Atheists in the nation's capitol have been campaigning to get Americans to doubt God's existence this Christmas, but one Christian woman is standing up against their efforts.

Joellen Murphy had been praying for a chance to evangelize when she received an email about atheist advertisements showing up on the sides of metro buses in Washington.

"My first thought was well, good, let's do a counter ad, just a little fun holiday cheer," she said.

The ads, sponsored by the American Humanist Association, asked onlookers to challenge the religious meaning behind Christmas. They read, "Why believe in God? Just be good for goodness sake."

"You could have moral values from a human perspective that you could be good for goodness sake rather than for the sake of because God tells me so," Fred Edwords, a representative from the group, said.

But Peter Sprigg with the Family Research Council told CBN News Edwords' argument is flawed.

"I think there is a problem with that. A philosophical problem," he said. "If there is no higher authority, if there is no supreme being, no God who determines what goodness is, then we're leaving it to each individual to determine what they believe goodness is."

In response, Murphy got to work to counter the $40,000 ad campaign, which was already circulating on the sides of 200 buses.

Now, donations are pouring in to support the stay at home mom's efforts.

Her ad explains why people should believe in God and, so far, is displayed inside 200 metro buses.

They'll soon show up on the outside once her fundraising goal is met.

"I feel like I've given a voice to so many people [who say] 'I'm tired of this constant barrage that God doesn't exist,'" she said.

Despite the atheist messages, recent polls show few Americans describe themselves as atheist or agnostic. A Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life poll conducted earlier this year revealed 92 percent of Americans believe in God.

Murphy says if Americans don't stand up they'll lose their Christian heritage.

Her supporters hope people realize it's not just about being nice during this holy season and beyond, but it's about being Christlike.

Source:  http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/500623.aspx