Desiring to share an invitation to view “The Christ Child: A Nativity Story” video with the people of Western Australia, particularly in the outback areas, Keallie Scott, who serves as a branch missionary in the Narrogin Branch (congregation), and Linda Hawkins, Communication Director, both of Perth Australia Southern River Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, decided to put ads in 5 regional newspapers as well as the West Australian newspaper two weeks before Christmas.
- Christ-Child-Ad-in-Narrogin-Observer
- Billboards-in-Auckland-share-Light-The-World-message
- Billboard-on-Lincoln-Road-with-'Christ-Child'
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The video depiction of the Nativity story recounts in beautiful detail sacred events found in the Bible about Jesus’s birth.
Keallie wrote, “Members of our tiny branch have been approached by members of the public in our area stating that they never knew that ‘our’ church is The Church of Jesus Christ! They had never made the connection.”Citing Mark 13:10, “And the gospel must first be published among all nations," Fiona Maile, Communication Director for Perth, said, “There is no doubt in my mind that these messages we are spreading through TV, newspaper, and social media are part of that prophetic view of our day.”
In early December billboards in nine locations in Auckland, New Zealand, invited passers-by to “Light the World.”
Closer to Christmas the messages were changed to an invitation to view “The Christ Child."
Millie Tapusoa, of Auckland, was driving down Lincoln Road between work-related visits when she saw the billboard. She said, "I am grateful for these messages lighting up the city. Caring for others and celebrating Christ’s birth are the best gifts at Christmas.”