Politics & Government

Skyline Church Salutes La Mesa at 100 with Large Sign on Campo Road

Using centennial logo, sign comes in wake of visit by Mayor Art Madrid to Rancho San Diego church.

Skyline Church normally uses its billboard-sized Campo Road sign to promote upcoming events, but this weekend it looked back—100 years.

“Happy Birthday La Mesa,” said the sign, incorporating part of the city’s centennial logo.  It will stay up a few more days, said senior pastor Jim Garlow.

Garlow told Patch that a “graphics man” for the megachurch designed the sign and apparently had permission to use the licensed logo with the blessing of La Mesa’s mayor.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“I talked with Mayor Art Madrid—and we let him know that Skyline wanted to honor the city,” Garlow said Monday. “He came to Skyline on Dec 30th and spoke before the congregation, and [he] shared some things about the City of La Mesa.”

Madrid “connected the persons at city government with Skyline’s graphic man,” Garlow said.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Why was the sign posted this week in particular?

“This week marked the culmination of the yearlong event of celebrating the 100th anniversary,” Garlow said two days after the culminating Party of the Century.  La Mesa became a city on Feb. 16, 1912.

Garlow also explained why his 3,500-member church lists a La Mesa mailing address despite being in Rancho San Diego—about 4 miles southeast of La Mesa.

“Rancho San Diego has no post office,” Garlow said via email. “U.S. Post Office assigned us a La Mesa address.”

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from La Mesa-Mount Helix