'2005 Jesus in July' Yard Signs

2007 Yard Sign Campaign

The 2007 'July-August Yard Sign Campaign' saw many churches participate in the campaign. The sign was 12x24 inches and appears above. It came with the stakes and required only a $3 per sign donation. There were several hundred distributed and the display of the signs saw this website visitation increase.

Signs were available individually from the Living Bread Fellowship, 1003 Griswold Avenue, Sterling and from the following businesses:

‘Only the Best’ Resale Shop at 21 E. 3rd Street, Sterling

‘Poolside Pools and Spas’ at 1703 Westwood Drive, Sterling

‘The Good Book’ Store in the mini mall at 113 E 1st Street, Dixon,

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THE MESSAGE OF THE SIGN: THE PEACE JESUS GIVES

The peace Jesus offers is unique. It is a peace of heart. Jesus said in John 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

The peace we get from Jesus originates from our faith in him being our saviour. It is produced by knowing our sins are forgiven and that we are in right standing with God. The Apostle Paul wrote in Rom 5:1-2 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

The peace we have in Jesus is a peace of heart and mind. It is maintained by prayer and doesn't depend on circumstances. Paul writes in Phil 4:5-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (from New International Version)

The Voting Booth

Mark Flickinger of Thompson, Illinois, wrote the following concerning the 'Jesus Yard Sign Campaign.'

Brothers and Sisters,

We would like to point out how important these signs can be and/or are. These are a campaign for Jesus, and they work the same way other campaigns to elect public officials do.

You're driving down the road during election years and maybe you are a person who doesn't pay particular attention to political figures. In many yards around your county you will notice signs with various political figures' names on them that promote and say, "Elect Joe" or "Elect Jane".

Now, for the people that "know" who they want to elect, these signs are not so significant, but to those who "do not know," these signs can mean everything when it comes time to enter the booth. To those people who are not in the know about who is who in the political arena when they enter the booth will normally resort to memory for whomever sticks out in their mind the most, which of course is the one that got implanted in their mind by the continuous and frequent exposure provided to them from the signs in people's yards.

We know that Jesus does not come into our lives through a majority vote, but a person's "booth" someday could be that low and desperate spot in their life when they are looking for rescue, comfort, answers, or just the filling of a void they have been feeling their whole life. These signs, as simple as they are, could help to give them their answer or serve as another rung in the ladder that brings them one step closer to Jesus. On the ladder to Jesus, it can be and often is one rung at a time.

Remember also that we have the responsibility as called/chosen Christians to spread the word/good news to the ends of the earth, and this is a very inexpensive, very simple, and very low maintenance way of working for the cause, the Cause of Christ.

Please let's all join together in letting the area know how popular Jesus is.

2006 Yard Signs

The 2nd 'Jesus Yard Sign Campaign' ended September 5th, 2006, after the Labor Day Holiday. Hundreds of Christians across the Rock River Valley have displayed The 'Elect Jesus Lord-Choose Freedom' yard signs. The 2006 campaign has seen the sign coverage expand to other cities in Northwestern Illinois, including towns like Erie and Freeport.

Pastor Randy, the yard signs director, reported distributing about 425 signs this year. That amount, plus the many that again displayed their sign from last year's 450, hopefully put the displayed number at well over 500 for the 2006 campaign. Whatever the number, thank the Lord for blessing the effort!

The signs were intended to lift up Jesus, promote local churches, make the Christian community more visible, create opportunities to talk about God and demonstrate unity among churches. We trust that the signs have, in some measure, done these things.

Pastor Randy Osborn, the yard sign director, would like to thank all participating Pastors and churches, as well as the following businesses, for helping to distribute the signs.

'THE GOOD BOOK' Christian Book Store and Coffee Shop, 1125 N. Galena, Dixon,

'COMMON GROUND' Bakry and Cafe, 1810 N. Locust, Sterling

'ONLY THE BEST' Resale Shop, 21 East 3rd Street, Sterling

'POOLSIDE POOLS & SPAS', 1702 Westwood Drive, Sterling

'STEEL MAGNOLIAS' Hair Salon, 2603 Woodlawn Road, Sterling.

In keeping with the local sign ordainces, we should take the signs down after the Labor Day holiday.

Thanks to all who have put up a sign!

FREEDOM

What feedom does Jesus offer? First, freedom from sin. Jesus said in John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed". Secondly, the many blessings that will come to the area when men and women make Jesus Lord and obey his word! It will generate an atmosphere of love and joy! 2 Corinthians 3:17 tells us "...where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

ELECT JESUS LORD

Remember, one must 'elect' Jesus the Savior and Lord of their life. Elect means to choose or select. Of the many paths of life to follow, we must of our own free will select to follow Jesus and his teachings. We choose him by believing in our heart, confessing him as our Savior with our mouth and by faith following his teachings. The Bible states in Romans 10:8,9 that "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved". Every Christian should be able to point to a definite time when they have verbally prayed and received Jesus as Lord of their life. Have you received Jesus as your Savior?

2005 Jesus Yard Sign Report

The first '2005 Jesus in July-August Yard Sign Campaign' went well, with over 450+ 'Elect Jesus - Choose Freedom' yard signs being displayed across the Rock River Valley! We had seventeen churches participate. Hopefully, the signs made many in our community think of the freedom that comes through Jesus Christ.

2005 PARTICIPATING CHURCHES

THE PARTICIPATING CHURCHES WERE THE FOLLOWING: Abiding Word Christian Center, Sterling, Amazing Grace, Sterling, Como Baptist Church, Como, Faith Family Fellowship, Sterling, Firehouse of God, Sterling, First Baptist Church, Sterling, Foursquare Church, Rock Falls, Gateway Faith Fellowship, Fulton, Living Bread Fellowship, Sterling, Macedonia Baptist, Sterling, New Life, Sterling, Open Bible Fellowship, Morrison, Rock River Chistian Center, Rock Falls, Rock River Church of God, Indian Ridge Sterling, Science Ridge Menonite, Sterling, Turning Point Church, Dixon and World Wide Christian, Sterling.