|PIC1|It's estimated more than 2000 of the city's churches will be a part of this amazing multi-denominational event.
They will unite under the banner of 'Jesus. All about life,' (JAAL), which is the brainchild of the Bible Society NSW.
'Jesus. All about life' will be a massive TV, radio and print media exercise, which aims to reach 90 percent of Sydneysiders throughout the month of September and October.
The campaign will also extend to regional areas of NSW.
Similar campaigns have been run in other states, with phenomenal success.
'Jesus. All about life' aims to increase the overall awareness of Jesus in the community at large, and encourage serious thought about personal faith.
Bible Society CEO Daniel Willis says we live in a community where the McDonalds golden arches are more prominent than the cross.
"The church needs to seriously consider taking radical steps to increase our presence," he says.
Rev. Karl Faase, who has worked on the 'Jesus. All about life' campaign in other states with the Bible Society says the Church's role in the world community is to bring the message of Jesus to all people. "So we have committed to a co-ordinated, national response to let people know the message of Jesus is relevant in the Australian context," he says.
"'Jesus. All about life' ads will not contain the gospel message, but will be a presence in the community so Australians will consider faith as an option.
"All participating churches will fly the 'Jesus. All about life' banner, so the people of Sydney will be bombarded, prompting serious thought.
"It's building a climate of awareness in which the message of the gospel will be more readily accepted. 'Jesus. All about life' is sowing a seed."
Daniel says Jesus did not come to start an institution or an organization. He came so that all people could have a relationship with God.
"Our community is under the mistaken impression that the church is about oppressing and restricting our lives. This is not the message or purpose of Jesus.
In addition to the city-wide banners and TV, radio and print advertising, the Bible Society-sponsored Jesus Racing Team will feature prominently in the JAAL campaign for 2009.
Headed by driver Andrew Fisher, the team races cars in the Yokohama V8 Ute Series and the Fujitsu V8 Supercar series. Both racecars are adorned with the 'Jesus. All about life' logo.
"The program has been enormously successful and has taken the name of Jesus places it's never been before," says Andrew.
It's estimated the car (and the Jesus livery) is seen by a million live spectators at motor racing events, a TV audience of 30 million worldwide, 50,000 school students, tens of thousands of Christians at functions across the country every year.
Andrew is an accomplished and experienced driver who has raced in numerous motor racing series over the past 10 years. This will be his third under the 'Jesus' banner.
"We're not high brow religious types. We're practical people who have a Christian faith," he says. "I want people to see that having faith doesn't make you a freak, or mean you can't do fun things, it just means you do things a certain way, and you do them with integrity."
Andrew says there's more to faith than going to church on Sundays. "It's about life," he says. "I want people to know that Christians can win, lose and knock into other cars on the racetrack too!
In addition to his work on the track, Andrew and Bible Society Jesus Racing Team pastor Steve Peach, under the Jesus, All about life banner, have put together a series of presentations which they take to conferences, schools and events, that focus on integrity, and challenge young people on the issue of courage.
The Bible Society also has a replica Jesus Ute race car, which they take on the road as part of their 'Schools Program".
"Currently we have 140 schools lined up to hear us speak," he says. "We estimate we will speak to in excess of 50,000 teenagers this year. "
The Bible Society NSW believes this face-to-face communication, coupled with the mass messages that will confront all Sydneysiders come September, will doubtlessly prompt many of us to take a long look at what we really believe.
"If the JAAL campaign can help the church move past cynicism and criticism," says Rev. Karl, " we may well have done the kingdom of God in Australia a great service."