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Carolyn Steeves

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Recently I read a column in the Globe and Mail written by a former Greenpeace activist, Chris Turner. What drew me in was the adorable graphic of a cartoon whale with the caption "Save Mr. Splashy Pants." Until reading this article, I would never have guessed that Greenpeace and churches have anything in common.

Turner had been part of Greenpeace's team pleading the plight of whales, and the perils of the planet. He called it a "grim salvation," describing how one summer he went door to door soliciting donations. He says, "I left the job at the end of the summer utterly exhausted at the prospect of saving whales . . . at least if it required me to spend another day trafficking door to door in fear, guilt and despair."

The key phrase that really struck me was "If we were in the business of saving the planet, why couldn't it be a joyous business?" Turner remarked about the activists public persona; "when they face outward, they come close to that humourless, worthy, holier-than-thou stereotype we fall foul of so often."

Turner reengaged recently, however, because of Geenpeace's newest campaign -- "Save Mr. Splashy Pants." This "radically goofy" idea saw where people could vote online to give names to migrating humpback whales. "Splashy" almost didn't make the final list because Greenpeace officials worried that the name was too "undignified." But it ended up being the most affective and engaging conservation campaign yet.

Greenpeace, Turner explained, had found its funny bone and people responded.

I think there are some interesting similarities between Greenpeace's strategy and strategies used by some local churches as they try to connect people with God. I can remember being part of a church that held an evangelism campaign once a year. My husband and I earnestly desired to share our faith with the people in our community. I remember feeling discouraged and ready to quit as door after door closed behind us.

I have seen Christians using "fire and brimstone" tactics, seeing people as "targets" of the message, often leaving them feeling objectified, offended and annoyed. I have asked the same question of churches and church leadership that Turner asked as I've attended services and events that are stoic and staid; "if we're in the business of saving souls, why couldn't it be a joyous business?"

I understand that God uses many approaches when reaching others, and people have come into a relationship with Him with these and other methods. However, it makes me think perhaps as followers of Jesus, we could take a lesson from Greenpeace and find our funny bones. We need to discover fun, friendly and fresh ways to reach out to others and share the Good News of Jesus.

Surveys have shown that some people perceive Christians similarly to what Mr. Turner described the Greenpeace activists as being "humourless" and "holier-than-thou". The truth is, those of us who call ourselves Christians should be the most contagious, fun-loving, joy-filled people around. We should be irresistible to people as we reach out to others in authentic ways, admitting our faults and loving others in spite of theirs.

Sometimes I think we "religious people" just need permission to lighten up. We need to know it's okay to engage with the up and coming generations and adjust our approaches accordingly. Paul gives the "green light" in 1 Corinthians 9:22 when he says, "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some."

I think Turner's final observation about Greenpeace's approach is applicable for local churches as well -- "If you presume to speak to the masses about society's ills and how to correct them, do it in their language . . . address them as friends would." Only this is about more than saving whales; the cause of Christ is about saving souls.

* Carolyn Steeves is a freelance writer and speaker who loves to communicate faith in fresh and fun ways. She works at Allison Church in Outreach & Communications. Her Religion Today column appears every fifth week on Faith Page.