready for bed. Meds are kickin in.
D
HELLLLLOOOOO DONNA!'
what kind of meds are those?
Donna I have definitely never 'done it' in a church van. So you're not the only one in the human race who hasn't..lol.
church van, no. church and church parking lot, absolutely. good times
can i come visit your church? I guess I know a little since I'm now knocked up but it would be good to learn more. I do it in a house the church owns.
Amy, you are always invited to come check out our church! You can do it from upstate NY too. In February, we will posting videos of the services on Vintage's website. There will also be a link to them here on the Grenz.
Oh, and congrats on being knocked up.
thanks to both! we'd love to visit sometime!
WOW. I can't wait to see the video. Who is it gonna be of who doing who???
heh heh
Donna ...
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