"Only fools say in their hearts, 'There is no God.'"
That is the message from Psalms 14:1 which will be placed soon on the sides of a number Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority buses, according to Marshalltown's Jim Johnson. The owner of Marshalltown's Showroom Auto, an auto detailing business, two Marshalltown churches and fellow Central Iowa Christians have joined forces.
It is called the DART Bus Christian Campaign.
Specifically, they are raising money to counter the ads "Don't believe in God? You are not alone," paid for by the Iowa Atheists & Freethinkers and placed on 20 DART buses last month.
"We have enough money to place seven signs now," Johnson said. "Our goal is to raise enough to place 20 and I believe we will, once more people know about us," he said.
The IAF ads generated a significant amount of controversy shortly after they were installed in August.
DART pulled the ads Aug. 6 after a number of citizens complained. On Aug. 8, the ads were restored.
Later, DART bus driver Angela Shiel was suspended after she refused to drive a bus with the IAF sign. Shiel said the message went against her Christian faith. Protesters then denounced the suspension of Shiel.
A Des Moines man, Mike Schuling was one of them.
Schuling led a one-man protest and carried a sign in downtown Des Moines which read, "I believe in God and I love him"
Johnson first saw the IAF ad while in Des Moines for the Iowa State Fair.
"One of the buses went by and I saw it," Johnson said. "Several people in the group I was in commented on it.
I decided it was time to do something to promote God and Country. That (belief in God) is what our country was founded on," he said.
According to Johnson, he and his supporters decided the best way to counter the IAF signs were to place their own.
Johnson said he has nothing against the IAF.
"I don't know who these people are and I have nothing against them," he said. "But there are groups of people that want to put God out of the picture. Our country has been very blessed. We will not continue to enjoy those blessings if God isn't included."
Johnson said he contacted 30 Marshalltown area churches with a request to counter the IAF ads. As of Wednesday, First Baptist Church, of which Johnson is a member and New Hope Christian Church have agreed to help.
The lack of a formal commitment by the other churches frustrated Johnson at first. He realized they may have viewed the effort differently.
"They may have not liked the 'logistics' of the project and probably had some of their own issues to take care of," he said.
Johnson appears to be more concerned about raising money to place 13 more ads and working with those who are supporting the cause than think of those who aren't.
"FBC and New Hope Christian Church have been very helpful and supportive," Johnson said.
Johnson specifically cited Debbie Millizer of State Center and Bob Kruse of Conrad as people who have helped. There are others, he said.
Kruse said he talked to Johnson at a family gathering and immediately wanted to get involved.
"My wife and I said we want to be part of it," Kruse said. "We are talking to other people in Conrad about supporting the cause as well."
The monthly fee to advertise on a DART bus is $139, Johnson said.
Johnson said there have been discussions about placing ads on Marshalltown buses but the group's first priority is to rebut the IAF message.
"It's important to understand that even though Des Moines in not your back yard, it is the capital of our state," Johnson said. "When people visit our state, it's important to let them know that Iowa is filled with Christians who are not ashamed to love and know God."
For additional information about the campaign, contact Johnson at 641-752-7350.
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Contact Mike Donkey at 641-753-6611 or mdonahey@timesrepublican.com
