WESTMINSTER – A group of Christians who have been gathering to conduct Bible studies under a “Godless billboard” erected by a national atheist organization say they will do so until the sign comes down.

Henry Longbrake, a Garden Grove resident who has been coordinating these sessions each evening since May 11, says he and other Christians are exercising their freedom of speech just as the atheists did by putting up the billboard.

The billboard, which went up at the corner of Beach Boulevard and 19th Street and was unveiled the night of May 4 by the Orange County Coalition for Reason, reads: “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.”

Members of the group comprising atheists, agnostics and humanists say the $6,450 billboard is part of a nationwide campaign made possible by an anonymous donor in Philadelphia.

Longbrake, a member of Calvary Chapel Westgrove and a 40-year Orange County resident, said he and other Christians respect the atheists’ freedom of speech, but want their voices to be heard as well.

“There is no question that this billboard is unhealthy for our community,” he said. “They’re spreading the wrong message. We’re doing this Bible study right under the sign because we want to show our support and love for our God.”

Longbrake said he was not there on behalf of his church, but simply as an individual citizen standing up for his beliefs.

The group will meet under the sign every night from 7 to 8 p.m. for Bible study until the billboard comes down, Longbrake said.

“I guess you could call it a silent protest of the billboard,” he said.

Marlow Johnston, pastor of the Lost and Found Christian Fellowship, said he was personally offended by the billboard.

“But I also believe that everyone has freedom of speech,” he said. “Our goal with the Bible study is to be available at that location to answer questions and at the same time show support for freedom of speech. (The atheists) have the right to voice their opinion and so do we.”

Fred Edwords, national director for National Coalition for Reason, which commissioned the billboards nationwide, says the reaction by and large has been positive. The billboards have gone up in Fresno, San Joaquin, Los Angeles and Sacramento, as well as cities in Delaware, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Washington and Missouri.

So far, there have been reports that three were defaced in Sacramento and Detroit.

Edwords said this is the first time he has heard of a Bible study under the billboard.

“It’s fine with us,” he said. “The answer to freedom of speech is more speech.”

Since the Westminster billboard went up, the Coalition for Reason has hosted a conference in Irvine and debates on the subject of God’s existence on local school campuses.

The group’s goal was not to offend people or attack anyone’s personal beliefs, but to give a shout-out to like-minded people – those who question the existence of a supreme being, Edwords said.

“We use the word God generically,” he said. “I think many are taking it personally to mean their God.”

The billboard will come down soon after Memorial Day, Edwords said.

“I’m glad it has created so much dialog and debate in the community,” he said.

Related stories:

Atheists put up ‘Godless’ billboard in Westminster

Column: Atheist tells high schoolers God is evil

Atheists tackle religion at OC ‘godless’ conference

Atheist, Christian students square off in debate

Contact the writer: 714-796-7909 or dbharath@ocregister.com