Christians offer the Spirit with beer in search for souls
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.FOR those who have recently prayed to God for forgiveness after an evening of alcoholic over- indulgence, a less stressful means of communication may have been right under their noses or, rather, their pint mugs, writes Ian MacKinnon.
Beer mats advertising Christianity are appearing in pubs in an attempt to attract new business to churches.
Twenty thousand mats are being placed in bars and cafes as part of a pilot project by the Christian Enquiry Agency.
The multi-denominational group has had several versions printed and drinkers are invited to fill in the coupon on the back and send off for further details.
The idea sprang from an evangelising march across the West Country, the Walk of a Thousand Men, who left six different beer mats in pubs.
The Rev Tony Beetham, director of the agency, said: 'It may not be everybody's cup of tea, and we're not immune from criticism. But in the end people can take it or leave it.'
But the Bishop of Peterborough, the Rt Rev Bill Westwood, is sceptical. 'I think it needs to be more subtle to get such a complex message across. And how do you measure success? If it's Mars bars or something you can easily see you're selling more, but our programme tends to be rather longer.'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments