A city-wide chalking campaign led by a Sydney Anglican minister is being used to reach Roman Catholic pilgrims as they arrive in town for next week's World Youth Day.
The Rev Mark Gilbert who is a former Roman Catholic and currently an assistant minister at Holy Trinity, Kingsford is calling on Christians to "follow in the footsteps of Arthur Stace' and boldly proclaim the certainty they have in Christ's death for their sins as the only means for their salvation.
"In the footsteps of Arthur Stace, let's write the word "Certainty' on every footpath throughout the city and the eastern suburbs," Mr Gilbert says.
Arthur Stace famously walked the streets of Sydney chalking the word "Eternity' on footpaths to proclaim what he believed as a Christian.
"Jesus Loves Osama' team supports "Certainty'
The Certainty campaign also has an online presence and features videos of ex-Roman Catholics sharing their experiences of how they became certain of where they stand with God.
The website, which is a co-production by Outreach Media, who produced the "Jesus Loves Osama' posters, also contains material about how people can find the same certainty for themselves.
Outreach Media staff member Cameron Blair hopes the website will widen the contact Christians can have with Roman Catholic pilgrims.
"The website has been produced in conjunction with a printed tract that discusses the idea of being certain. The web has extra information that we couldn't fit into a printed tract," he says.
Mr Blair says Outreach Media jumped at the chance to be a part of the Certainty campaign.
"Our aim and desire is to promote Jesus. We want to use the skills and abilities of designers and copy writers to reach out to the broader community and WYD was a perfect opportunity to use these skills to present the certainty people can have in Jesus."
Mr Gilbert hopes Christians will begin chalking the "certainty.org.au' slogan on city streets from next week to promote the website resource to those who don't have certainty about their eternity.
Mr Gilbert says it is very easy for Christians to be part of the "Certainty' campaign.
"I'm hoping anyone who believes they are certain of where they are going to spend eternity will take time to write the message down," Mr Gilbert says.
"If we run one consistent message then we might just have an impact on this massive Roman Catholic gathering."
However, Mr Gilbert wants Christians to share the message responsibly.
"I wouldn't want anyone's property to be harmed or for anyone to annoy the WYD pilgrims but I don't believe chalking on a pavement constitutes annoying anyone," he says.
Mr Gilbert also rejects any accusations of promoting vandalism.
"Because the writing is in chalk it will wash away with the rain. But I'm encouraged by the stance that Arthur Stace took in his chalking: he claimed he was answering to a higher authority."
Cathedral responds to WYD
Mr Gilbert says he came up with the idea for the Certainty campaign while preparing for a series of talks that will be given at St Andrew's Cathedral during next week.
"In the process of organising the talks there was one consistent message I felt Roman Catholics needed most and that was to have certainty about where they will be spending eternity," he says.
There will be a series of talks at the Cathedral called "Certainty? Certainly!' at 1pm each day from Monday to Friday next week.
The talks will feature four converted Roman Catholics who are now Sydney Anglican ministers, sharing their experience of becoming Christian and what they have learned from the Bible about being certain about their salvation.
"One of the saddest things I find is when I ask Roman Catholics if they know where they are spending eternity, most say they are not sure because of their sin"," Mr Gilbert says.
"If Roman Catholics, like any Christian, genuinely think Jesus has done everything to forgive their sin, and are not praying to Mary or trusting in their good works or obedience to the church then they too can have certainty."
St Andrew's senior minister, the Rev Chris Moroney, says the Cathedral talks will be essential for sharing the gospel with WYD pilgrims from around the world.
"The WYD events will bring lots of visitors to Sydney sites including the Cathedral and as well as giving them a warm welcome we want to share our understanding of what we believe as Christians," Mr Moroney says.
"Each speaker has experience as a Roman Catholic and will share how they came to certainty in their salvation through Jesus Christ. We want to clearly communicate to Roman Catholics that our certainty about salvation and our relationship with God comes from what Jesus has already done for us, and not on what we try to do for ourselves through the church."
