Three Minute Wonder: The Mission
First shown on Channel 4 in April 2006
Religion may seem to be riding the crest of a wave but for some evangelising groups, recruiting new members involves a lot of footslogging. In these four short films Channel 4 shares the experience of four religious groups trying to sell their ideas to people on the streets of London, and they don't have an easy time. But most of them were born into different religions themselves, so they know what they're up against.
Programme 1
Jews for Jesus are trying to talk to the people of Golders Green in north west London. No one is receptive to their message. A passer-by says contemptuously: 'It's superstition!' And back at the office, they are no more successful with their telephone marketing. But they are not deterred by the total lack of interest or even hostility they receive. 'People are resistant to our message but going out on the streets is part of serving Him,' they say.
Programme 2
The sharp-suited men of Nation of Islam are selling their paper, The Final Call, and trying to persuade the people of Brixton to join their unique version of the Muslim religion. They catch the attention of potential recruits by mentioning Malcolm X and their leader, Louis Farrakhan. 'Yeah, and Farrakhan sold him out!' answers one. 'It's not so easy to engage our people now,' says the paper seller.
Programme 3
'Some think we're happy, some think we're crazy, but any response is positive,' says a member of the all-singing, all-dancing Hare Krishna. The nirvana at the end of their daily parade through London's West End is the restaurant where they offer to feed potential recruits for free. 'It's the spiritual content of food which is important,' says the cook.
Programme 4
The Salvation Army's marching band hopes people will follow them to an open air service. If no one joins them they don't see that as a failure since, in their view, the power of God means that even if someone listens for a few moments, 'that seed might fall on fertile ground'. 'Jesus likened God's people to yeast,' says one – this small element of the loaf has a big effect. Indeed, he goes on, this was the experience of Jesus himself, who spent three years in intensive ministry and only converted 12 people. 'And one of the 12 was a bit dodgy!'
