Bear Grylls is known for giving himself tough challenges but convincing Sydney commuters to consider Christ seemed it would be toughest of all. The well-known British adventurer and TV star recently featured in an advertising campaign for a 15-year-old course designed to introduce people to Christianity, and it worked.
The Sydney bus adverts encouraged his fans to "discover life's ultimate adventure: the Alpha Course".
Anglican churches as far south as Wollongong have seen enquires about the course, which they attribute to the Grylls' high profile.
"We've never had enquires through the [Alpha] website before, but after the [ad] campaign in Sydney we've had three people contact us," said Nada Appleby, Alpha coordinator at Fairy Meadow’s Anglican church.
Grylls is becoming increasingly popular in the secular world particularly with young people, adding some weight and credibility to the Alpha course.
"Most people in the 18-35 age bracket know who Bear is, that's really helped get people interested in Alpha because the average age of participants is 27" said Alpha coordinator at St Matthews Anglican Church, Manly, Paul Robertson.
"Everyone is talking about [Grylls] now "” he is young, exciting and wholesome," says Jon Seeley from Alpha Australia. "He has a very direct appeal, not only to a young demographic but also to those who have no particular religious conviction."
Last month it was suggested that Sydney Anglican churches be aware of the campaign, with Bishop Glenn Davies saying the publicity is likely to raise the profile of Christian enquiry courses.
"There are a range of courses available, each with their own strengths and weaknesses," he says. "Alpha, with its emphasis on the Holy Spirit, is one but there are other options for enquirers, such as Simply Christianity, Christianity Explained, Christianity Explored and Introducing God. We commend every opportunity for people to read and study the Bible and explore the claims of Jesus for themselves."
The campaign also ran in Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth.
Bear Grylls is the star of Man vs Wild, the Discovery Channel's most popular program, which also screens Monday nights on SBS with an average audience of 530,000 people.
In a recent interview with Relevant magazine, Grylls was blunt about his Christian faith, describing it as the "backbone' of his life.
