PFLUGERVILLE – Southbound drivers along Interstate 35 in Pflugerville are getting a little roadside religion from a surprising sign.
"Don't believe in God?" it asks. "Then join the club."
The National Coalition of Reason paid $7,000 for the billboard just north of Grand Avenue Parkway. On average, TxDOT estimates 160,000 vehicles will pass by it in a single day.
According to Don Rhoades, coordinator of the Austin Coalition of Reason, it mainly targets agnostic and atheists.
"It's basically a call to join whichever organization you like that accepts people like, just, just know that they're out there."
The organization is exercising its right of free speech along the freeways of other cities. The billboards have also gone up in New Orleans, Seattle and Tucson. The billboards have been up for more than a year in place Dallas, Houston and Phoenix.
"I personally welcome it,” said Alan Kirkpatrick, pastor of Grace Christian Center. “I think it's great advertisement for God.”
His church is just blocks from the billboard.
"It's age-old that man has had this struggle with God and if there is a God,” he said.
While organizers and religious leaders have some fundamental disagreements, they hope the sign sparks a discussion about faith beyond the freeway.
