Unmasking the "He Gets Us" Campaign: Revealing the Real Purpose Behind the Movement

Reintroducing Jesus: A Deep Dive into the "He Gets Us" Campaign

Hey friends! If you're like me and love exploring how faith intersects with everyday life, you're in for a treat. I recently revisited an older episode from our podcast where I chatted with Brad Hill from the "He Gets Us" campaign. You might remember seeing their ads during big events like the World Cup or even on billboards across the U.S. This conversation was all about reintroducing Jesus in a fresh, relatable way—especially to folks who might be curious but a bit skeptical. Let's break it down in a friendly, bite-sized recap, because there's so much good stuff here that could spark some real conversations in your own circles.

What Is "He Gets Us" All About?

Picture this: You're watching an intense soccer match (the real football, as I like to call it), and suddenly an ad pops up that's emotional, short, and hits right in the feels. It's about family tensions, disagreements, and how Jesus handled similar stuff without disowning anyone. At the end? "He Gets Us." That's the essence of this campaign—it's a massive media effort designed to help people take a fresh look at Jesus, without pushing any specific church or denomination.

Brad explained that "He Gets Us" isn't tied to one group; it's more like a movement backed by donors and organizations who all agree on focusing on the Jesus of the Bible. Their goal? To bridge the gap for people who might say, "I'm not really into religion or church, but Jesus? He seems intriguing." Through research (they spent a whole year talking to folks across the spectrum), they found a huge openness to Jesus' teachings, even among non-churchgoers. Things like seeking peace, being approachable, showing compassion, and loving everyone—especially the hard-to-love folks—really resonated.

One standout ad they shared (which I played on the episode) shows a family drifting apart over opinions, only to pivot to how Jesus disagreed with his loved ones but never cut them off. It's relatable, right? We've all had those heated holiday dinners or family chats that go sideways. The message? Jesus gets our struggles because he lived them too.

Why Now? Tackling Culture and Personal Stories

We dove into why this campaign feels so timely. In a country often labeled as "Christian," there's still a need to reintroduce Jesus because perceptions can get muddled. Brad shared a big-picture question that kickstarted it all: "How did the world's greatest love story become known as a hate group?" Oof—that hits hard. On a cultural level, issues like racism, refugee crises, and division are front and center, and the ads tie Jesus directly to them (think: "Jesus was a refugee" or "Jesus confronted racism with love").

On a personal level, it's about connecting Jesus to our everyday messes—relationships, finances, mental health. Brad put it beautifully: "Whatever your story is, there's a shared experience there because Jesus was fully human." He gets us, plain and simple.

The Research and Traits That Draw People In

Before launching, they talked to tons of Americans and zeroed in on those who are "spiritually open" but skeptical. Even non-Christians admired Jesus for:

- **Seeking peace**: Bringing unity in a divided world.

- **Being approachable**: Hanging out with the overlooked, like the oppressed or fringes of society.

- **Showing compassion**: Giving a hand up to those who need it most.

- **Loving all**: Including family members who are tough to love (guilty as charged here—Brad admitted the same!).

These traits inspired the ads, which are short stories pulled from Jesus' life but viewed through a modern lens. It's not about outdated tales; it's alive and relevant today.

What's Next After Seeing an Ad?

If an ad catches your eye (maybe during a rerun of *The Office* or a Times Square billboard), head to hegetsus.com. It's super user-friendly and anonymous—perfect for exploring at your own pace. Top activities? Reading short Bible plans on the YouVersion app, requesting prayer via text, or connecting with locals for questions. No pressure to be "perfect" or commit right away; it's all about curiosity.

And get this: Their merch (hats, shirts, water bottles) isn't bought with cash. Instead, you "pay" by committing to an act of love—like forgiving someone or welcoming a stranger. When it arrives, there's a reminder: "Don't forget you said you'd forgive." Talk about a nudge toward real change!

A Heartwarming Story of Transformation

Brad shared an incredible testimony from a guy named Dan. After seeing an ad during a baseball game, Dan ordered a water bottle "paid" with forgiveness. He publicly forgave the man who killed his mother in 1997—after holding onto that pain for decades. It spiraled him into recovery, reconnecting with a pastor, and discovering a side of Jesus he never knew. Stories like this are popping up everywhere, showing how a simple ad can spark life-changing journeys.

Brad's own story was just as genuine. He came to faith at 11 through an artist's painting that revealed Jesus' face under blacklight (cool, right?). Now, with a family and career, he's learned humility and that none of us are "good enough"—but Jesus meets us as we are.

From Skeptical to Inspired: The Emoji Recap

We framed the chat with emojis to represent attitudes toward Jesus:

- **Blasphemous**: Thinking that Jesus belongs to a certain group or that you're too far gone to approach him—if anyone tells you that, it's blasphemous; no one owns Jesus, and he's approachable for all.

- **Skeptical**: Bring your hard questions; Jesus welcomes them.

- **Inspired**: Radical acts of love, like forgiving or serving, following Jesus' example.

- **Holy**: Jesus makes us holy—we can't do it alone.

- **Divine**: Living with an eternal perspective changes everything here and now.

Wrapping It Up: Get Involved!

This campaign is massive—the biggest faith-related one in history, with billions of impressions and millions engaging daily. If you're inspired (like I am), check out hegetsus.com, start a Bible plan, or grab some merch to commit to love in action. And hey, if you're into American football, they had ads in the Super Bowl back then—proof they're meeting people where they are.

What about you? Have you seen a "He Gets Us" ad that stuck with you? Drop a comment below or share this post with a friend who's curious about Jesus. Let's keep the conversation going—after all, he gets us, and that's the start of something amazing.

https://hegetsus.com/en