From here:

It shines out in the night like a beacon of light, attracting the attention of all passers by.

Of course, if you are going to put a gigantic sign screaming ‘Scumbags Welcome!’ on the road side you probably didn’t intend it to do much else.

The pastor of Lake County church, Florida, hopes that the controversial billboard will help bring people closer to God.

Moses Robbins, of the Saturday Night Live (SNL) church, put the billboard up along Highway 441 between Tavares and Leesburg.

In less than a week, he said the phone has been ringing off the hook – not from Scumbags wanting to be welcomed – but from people criticising it and its message.

But Robbins said there is nothing vulgar about the sign and he doesn’t care if it offends people, assuring this was not his goal.

He said that for people to understand they must read the Bible verse Mark 2:13-17, in which Jesus eats with sinners and tax collectors, to realise what inspired the billboard.

The SNL church’s novel approach to advertising makes a refreshing contrast to that of the typical inclusive church; let’s hope that, unlike liberal churches who love to include everyone except committed Christians, those who attend are encouraged to become less scummy.