Finding hope and faith can come at any point and at any time.

The Automotive Paint Center on Clay Street has a unique way of brightening peoples’ day and spreading a message of faith to the people of Vicksburg and those who pass by it on Clay Street.

The marquee sign on the corner of the parking lot changes weekly, keeping faith alive in Vicksburg.

“I had a lady call me here years ago and she was in tears because her day was so bad and we had something on our sign that meant to much to her,” store employee Glenn Hartley said. “That was enough for that week for her.”

According to Hartley, the sign changes sayings every Tuesday or Wednesday depending on the weather. The sayings posted on the sign are found in books, which members of the staff read in their spare time and then vote on the best one every week.

Jim Karel, has owned the store for 34 years and opened it the same year he got married. The sign was implemented 28 years ago as an act of faith and giving back. Karel is a believer in God and wanted to help spread his message for people that needed a little bit of guidance in their lives.

“I see a lot of hurting people. I didn’t think the sign was doing what it had been intended to do,” Karel said. “I just started putting messages up there; short messages that may help someone that is riding through town or going to work or whatever they’re going through. It might be an encouragement or an inspiration to them.”

The sign brings a form of ministry to Karel as the readings he does in his spare time helps him create inspirations to keep his faith alive.

Karel said he’s received many emails and phone calls from all over the United States from people visiting Vicksburg and expressed immense gratitude for the sign.

“People pay a great deal of attention to the sign,” Karel said. “It means a lot to hear that.”

Karel even joked around and said  people call in wondering when the sign will change and even when a word is occasionally misspelled.

The marquee sign presently reads, “Help Is Just A Prayer Away.” It may be a simple message, but it’s one that sticks with Karel and the staff the most.

The sign last week read, “God’s Last Name is Not Damn.” A personal favorite of Karel’s was one they had earlier in the year that read, “Read The Bible. It’ll Scare The Hell Out Of You.”

“All the messages we put up are special, but that one I caught a little heat for,” Karel said laughing.

Something as simple as changing a marquee sign every week with an important message of faith can mean a lot for people looking at it, but it means even more for the person who came up with the idea.

“The biggest joy I get is when people stop by and say, ‘thank you,’” Karel said. “That’s me carrying Gods message.”