Imperial church billboards ask, "What's forgivable?"

By Alex Fees

KSDK -- Jefferson Hills Christian Church in Imperial is asking a series of serious questions on billboards along Interstate 55 south of St. Louis. Those billboards ask whether God or people should forgive a certain list of offenses, such as: sex offenders, suicide, cheating on your boyfriend, and little white lies.

"We've noticed that people everywhere, no matter your faith or church background, have internal lists of things they think are forgivable or not forgivable," said Steve Benke, lead pastor at Jefferson Hills Church. "Are there certain things you can do that are unforgivable, and have heaven or hell issues at stake?"

The billboards went up Monday. Benke hopes they are thought-provoking.

"As Christians, we believe there is no unforgivable sin," said Benke. "Jesus Christ is our perfect savior, and that means there's not a single sin a person can't turn to God with and find forgiveness."

The campaign marks the church's second foray into provocative marketing and advertising. The first billboard campaign took place early last year, featuring messages supposedly from Satan. One message read, "Boycott Jefferson Hills Church," while another said, "I hate Jefferson Hills Church."

Regarding that effort, Benke said, "We saw a 14 percent increase in our attendance for nine months during that campaign."

The "forgivable" billboards stimulated conversation among drivers along I-55.

One driver, Keith Murphy, was asked if sex offenders and people who commit suicide are forgivable.

"It all depends on the situation and what happened, how it all went down," he said.

Another commuter, Erica Downs, said three out of four of the sins in the new billboard campaign are forgivable. Which one is not?

"The sex offenders," she said. So what does Downs think about the campaign?

"I guess it's a good one," she said. "I guess that's what the Bible says, that you're supposed to forgive everyone, but I don't think human nature really goes along with that all the time."

Benke said it's important people understand what's contained in Christian scripture.

"And then, quite frankly, the church gets that message wrong, as well," he said. "But the Bible teaches there is no sin that isn't forgivable in Jesus."

Benke hopes his church's thought-provoking billboards mark the beginning, not the end, of a conversation about forgiveness.

"We love the idea of inviting St. Louis to join in conversations about faith topics," Benke said.

To see the billboards visit www.whatsforgivable.com; for more information about Jefferson Hills Church, visit their website at www.jhchurch.org.