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Aetna Sign Group gives a San Antonio church curb appeal.

By Steve Aust

Thankfully, many churches have evolved beyond the outdated, changeable-letter boards with such hackneyed messages as “Eternity: Smoking or Non-Smoking?” or “Seven Days Without Jesus Makes One Weak.” As younger generations seek spiritual homes in megachurches with elaborate, contemporary services and far-reaching ministries, it’s only fitting that leaders at such churches would seek high-tech signage to grow their congregations.

Joel Gunn, business manager of San Antonio’s 1,600-member Christian Family Church, enlisted San Antonio-based Aetna Sign Group to build a compelling EMC. Although the church’s sanctuary is hidden from traffic, the property faces San Antonio’s 1604 Loop, where 200,000 motorists drive by daily. Enter the message center.

Jeanette Mangus, Aetna’s sales manager, said electronic displays represent approximately 15% of the 82-year-old, third-generation company’s business. She estimated a dozen of its EMC projects have been built for churches.

“The messages a church conveys might differ from promotional messages at an auto dealership, but the purpose is the same,” she said. “A [EMC] unit is the most cost-effective, beneficial marketing medium available because of its vibrant content capabilities.”

The 60-ft.-tall sign incorporates an 8 ft. 9 in. x 28-ft. Daktronics GalaxyPro® Revolution full-color, 23mm, two-sided display with Daktronics’ Venus® 1500 controlling software. Mangus said EMCs are much more viable for smaller end users because the LEDs offer 80% less power consumption than prior-generation, high-output-bulb displays.

To create the sign that envelops the display, Aetna used a waterjet cutter to create the first surface, and second-surface channel letters with aluminum returns, backed with Sabic Polymershapes’ Lexan® polycarbonate. High-output, T12 fluorescent lamps illuminate the cabinet.

According to Mangus, San Antonio is relatively permissive with its EMC regulations: “They have no dwell-time requirements, but they don’t allow live video, or strobing or blinking messages, and there are nighttime brightness restrictions. But, compared to other cities that impose more restrictions or ban them altogether, we’re pretty fortunate.”