Giggle for God: America’s witty church signs aim to inspire, attract drivers and passersby

Churches across the United States use witty and profound messages on roadside signs to inspire commuters and attract passersby. These displays, ranging from humorous jokes to practical spiritual reflections, serve as a way to bring lightness to the world and help people feel loved by God, according to Heather Hultgren, who manages daily sign changes at Resurrection Lutheran Church in Woodbury, Minnesota.

The practice has become a creative way for pastors to brighten the day of drivers or encourage lapsed Christians to return to the faith. The Rev. Karna Moskalik of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Stillwater, Minnesota, prefers invitational messages, such as signs that use wordplay to suggest people are the missing piece of the church. Some humorous signs have gained popularity on social media, including a collection of messages published by the pastor of Our Savior’s in the early 2000s.