You Make Jesus Smile Award - United Church of Christ

Late in 2004, the United Church of Christ launched an advertising campaign on national television. The advertisements were intended to make people who feel excluded in churches feel welcome in the United Church of Christ congregations. One of the groups the advertisements were designed to reach were gays and lesbians. According to news stories, the advetisements were so controversial some television networks declined to carry the ads.

The United Church of Christ, your actions help make gay and lesbians feel welcome in your congregations. Welcoming people makes Jesus smile. You are welcoming those who God welcomes. Because your actions make Jesus smile, we present you with the "You Make Jesus Smile" Award. And at the end of time, you will hear God say, "Inasmuch as ye have done [it] unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done [it] unto me" (Matthew 25:40).

Those wishing to visit a United Church of Christ congregation or to send a donation to the denomination are encouraged to contact the United Church of Christ.

The following email arrived from an administrator with the United Church of Christ when he was informed the United Church of Christ won the award the gay Christian award "You Make Jesus Smile."

Thank you for giving the United Church of Christ this award. Please know that this award is very important to us. We hope that we can indeed be a part of what makes Jesus smile.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

May God Bless you all