WATERLOO — The drive-by messages range from humdrum to in-your-face to philosophical to hold-your-sides funny.

Sunday school starts at 10:30 a.m.

Where will you be spending eternity? Smoking or nonsmoking?

A man is not ready to live if he is not ready to die.

Houses of worship have long posted service times and announced visiting preachers. In todays fast-paced society, some congregations are finding their outdoor bulletin boards can serve an evangelistic or uplifting purpose, or at least start a conversation.

We are in a sound bite society. Why not give sound bites that relate to the faith? said L. James Harvey, author of the book 701 Sentence Sermons: Attention-Getting Quotes for Church Signs, Bulletins, Newsletters and Sermons.

The pastors guide, complete with a list of creative and clever slogans, sayings and Scripture — as well as church sign dos and donts — is Harveys third book on the topic. A fourth text is in the works.

Some churches have thousands of people drive by their church every day, Harvey added. If they can put out bits of truth, Gods truth, or bits of wisdom they can have a significant impact on peoples lives, Harvey added.

The hope that a sign strikes a chord rather than merely entertains bored motorists is not entirely blind faith.

When Shelly Bertelli took walks along Williston Avenue, she kept an eye out for the signs posted weekly at Grace Brethren Church in Waterloo, which often sported a catchy phrase. When it came time for Bertelli and her husband to find a church home, she contacted Grace. Two years later, the Bertellis have since moved to Independence, but still commute to the church. Bertelli assures that the signs werent the reason she and her husband, Troy, and two children are regulars at Grace. But the slogans made a positive first impression and led to that first phone call.

Something registered, Bertelli said.

The Rev. Kelvin Cooke of Grace church said an in-house communications team often integrates sermon themes with the outdoor message. This weeks Got questions? Ask your teen for answers while they still know everything illustrates a series on parenting.

Sometimes people just drive by on purpose to see the sign, Cooke said.

The communications team also consults Your Church Sign: 1001 Attention-Getting Sayings by Verlyn Verbrugge. When picking a message, Cooke said its important to consider whether an unchurched person will understand the message.

Some pastors think pulling sentences straight from the holy book is the safest route.