Evangelistic Campaign: Church Mails Tract to Millions

When you check your mailbox next month, you will find a multicolored booklet with a red, white, and blue logo, if all goes as planned for Sycamore Church of Christ of Cookeville, Tennessee. The 530-member church has targeted 100 million American homes to receive the eight-page booklet, entitled One Nation Under God, with the message “Jesus Christ is the solution to the world’s problems.”

Campaign organizers say it is the single largest mailing ever to be distributed by the U.S. Postal Service. (A few years ago a U.S. Government brochure on AIDS reached 86 million homes.) In addition, 44 television stations and four satellite networks, with a potential audience of 135 million, will air an hour-long special containing the same evangelistic message, produced by the Christian Satellite Network in Dallas.

By late May, the campaign, spearheaded by millionaire businessman Horace Burks, a deacon in the Cookeville church, had $6.3 million of its $9 million goal. Burks’s church has donated $200,000, and the church’s members are prepared to mortgage their church building and their homes for the campaign, he says. At least 800 other autonomous Churches of Christ congregations have also pitched in. “Some supporters have even sold stamp collections, livestock, and household goods to help out,” says Burks.

The $6 million raised thus far will cover TV air time, production costs, and postage for mailing to at least 60 million homes, Burks says. The remaining homes will get their booklets throughout July as additional money comes in. A 24-hour 800 phone number will give free information and offer a Bible correspondence course.

By Angela Hutcherson.

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Our Latest

The Bulletin

Young Republican Texts, Anglican Split, and George Santos Released

Controversial Republican texts, Anglican Communion splits, and George Santos’s sentence is commuted.

Review

Do Evangelical Political Errors Rise to the Level of Heresy?

A Lutheran pastor identifies five false teachings that threaten to corrupt the church’s public witness.

Highlights and Lowlights of 1957

In its first full year of publication, CT looked at Civil Rights, Cold War satellites, artificial insemination, and carefully planned evangelism.

News

Will There Be a Christian Super Bowl Halftime Show?

Conservatives suggest country and Christian artist alternatives for game day.

News

As Madagascar’s Government Topples, Pastors Call for Peace

Gen Z–led protests on the African island nation led to a military takeover.

News

Amid Fragile Cease-Fire, Limited Aid Reaches Gazans

Locals see the price of flour rise and fall as truce is strained and some borders remain closed.

News

Federal Job Cuts Hit Home as Virginia Picks Its Next Governor

Meanwhile, the GOP candidate draws from Trump’s playbook to focus on transgender issues in schools. 

Religious OCD and Me

Scrupulosity latches onto the thing we hold most dear—our relationship with God.

Apple PodcastsDown ArrowDown ArrowDown Arrowarrow_left_altLeft ArrowLeft ArrowRight ArrowRight ArrowRight Arrowarrow_up_altUp ArrowUp ArrowAvailable at Amazoncaret-downCloseCloseEmailEmailExpandExpandExternalExternalFacebookfacebook-squareGiftGiftGooglegoogleGoogle KeephamburgerInstagraminstagram-squareLinkLinklinkedin-squareListenListenListenChristianity TodayCT Creative Studio Logologo_orgMegaphoneMenuMenupausePinterestPlayPlayPocketPodcastRSSRSSSaveSaveSaveSearchSearchsearchSpotifyStitcherTelegramTable of ContentsTable of Contentstwitter-squareWhatsAppXYouTubeYouTube