ST CLAIR SHORES, Mich. — A church in Metro Detroit is causing a bit of a stir in the community, for a message on its sign that pokes fun at non-believers with a joke about dyslexia.
According to FOX 2 in Detroit, Christ Gospel Pentecostal Church in St Clair Shores recently had a message on its sign that reads: “This message is for dyslexic athiests: there is a dog!”
‘Dog’ is obviously ‘God’ spelled backwards. People suffering from dyslexia often have trouble reading from left to right. The word ‘atheists’ is also misspelled, possibly for additional comedic intent.
FOX 2 News spoke with local school administrator, Latoya Bond, who is also an advocate for people with disabilities. She did not find the sign funny.
“People who have dyslexia, they have a disability,” Bond told FOX 2. “It’s very insensitive to put something like this in the public eye.”
Bond says she spoke with a woman at the church over the phone, hoping for an explanation.
“She told me Moses in the bible had a disability,” Bond said. “He had a speech impediment. The purpose is to display that God can use all people no matter what their disability is.”
Bond is herself a Christian and is not offended by the atheist portion of the sign. Her problem is with making fun of people with disabilities. She asked the church to take the sign down, but it refused. Now, additional people are posting their criticisms on Facebook.
FOX 2 has reached out to the church for comment, but it was after business hours and has so far not heard back.
