The Friday Fax 2005 #30

Iran/Sweden

Depressive psychiatrist finds Jesus

"I grew up in a religious Islamic family in Iran," writes Operation Mobilisation's Dr. Manssor Amerioun. "At the age of 17, I decided to not believe in any God. I became a psychiatrist, and was an advisor at many Iranian clinics. Following my refusal to publicly declare that I follow Islam, I lost my job and was imprisoned for six months. During that time, my wife died of a brain tumour, and I became depressive. In 1989, I emigrated to Sweden, bought a small shop, married again and had a daughter. My wife visited a Christian church and became a believer. Peter Magnusson, the leader of OM Sweden, regularly came into my shop, and we spoke about God. One day, I watched the Jesus Film in the back room of my shop. Something happened to me; I was both happy and sad, and I felt as though God answered all my questions of the past 60 years - he spoke directly to my heart. That evening, my wife was worried, because she thought I was ill. I said 'You'll think I'm crazy, and wouldn't believe what happened!' 'If it's about Jesus, I'll believe anything you tell me,' she said, so I told her how God met me." Dr. Amerioun has now been working with OM since 2003, doing everything he can to help Iranian immigrants.
Source: OM News July/August 2006; www.ch.om.org

USA

God speaks - again!

Six years ago, one of the hottest topics in the USA was the advertising campaign "Godspeaks", which consisted of funny and thought-provoking one-liners in white text on a black background. No logo, no address, no telephone number, just signed "God". From very small beginnings on a handful of billboards, the campaign spread to 10,000 billboards across the nation, and also caught the attention of the media. The campaign was backed by an anonymous sponsor who wanted to draw attention to the God of the Bible in a creative, disarming and thought-provoking way. "For years, the campaign has made people talk, think and laugh," says Nancy Fletcher, CEO and President of OAAA, the Outdoor Advertising Association of America, which adopted the campaign in 1999, spreading it across the nation for free; the 10,000 billboards in 200 towns and cities would otherwise have cost around US$ 15 million. Now, there's a new campaign, titled "god speaks - again!" This time, there's also a web site (godspeaks.com) for people who have become curious and want to know more. Here are the one-liners, first from the original campain, then from the new:

1998 campaign

Letīs meet at my house Sunday before the game.
Cīmon over an bring the kids.
Which part of "Thou shalt not..." didnīt you understand?
We need to talk.
Keep using my name in vain, Iīll make rush hour longer.
Loved the wedding, invite me to the marriage.
That "Love Thy neighbour" thing - I meant it.
I love you   I love you   I love you
Will the road youīre on get you to my place?
Follow me.
Need directions?
You think itīs hot here?
Tell the kids I love them.
Need a marriage counsellor? Iīm available.
Have you read my #1 best seller? (There will be a test.)
Do you have any idea where youīre going?
Big Bang Theory? Youīve got to be kidding.
My way is the Highway.


2005 campaign

I love you... Te amo...
As my apprentice, youīre never fired.
One nation under me.
All I know - is everything.
If you must curse, use your own name!
Itīs a small world. I know - I made it.
Life is short. Eternity isnīt.
The real Supreme Court meets up here.
Feeling lost? My book is your map.

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