A vital element in our ongoing print advertising efforts is to regularly test new promotional themes. During the past six years we have designed no less than 27 new ad ideas, offering a variety of biblical and family-living topics to potential subscribers.

For instance, during this fiscal year alone, six new themes are being tested through our supermarket "take one" advertising campaign now underway in locations across the United States. These themes include the United States and Britain in prophecy, holidays/Holy Days, the Middle East, heaven/hell, marriage and family and managing finances.

In just a three-year period, including this fiscal year, various new topics have been or will be offered to over 27 million households through card packs, "take one" brochures and direct mail co-op packages.

Our objective in testing different subjects is not only to advertise varied aspects of the gospel message, but to determine which of them generates the highest response. After discovering this, we often return again and again to marketing particular subjects in order to get the most from our promotional budget.

For example, over the years we have found the themes of "enduring peace" and "what happens after death?" have outperformed many of our other promotions. These subjects are again being advertised this fiscal year to nearly 9 million households through card packs and through 100,000 subscription brochures being distributed by Church brethren.

(Interested brethren in the United States can contact John LaBissoniere at john_labissoniere@ucg.org or by toll-free phone at 888-369-9940 for more information about participating in this program.)