Looking for a Sign
July 1, 2002
In the year since we installed our back-lit message board, we've become known as "the church with the sign." The first few messages were of the white-bread variety—"Join us for Lenten services" and such. But when I was gone for a week, I posted this message: "Pastor on vacation. Now is a good time to visit." When I returned, the sign read: "Shhhh! He's back!" The response was incredible. People began to drive by our church just to see what the sign said. Members began describing their church as "You know, the one with the sign." Just a bit of attitude
Three factors make for a noticeable message: humor, timing, and cultural relevance. When we set a record for consecutive rainy days, the sign said: "Hey Noah, still got those blueprints?" During our local Lumberjack Days festival, we posted: "Seek, knock, and axe." When the star of our professional football team announced that he didn't play hard every play, but rather "played when he wanted to play," we responded: "I do a sign when I want to do a sign. The Sign Guy." And when we announced: "Sign Guy fired! Job opening," we actually had two people come in to apply. And when Green Bay lost the NFC championship, we announced: "Packer fans—Counseling available here." It was all done in fun. But there are times when only a serious message is appropriate. "Hope is born" was our Christmas message. For Easter: "Grass. The river. Jesus. All have risen!" And by noon on September 11, we implored people: "Stop everything and pray." Does it bring them in?
As I was changing the sign one morning, a man appeared from nowhere. "Are you the Sign Guy?" he asked. "Who wants to know?" I responded, wondering if he liked or hated our sign. "I love your signs!" he said. "I don't go to church; I'll probably never ...
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