You've seen this sign in town
“No matter where you are from, we’re glad you’re our neighbor."
It’s a simple message in three languages – printed on a sign that first appeared in October at the Immanuel Mennonite Church in Harrisonburg, Virginia.
The signs are now located in many communities around the country, including Bluffton.
According to Pastor Matthew Bucher of the Harrisonburg church, the message was a statement born out of Mennonite belief.
"This is a symbol of Jesus' command to love your neighbor," he says. "And as followers of Jesus, we follow someone who was himself a refugee."
The message has spread beyond their faith. In fact, the yard signs were intentionally designed not to specify a connection to the Mennonite church.
Local distribution of the signs began with Paula Snyder Belousek, pastor of Salem Mennonite Church, Elida, who first picked up a few of the signs at a Mennonite seminary in Elkhart, Ind.
Later, she and some friends in Bluffton decided to have more signs printed locally and organized distribution.
Stories Posted This Week
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
- Obituary for Beverly Millager, 88
- Northwest Ohio field reports from the Ohio Division of Wildlife
- Partial closure of Main St for parapet work ended 12:30 p.m.
- Local elections on Bluffton and Richland Twp ballots, November 3
- Pirate girls soccer ousts top seed Miller City
- BCE lunch & learn: "I'm not really a salesperson"
Monday, October 26, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, October 19-25
- Ada Icon headlines, October 26
- November 13 fish fry at Emmanuel UCC
- Citizens National Bank customer appreciation day, October 30
- Bluffton University offers free agricultural and environmental field trips
- Trinity Trunk or Treat, October 31
- October 26 Bluffton Schools athletics lineup, streaming
- Public invited to Bluffton Lions program with President Sider
Sunday, October 25, 2026
Saturday, October 24, 2026
- Ada Icon headlines, October 24
- Are you a friend of the Bluffton Public Library?
- Weekend Doctor: What you need to know about flu season
- Courtney Linke joins CNB as VP Business Banking Officer
- Blanchard Valley Health System Announces Updates to Board of Trustees
- Blanchard Valley Health Foundation Announces Changes to Board of Directors