The Christian Enquiry Agency (CEA) in the UK announced a recorded high number of enquiries about Christian faith in 2004, according to a report in the Baptist Times.
Despite ethical controversies such as the homosexuality deadlock in the Church and the declining number of church attendances, many Britons are in fact desperately seeking spiritual support, fulfilment and help with the stress and strains of life.
According to The Times, a staggering £80 million was spent in 2003 on books and spiritual sessions by so called founts of knowledge. The Box Office also found that films related to spirituality and morality such as The Passion of the Christ and the Matrix are more popular than any other subject.
The CEA have said that the Passion of the Christ boosted enquiries about Christian faith in 2004. The organisation, which works on behalf of major denominations and Christian agencies including the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB), received 5,000 enquiries, up by about 3,000 on 2003.
The CEA launched a campaign tailored to the Passion of the Christ last year when it was on show in cinemas. Response postcards were handed out at cinemas. Part of the response card was able to be sent freepost to CEA for a free booklet related to the film. The retainable section had thought provoking words, a verse from the Bible and an invitation to look at the special content on the UK evangelistic website. (www.rejesus.co.uk/thepassion)
150,000 response postcards were produced by the CEA. According to director Jeff Bonser, many of the additional queries last year were generated from this evangelistic effort, "We’re thrilled with the response, especially as many of those who contact us are men aged under 40 who have little or no link with church."
15 per cent of enquirers came back for more information. The Agency responds to enquiries about Christian faith on a non-sectarian basis through personal letters, free information in printed, audio or video format, telephone conversations and putting enquirers in touch with local churches. It is estimated that hundred of people found faith in Jesus and church involvement through the initiative.
"These are mainly people who are early on in their journey of exploring the faith. They aren’t even part of the fringe church," he continued. "But they come back saying, ‘I have questions,’ or ‘I’d like prayer’."
