Lifechurch.tv launched a new billboard campaign recently that’s pretty creative. I’ve seen billboards for churches before and I’ve liked, well, none of them. This might change my mind. The time spent behind the wheel is definitely a great time to try and set people’s mind on Christ, as they drive (hopefully) without too many distractions. I’ve just never seen it done in a way that was either thought-provoking or non-threatening. Check out the whole campaign.
The site to frustrate, educate and motivate the church to communicate, with uncompromising clarity, the truth of Jesus Christ
Satan Hates Life
March 15, 2007 by Joshua Cody
22 Responses to “Satan Hates Life”
The Aesthetic Elevator
March 15, 2007
Love the campaign. My only concern is that a large segment of the population may not quickly enough equate “.tv” with a website yet — especially with a period immediately following the site addy.
But I might be wrong . . .
Brad
March 15, 2007
Okay, that’s a pretty slick campaign. Maybe too slick…? Purely from a marketing perspective, it’s over the wall, out of the park, into the parking lot. But it begs a larger question:
Is multi-campus, internet-centric efforts really where we want to aim the church? I guess my fear is that we go so far trying to tailor church to people’s perceived needs that we miss their actual needs (community, growth, discipleship, empowerment, perhaps even corporate worship). And is that really the only way we can make church marketing work?
I’m eager to hear more thoughts on this…
jordan
March 15, 2007
I was just driving through Edmond OK on my way to St. Louis to visit friends. The billboard really caught my attention (of course, so did their humongo white cross just a little farther down the road). Yes, the billboard can sometimes be hokey, but these didn’t seem such. If you want to talk hokey, just talk about church bumper or window stickers…now you are talking hokey.
Brandon
March 15, 2007
I really can’t decide how I feel about this. Its funny, but in a, hey let’s make fun of Christians, way. The website they link to sucks.
I guess if I had to make a call now, I’d say this is pretty lame. If I were a non-Christian, and went and checked this stuff out, I’d probably feel that Satan had it right when he thought it sucked.
LifeChurch can do better than this. Why do you want to copy a campaign that most ad people didn’t consider to be very good, and slightly annoying anyway?
TIm
March 16, 2007
Brandon,
My guess is that they are making fun of the “God” billboard campaign…not trying to copy it because they like it.
I imaging that the fact we are talking about the campaign means it is working. It’s remarkable.
Brandon
March 16, 2007
I completely understand that they are making fun of the campaign, but is that a good thing?
Jason McCoy
March 16, 2007
This seems hokey to me…and seems very “insider”…I don’t think the fact that were talking about it means it works, it means that we are critically thinking and hopefully asking questions that will be helpful.
I feel like I get what they are going for- it is trying to be witty and ironic. (who was it that said that irony is the lowest form of wit??)
I just don’t think that anyone outside of the church is going to care. So then, it ends up seeming that it is primarily aimed at “churched” people. So I’m wondering how this is effective?
Drew
March 17, 2007
Its an awesome series! I think the people they are trying to reach out to, just like us, need to show intrest. And if you’ve thought about God, or Satan, or heaven or hell, these signs are gonna make you think. Atleast make you check it out.
Michael
March 19, 2007
What a horrible campaign. The only thing I can’t figure out is ‘does the billboard suck worse than the website’?
So one church in the entire body of Christ would has the audasicty to claim that Satan hates them? I’m pretty sure satan has and will continue to wage war on every Christian and every extension of the body of Christ… whether that extension has “.tv” in its web address or not.
Sto wasting money on billboards that won’t work and do something novel like “feed to poor”, “help the widow”, and the other thigns that are in the red letters of most bibles. And if “.tv” does do these things then do them more.
Maybe they can give a truck load of “.tv” t-shirts to the homeless that have no clothes.
Dox
April 6, 2007
Speaking as a non-Christian (and therefore someone for whom this ad campaign appears to be targeted), this is just flat-out stupid.
First, the Law of Unintended Consequences: To someone like me, it certainly looks like Satan is shilling for Lifechurch. If you’re a large religious body, do you really want Satan as your spokesperson, even as comic relief? The website clearly identifies the author of the billboard messages as “from the other side … Satan” … but it’s an advertisement for a church website. What kind of mixed message is this church trying to send, exactly?
Second, the domain name is just far too much like another series of websites run by Westboro Baptist Church – godhatesfags.com and godhatesamerica.com. That was the immediate subconscious connection that I made in my mind.
Third, it’s just effing dumb. Dumb, dumb, dumb. This is not going to appeal to anyone who isn’t already “churched”. So much money was wasted on this campaign, money that could have been put to much better use.
brandon
April 9, 2007
Dox –
Its great to hear a different perspective on this. Just the other day, I heard a pastor say he was driving through Oklahoma and saw these and thought they were great. I have been really surprised that this has received a warm reception by so many.
I think your point about the “voice” is dead on. If we’re trying to reach people, and Satan is the best spokesperson we think we can find, then we are doing something wrong.
To me, this is amateur advertising at its best. What makes me sad is so many in the church seem to think its great. Maybe church marketing really does suck after all.
Chris
April 10, 2007
I just have to say to those people who say we can use the money to feed the poor, your talking about a “church” that during the offering, states “if you are in need of money go ahead and take from the offering, its Gods money and He will use it how He see fit to glorify His kingdom.” Next is the fact that you are talking about it, weither you liked it or not you checked it out, so it worked, and other churches are using the same idea, free of charge, because at Life we dont charge for a single ministry resource that we create.
Dox
April 15, 2007
Perhaps, but it doesn’t mean I’m motivated to visit your church. I’m presuming that the purpose of this advertising campaign is to encourage people like me – the unchurched – to pay your congregation a visit.
It’s nice and all that you are have a “take a penny, leave a penny” approach to the offering plate … but the fact remains that your church occupies the square footage of a shopping mall. I’m sure that must cost a pretty penny. I’m not saying that you’re free to operate a multimillion dollar non-profit religious organization, because you are. I’m just saying that I’m pretty sure that if Jesus were on the Board of Directors, turning Satan into a hand-puppet and buying billboard space would not be at the top of his agenda.
J. M. Branum
May 10, 2007
I am a follower of Christ, and I find the billboards to be offensive and arrogant.
But generally I oppose most of Lifechurch.tv’s slick branding techniques that sell the “gospel” like a new car or a strip club.
Chris Roach
February 18, 2008
Interesting comments. Yes I just happen to be a part time member of Lifechurch (I am not going to lie and say I am a full member…I dont attend often enough..and that’s somthing I am dealing with.) Advertising is an essential part of growing any church. They are reaching saturation of word of mouth in the Oklahoma area. At least in the metro areas. One way to grab peoples attention is with a what in the world are they talking about billboard…which I guess all of you did check out, and rather you liked the info provided or not it achieved part its goal…which in my view is a success. Cheesy, a little, innovative, kind of, could the money be better spent??? Guess we should figure out what the dollar spent to save a soul ratio is…..if it saves one soul directly or indirectly its worth whatever it costs….period! Chris
Chris Roach
February 18, 2008
Interesting comments. Yes I just happen to be a part time member of Lifechurch (I am not going to lie and say I am a full member…I dont attend often enough..and that’s somthing I am dealing with.) Advertising is an essential part of growing any church. They are reaching saturation of word of mouth in the Oklahoma area. At least in the metro areas. One way to grab peoples attention is with a what in the world are they talking about billboard…which I guess all of you did check out, and rather you liked the info provided or not it achieved part its goal…which in my view is a success. Cheesy, a little, innovative, kind of, could the money be better spent??? Guess we should figure out what the dollar spent to save a soul ratio is…..if it saves one soul directly or indirectly its worth whatever it costs….period! Chris
free church bulletin templates
August 14, 2009
I love this lol. Just by saying don’t go there you drive people to be curious!
stan dailey
August 25, 2009
whatever, read jude and jeremiah7 and decide for yourselves
sergiorivas
November 15, 2009
Why we do not try different methods? Some will be on a billboard, others by mail, etc. Having different ideas allows targeting different audiences. We in America, we are so different, for example some people will find offensive anything, for example a few will have a problem with a Spanish billboard sign, because “we are in America, we speak English”, many, do not speak/write or read English, or some of us, we do it barely (sorry)… but most importantly, we need to agree to disagree, be respectful, as a citizens, as a Christians, some responses here are, mmm… edgy, please be objective. We also need to be realistic, as Christians we are losing ground against the world, check the numbers, please! Having the usual way… is NOT working, people are block in “my” way or you are an atheist philosophy.
chuk
April 17, 2010
I know a guy who did this. It was the talk of the town it brought people to church and to the website. So does it suck. Nope it did what he wanted it to do so it was a good idea.
Tim
March 9, 2011
These guys are pretty smart. I’ve got a feeling they made satan’s website suck on purpose. Why would he have a better site than the church?
I love this campaign!
miartistry
June 11, 2011
Well, I’m astounded at the number of replies to this. First I just want to tell all of you, from a certified graphic designer’s point of view, with branding and marketing background, that the reason Lifechurch.tv most likely went with this campaign is because the goal in marketing is to aim at the right audience. I don’t live in OK, but I’m well aware of many hate groups being out in that area. Perhaps then, if you put yourself in a hate group’s shoes, they may actually consider it. If they used any church leader, Jesus Christ himself, or other Godly figure in the campaign don’t you think it reasonable to say they will immediately turn away from it? Jesus hung out with tax collectors and “sinners” – not exactly what the Pharisees liked, but nonetheless it was how God reached those people. I say to you, never mind gathering about to ridicule a church for their marketing strategy – ultimately we all will be before God on Judgment day to speak for our actions – If they sought God on how to do this campaign, then I am glad. They don’t need your petty remarks however, and trust me, I’ve seen worse ads as a designer. I’ve seen worse websites too. Don’t go pointing the finger at people unless you can do better! And if you can, make yourself useful and go help them (That’s what Jesus would do!)