The Toronto Transit Commission has reversed a decision to ban some popular Bible ads, one of which saved a woman’s life. The woman contacted Bus Stop Bible Studies by phone and spoke with a counselor. She later wrote the group: “If I had not seen that advertisement I would probably have jumped off the subway platform–that’s how depressed I was….”

In December 2006 David Harrison, the president of the organization, decided to run ads promoting Christianity using short biblical quotes and concise uplifting messages—no hellfire and brimstone nor knocking of other faiths. The TTC had vetted all 120 original messages; none were rejected. They ran for 7 months and were viewed by the public more than 50 million times. The Commission received 16 messages of approval and 5 complaints which resulted in an automatic review by the TTC’s Advertising Review Committee. All new postings were cancelled and all existing materials had to come down.

The ruling was appealed. All of the now 200 messages were carefully re-examined by TTC staff and found to be in compliance with the TTC’s advertising regulations. So the negative ruling was reversed. On Nov. 12 the ads began appearing again on TTC vehicles and on billboards in bus shelters and subway stations. However they have been banned on Mississauga transit which since 1988 forbids all religious advertising on city property.

Harrison hopes to expand the ads next into Burlington, Ottawa and Calgary and eventually other Canadian cities. The ads can be sponsored by individuals, churches, businesses and other religious organizations, across the denominational spectrum, as long as they profess Jesus Christ as Lord. Sample ads can be viewed at www.busstopbiblestudies.com.