US churches use witty roadside signs to draw attention and offer encouragement

Churches across the United States are using roadside signs carrying jokes, wordplay and short religious messages to catch the attention of drivers and encourage passersby. At Resurrection Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minnesota, an electronic sign recently displayed the message “Forecast: God reigns and the Son shines.” The church changes its messages regularly, with notices ranging from practical to humorous and reflective. Heather Hultgren, who oversees the daily changes at Resurrection Lutheran, said the signs were intended to communicate that people are loved by God.

Other church leaders described the approach as a way to bring something lighter into public life. The practice is particularly visible in the United States, where churches beside busy roads can address commuters and people travelling through suburban areas. Some messages are designed as invitations, including the wordplay “CH - - CH What’s missing?

U R!” At Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York City, a message during a heatwave read, “Lord, whatever you’re baking, it’s done.” Elizabeth Pustinger, who changes that church’s sign manually, said some people stop to ask about it and later attend services. The signs can also use darker humour. One message cited in the report tells drivers to “Honk if you love Jesus, text if you want to meet him.” Another familiar line says, “Too hot to keep changing sign.

Sin bad. Jesus good. Details inside.” Rolf Jacobson, a professor at Luther Seminary in St Paul, Minnesota, said laughter could help people process tragedy or open difficult questions.

He linked the use of humour to passages in Jewish and Christian scripture. The Associated Press report presents the signs as part of a recurring series on American objects. The churches quoted see the messages as a form of outreach that can inspire, amuse or prompt people to consider attending services.