JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A local church sign is getting a lot of attention from all over Jacksonville.
The sign reads "homosexuals must repent or go to hell".
Now a petition has been started requesting the church to take the sign down.
Whether driving or walking down Old Saint Augustine Road, there's no missing the sign.
The marquee sits in front of the First Conservative Baptist Church.
“I was a little shocked, that they will deliver a message in that manner,” Evaristo Ghines, who lives near the sign.
Ghines lives across the street. He says he believes in freedom of speech, but the message may be a little strong.
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“I'm a Christian and I believe that God loves everybody and if you feel that homosexuals should adhere to something that's not the way to do it,” Ghines said. “If the church wants to deliver a message and their goal is to save homosexuals then you would do it with kindness rather than blurt out a message telling them they're going straight to hell.”
The billboard is causing a stir on the Internet as well.
A petition demanding the church to take down the sign has more than 100 names on it.
Most people signing the petition disagree with the message on the sign, saying that it is judgmental.
Action News went to the church office Saturday to talk to the pastor.
He told Action News that he didn't want to talk Saturday and to come back Monday.
The pastor then told our crew to get off the property.
WJAX
