Georgia Pastor May Face Lawsuit For Large Sign Advertising Church

A pastor based in Grovetown, Georgia is defying the city's rules on signage after erecting a massive, LED-illuminated sign that professes the glory of God and mentions the church's food pantry to passing motorists.

The sign reads "Church" illuminated in large letters that are made up of 19,000 LED lights. Underneath the words "church" is a marquee that announces upcoming events, such as food pantry drive and Sunday school, for the Fellowship Baptist Church & Gateway Ministries located in Grovetown, Georgia.

Sonny Serigney, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church, told the local WSB-TV station that the motive behind their illuminated sign was to "just to get the message of Christ out."

"You want me to be honest, because I wanted to honor my lord," the pastor said for his reason for the sign, adding "We still have the freedom and the right to proclaim the good news of God, and that's all I want with this sign."

The sign is reportedly illegal based on city ordinances regarding advertising and sign placement. Grovetown Mayor George James III recently told Augusta TV that the church and Serigney could be sued if the sign is not removed.

There have previously been other public debates regarding signs either relating to faith or atheism. The Freedom From Religion Foundation received criticism in 2012 for erecting a billboard in Texas that encouraged passing motorists to "Quit the Church: Put Women's Rights Over Bishops' Wrongs."

Catholics living near Interstate 30 in Texas took offense to the billboard, arguing it was a jab at the church's opposition to the Obama administration's health care mandate that forced employers to provide birth control insurance coverage to their employees.