Craig Gross, Jason Harper Launch Book with Six-City Tour Demonstrating Love -
Not Hate - at Westboro Baptist Church, American Idol Concert
LAS VEGAS, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Pastors Craig Gross and Jason Harper
refresh the phrase "Jesus loves you," which has become an overstated Christian
cliche, in their book "Jesus Loves You . . . This I Know" (Baker Books, ISBN:
978-0-8010-1329-4, $17.99), which released nationwide on Sept. 1, 2009.
The authors began a national tour on Sunday, Aug. 30, modeling love at
Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., a religious group notorious for
offensive protests. Gross and Harper traveled to the American Idol concert to
oppose Westboro's protest of season eight runner-up Adam Lambert. Mirroring
Westboro's tactics, the authors brought a message of love, holding signs such
as "Jesus Loves the U.S.A." and "Jesus Loves Gays."
Their message resonated with fans, sparking the Twitter movement,
#GodHatesHate, which became the No. 1 trending topic on Twitter. The authors
continue showing love using #JesusLovesYou.
"We hope our presence at the concert contrasted that of Westboro's," said
Harper. "People need to know the love of Jesus accepts individuals where they
are in life, not where society thinks they should be."
Gross and Harper planned an unconventional national tour, aligning six
different chapters with six groups of people often neglected by the Church.
"Rather than planning your typical book tour, we took money allotted for
promotion to execute a bold campaign that confronts hate with love," says
Gross, "We want people to know that it does not matter who you are or what you
have done, Jesus loves you."
Subsequent tour stops include Las Vegas on Sept. 30 for "Jesus Loves the
Glutton" (www.freebuffetwednesday.com), Los Angeles on Oct. 7 for "Jesus Loves
the Porn Star," (www.porndebate.com) and Detroit on Oct. 11 for "Jesus Loves
the Disconnected." In Detroit, the authors will renovate and give away a house
to a family (www.freehousesunday.com).
Gross and Harper will conclude the tour with stops in Folsom, Calif., on Oct.
23 for "Jesus Loves the Crook," to visit Folsom State Prison and Atlanta on
Oct. 30-Nov.1 for "Jesus Loves the Outcast." The authors will attend the
Atlanta Pride Festival to apologize for the way religious people often treat
the homosexual community.
For information, visit www.JesusLovesYou.net or follow the authors on Twitter
via #JesusLovesYou.
FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jodi Phillip 469.438.3729
jodi@alarryross.com
SOURCE Craig Gross
Jodi Phillip, +1-469-438-3729, jodi@alarryross.com, for Craig Gross