Hobby Lobby Spreads Gospel with Text of John 3:16 in Easter Newspaper Ads

Michael Foust | ChristianHeadlines.com Contributor | Updated: Apr 21, 2022
Hobby Lobby Spreads Gospel with Text of John 3:16 in Easter Newspaper Ads

Hobby Lobby Spreads Gospel with Text of John 3:16 in Easter Newspaper Ads

The world’s largest privately-owned arts-and-crafts retailer spread the true message of Easter this holiday season with full-page newspaper advertisements that included the text of Scripture.

Hobby Lobby, a company owned by a Christian family, printed full-page ads in newspapers nationwide showing an actor, depicting Jesus, carrying a sheep across a field. A large headline reading “His Love Endures Forever” ran across the top of the ad. Underneath the headline, readers were greeted with the text of the famous Bible verse: “For God so loved the world that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16.”

The bottom of the ad told readers how they could become a Christian: “If you would like to know Jesus as Lord and Savior, visit Need Him Ministry at ChatAboutJesus.com/.” The ad also included a link to a free downloadable Bible.

Hobby Lobby founder David Green began running full-page holiday ads more than two decades ago after reading Christmas advertisements that had little if any religious content. Green, according to the company’s website, “felt commissioned by God to do something different.”

“Hobby Lobby was selling all kinds of crafts that customers used to celebrate Christmas, yet David Green was struck by the lack of any testimony in newspapers regarding the meaning of the holiday,” the website says.

In 1996, Green ran his first newspaper ad with a Christ-centric message: “As you celebrate this Christmas season in the warmth of family and home, may you be drawn to the Savior; He who left the beauty of Heaven on our behalf and became like us, that we might become like Him. If you know Jesus as your Savior, then this season already has a special meaning. If you do not, we encourage you to find a Bible-believing church in your community, and to discover a relationship this Christmas with the God who loves you more than you can begin to imagine.”

Today, Hobby Lobby runs newspaper ads on Easter, Independence Day and Christmas, celebrating the “real meaning” of the holidays, according to its website.

Related:

Hobby Lobby Declares Christmas' True Meaning in Powerful Ad: 'Behold, the Lamb of God'

Hobby Lobby Declares Christ Is Lord in Full-Page Newspaper Ads

Photo courtesy: ©Getty Images/Joe Raedle/Staff


Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chroniclethe Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.



Hobby Lobby Spreads Gospel with Text of John 3:16 in Easter Newspaper Ads