Medora Hoge spells out God’s word

In many ways, Medora Hoge is a messenger.

Every Monday, she walks up to the marquee board outside the First Christian Church, 1045 S. Hickory St., and constructs a message, a saying, a simple phrase that, Hoge hopes, just might reach someone, save someone.

The challenge

Other days, the plastic pieces are so hot on her bare skin that it’s challenging for her to peel the letters off the sign and rearrange them.

But she does it anyway.

Even when the weather is trying, Hoge keeps going, keeps helping spread the word, the message. Hoge blames her faith for that, for not letting her quit, for pushing her. She knows that in her own way, she’s helping God.

“It’s just a challenge that I’ve really enjoyed,” Hoge said. “It’s an important part of the church.”

A running list

When she formed the phrase, “Come in and have your faith lifted,” she was trying to reach people, trying to show them they can find peace through faith.

“I do it because it pleases me to bring something amusing and informative out in the public,” she said.

Hoge, who serves as the church secretary, has been in charge of the sign for two years. During that time, she has accumulated a fairly long list of used messages that she stores in her weekly planner.

“I just like to know what I’ve done when,” she said.

Messages from the heart

Roger Flanner, who is the deacon at the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Wellsville, comes up with clever phrases to put on the church’s message board every week as well.

“It’s a thing that we’ve taken quite a bit of pride in,” he said. “We felt that it was something that needed to be done.”

Most of the messages come straight out of Flanner’s head, straight out of his heart. Members of the congregation contribute too, and Flanner said that’s what makes it fun.

 “It’s a very positive step in providing a voice for our heavenly father,” Flanner said. “If it’s beneficial to the people that we’re trying to reach and to our heavenly father, then it’s in the direction we go that week.”

Marquee language

Hickman, who serves as the pastor at Hoge’s church, said the sign, which frequently features humorous messages, is an asset for the congregation.

“We know that a whole bunch of people that go by this church are never going to come in,” he said. “It really is seen as a ministry.”

Hickman said the best way to reach people through a marquee sign is to be respectful and understanding.

“You don’t want to beat people over the head with God talk,” he said. “I think churches increasingly are taught not to beat people over the head with religious language. You need to use a language they speak.”

Reaching out

“Whether they come in or not, come to church or not, at least they know that we aren’t stagnant,” she said. “They know we’re not just sitting doing nothing. That’s very important.”

Hoge tries to update both sides of the sign with different messages every week.

“Most people will get it going to work and when they come home from work,” Hickman said.

No matter how many see the sign, Hoge knows it’s worth the effort, worth the time and energy required to put the sign up every week.

“Something is only as difficult as you make it,” she said. “It’s a challenge.”