06.23.07
Satan Billboards and Church Marketing
Remember the God billboards…? Here’s one example:
Victory Family Church in Decatur, Texas is now marketing services with Satan billboards:
The Star-Telegram newspaper adds this:
Associate pastor Chris Bates said the Web site has had more than 1,100 hits since the billboard went up.
“That’s huge for a small church like us,” he said.
Other churches are also using Satan in their ad campaigns, including CedarCreek Church in Ohio, which says, “CedarCreek Church Sucks — Satan.”
Bates said his church isn’t done yet; the next billboard will read: “Victory Family Church stole my kids — Satan.”
One member of Fark.com suggested another Satan billboard (one I wouldn’t mind seeing):
(via Fark)
Technorati Tags: atheist, atheism, God, Victory Family Church, Satan, Star-Telegram, Chris Bates, CedarCreek Church
Popularity: 1% [?]
Satan Billboards and Church Marketing said,
June 23, 2007 at 8:12 am
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Darryl said,
June 23, 2007 at 9:46 am
I guess these churches don’t realize how much comedy I find in these billboards. Can you think of a more market-tested name for a church than “Victory Family?” It’s positive, successful, even may imply a military victory, and it’s all about the family and family values. It’s a conservative, pro-military, pro-family, pro-childrearing (a.k.a. home schooling, or Christian school), anti-abortionist, anti-gay, Christian-dominionist’s dream! Ah, so much communicated in so few words. My congratulations to the marketer. This is what evangelical Christianity has become in America: all superficiality, no substance. This would be a good thing if the evangelicals embraced this and didn’t take themselves seriously, but they actually believe this crap.
Yes, Texas just keeps giving and giving and giving . . .
Mriana said,
June 23, 2007 at 10:10 am
Mike C said,
June 23, 2007 at 10:33 am
That “Love Thy Neighbor” one isn’t too bad actually…
Mike C said,
June 23, 2007 at 10:38 am
Everything I can’t stand about evangelical Christianity…
Jen said,
June 23, 2007 at 11:34 am
Drat, I thought this was going to be some awesme prank by the local atheist group. Hell, if I were a rich girl, I would put up that Fark billboard near one of those stupid god billboards. I really hate those god billboards; the one at the top of this post isn’t so bad, but I remember when they first came out, I read them all and most of them seemed smug and obnoxious.
vjack said,
June 23, 2007 at 12:16 pm
I suppose there is nothing like instilling some fear to win converts to their superstitious lunacy. Can we blame them given how well it worked for Bush & Cheney?
Darryl said,
June 23, 2007 at 12:31 pm
The fact that these dubiously-effective messages are placed on billboards should tell foreign cultural observers everything they need to know about America and its Christians.
Miko said,
June 23, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Yeah, I see nothing wrong with it (although I question whether it’s going to get anyone to change their behaviors in any way). But is it by the same group? The second one pictured has a web link on it; the neighbor one is anonymous. Plus the tone is completely different from the rest.
Tom E. Snyder said,
June 23, 2007 at 5:47 pm
I believe the origin of these Satan billboards is http://satanhateslife.com/.
Maria said,
June 23, 2007 at 8:46 pm
I agree!
Jane Shevtsov said,
June 23, 2007 at 9:21 pm
When I lived in LA, I often passed a billboard that said, “Keep using my name in vain. I’ll make rush hour longer.” –God
Brendon Lake said,
June 25, 2007 at 10:27 am
I love that one :), I had A slide show with the original ones and they are really good and thought provoking.
Rasputin said,
July 2, 2007 at 11:19 am
I love it when they make testable claims.
Were I a spoiled rich girl, I’d make a billboard out of Luke 14:26
Lyle said,
March 9, 2008 at 12:09 pm
not surprised though at this church.
this is BTW the same church that is offering prizes if you go to their church on Easter Sunday March 23 2008.
(see) http://www.victoryfamilychurch.net/index.cfm?i=1799&mid=5&id=38479
http://www.alittleleaven.com