One of Blackpool Transport’s buses with the Festival of Hope advert Blackpool Gazette
BLACKPOOL, UK (ANS – August 15, 2018) – Bus transportation officials in the United Kingdom have decided to pull advertisements on the city’s buses for Franklin Graham’s planned Festival of Hope in the wake of complaints on Facebook.
By Michael Ireland, Chief Correspondent, ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net)
The Blackpool Gazette newspaper (www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk) reports bus chiefs have scrapped adverts promoting Graham’s visit to Blackpool after a public backlash. Banner adverts have appeared on Blackpool Transport’s Palladium fleet promoting the Festival of Hope at the Winter Gardens, which will feature Graham in September.
The newspaper said Blackpool Pride cancelled its two-day festival booking at the Winter Gardens, held in June, in protest at Graham’s appearance while MPs Gordon Marsden and Paul Maynard urged then-Home Secretary Amber Rudd to investigate whether Graham, the son of late evangelist, Billy Graham, should be denied a visa.
According to the newspaper, in 2014, Graham suggested the devil is behind LGBT rights and activism, saying “when he [the President] fails to defend biblically defined marriage, and he openly and zealously advocates for gay rights… we know we are locked in a war against the Christian faith, not culture.”
He was said to have added: “The architect behind this offensive is none other than Satan himself.” He has also been accused of making anti-Islamic comments.
A spokesman for Blackpool Transport said: “Blackpool Transport has recently been made aware of an advert in place on the side of some of our double decker buses.
“In light of customer feedback and reactions on social media which has resulted in heightened tension, we have taken the decision to remove all adverts relating to the ‘Time for Hope’ Festival with immediate effect. We will reimburse any income back to the advertising company.
“We work with multiple advertisers and third-parties and in no way do we endorse or support any advertisement which is placed on our vehicles.”
The newspaper quoted Jane Cole, Managing Director at Blackpool Transport, who said: “The removal of these adverts is as a result of us listening and acting on customer and public feedback which we aim to do at all times.
“Blackpool Transport is a proud ongoing supporter of the Pride and LGBT+ communities and in no way did we intend to cause any distress or upset. All buses carrying the advert will remain off the road until they have been removed. The Festival of Hope event is due to take place on September 21-23.”
The Lancashire Festival of Hope Leadership Team, which consists of church leaders from a variety of denominations across Lancashire, said on its website it was astonished to learn of Blackpool Transport’s recent decision to remove Festival advertising from its bus fleet.
“This decision was made by Blackpool Transport without consultation with us, and we were not informed directly by them, or given a right of reply. We learned about it when it was posted on the Transport’s Press Summary,” Festival organizers said.
Organizers stated on their website “the purpose of the Festival of Hope is to share with as many people as possible, the simple gospel message summarized in John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life.’”
They said nearly 200 Lancashire churches have engaged so far in the Festival process.
The website says: “In the recent Christian Life & Witness training course, over 1,300 church members participated in the preparation stage. The Festival will be a positive event, and the largest ecumenical Christian event in Lancashire for a generation. There is a great deal of excitement amongst large parts of Lancashire’s Christian community as we prepare to share the hope of Jesus Christ.”
Organizers went on to say: “In light of this, it seems a travesty that a company we had formally contracted to provide an advertising service should withdraw this inoffensive Festival invitation, in response to small minority of people who objected via social media.”
The Festival organizers added: “The managing director of Blackpool Transport is quoted in the media as saying, ‘The removal of these adverts is a result of us listening and acting on customer and public feedback which we aim to do at all times.’
“Because the Christian community is also a customer, we hope Blackpool Transport will listen to our public feedback as well, and not show what appears to be a potential bias toward Christians. We have contacted Blackpool Transport and asked to meet with the Directors as a matter of urgency, to clarify their thinking in this matter.
“While we pursue a fair and open dialogue with Blackpool Transport, we urge all supporters of the Festival to refrain from contacting Blackpool Transport directly, or engaging in comment via social media, about this matter.”
In their online statement, organizers concluded: “As supporters of The Festival of Hope, we know this will be a positive event that can have a lasting impact on our community. So we are asking other supporters to continue the positive nature of this effort and commit your energies to prayer, and encourage everyone you know to join us September 21, 22 and 23 at the Winter Gardens.”
The Lancashire Festival of Hope with Franklin Graham will culminate with a free multi-day evangelistic outreach event, September 21-23, 2018 at the Winter Gardens Blackpool. The Festival will feature musicians, dynamic video testimonies, and Gospel presentations by Franklin Graham.
Franklin Graham said: “My message will be the simple Gospel message: a timeless message of God’s hope, love and redemption for all people. If anyone is searching for answers, wondering if their life has meaning and questioning if they are loved, I will have good news to share.”
Note: Blackpool is a seaside resort on the Irish Sea coast of England. It’s known for Blackpool Pleasure Beach, an old-school amusement park with vintage wooden roller coasters. Built in 1894, the landmark Blackpool Tower houses a circus, a glass viewing platform and the Tower Ballroom, where dancers twirl to the music of a Wurlitzer organ. Blackpool Illuminations is an annual light show along the Promenade.
Photo captions: 1) One of Blackpool Transport’s buses with the Festival of Hope advert (Blackpool Gazette). 2) Franklin Graham. 3) Blackpool sea front with its famous tower. 4) Journalist Michael Ireland in Israel.
About the Writer: Michael Ireland is Chief Correspondent for the ASSIST News Service, as well as an Ordained Minister, and an award-winning local cable-TV program host/producer who has served with ASSIST Ministries and written for ANS since its beginning in 1989. He has reported for ANS from Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Israel, Jordan, China, and Russia. You may follow Michael on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/MichaelIrelandMediaMissionary, and on Twitter at @Michael_ASSIST. Please consider helping Michael cover his expenses in bringing news of the Persecuted Church, by logging-on to: https://actintl.givingfuel.com/ireland-michael
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