An electronic sign outside Life Church in Ballwin briefly flashed a message reading “pray against Islam, a demonic religion,” a line that drew swift condemnation from area Muslim leaders before the church pulled it down.
What the Sign Said and Who Objected
The message appeared on the church’s roadside electronic marquee and was hard to miss for anyone driving by. The explicit call to “pray against Islam” as “a demonic religion” prompted immediate backlash from Muslim leaders and local residents, who objected to a faith community being singled out on a public-facing church sign.
After complaints, the church removed the sign, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Permit Records Show Church Installed Monument Sign
City permit documents show that Life Church of St. Louis applied in 2018 for a monument-sign permit, indicating that the electronic marquee is an authorized fixture in Ballwin. The application is listed in public records from the City of Ballwin.
Community Reaction
Community and faith leaders told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that the episode strained trust and highlighted how quickly tensions can flare when one religion is publicly labeled as “demonic.” They said the sign’s brief appearance underscored the need for more intentional interfaith conversations in the suburbs.
Neighborhood activists and local clergy also said they want churches and civic groups to take clearer, more public stances against language that targets a faith community, according to the paper’s reporting.
