JewBelong Thanks Vanguard Church With Billboard
A New York City-based group placed a Colorado Springs billboard praising the church's support for the Jewish community.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Judaism
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JewBelong installed a billboard near Austin Bluffs Parkway and Sapphire Drive in Colorado Springs reading "Dear Vanguard Church, Your compassion for the Jewish community is a blessing." The message is scheduled to remain up through January.
Why it matters
The billboard highlights local expressions of support for Jewish residents as antisemitic incidents remain elevated nationally. JewBelong added billboard promotions in 2021 as anti-Jewish acts began rising across the nation.
Billboards nationwide cost $10,000 to $12,000 a month, rising to $30,000 to $40,000 depending on city and location, and the Colorado Springs placement is being funded by charitable donations from JewBelong and Christian Allies Collective. About one in five JewBelong billboards across the country has been vandalized.
The players
JewBelong
A New York City-based organization that promotes awareness of Jewish people and opposition to antisemitism, founded in 2017.
Vanguard Church
A Colorado Springs congregation affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention, recognized by JewBelong for its support of the Jewish community.
Anti-Defamation League
A national organization that tracks and reports antisemitic incidents, which compiled 6,274 incidents in its 2025 audit.
The details
Vanguard Church, an affiliate of the Southern Baptist Convention headquartered at 3950 N. Academy Blvd., is the subject of the message. JewBelong's first Colorado billboards went up around Colorado Springs in January before this latest placement.
Timeline
2017: JewBelong is founded to provide online resources about Judaism.
2021: JewBelong begins billboard promotions opposing anti-Jewish sentiment.
January 2026: JewBelong's first Colorado billboard campaign begins in Colorado Springs.
November 9, 2026: The Vanguard Church billboard is installed near Austin Bluffs Parkway.
Culture Shift
The campaign responds to the 6,274 antisemitic incidents documented in the Anti-Defamation League's 2025 audit, reflecting a growing use of public advertising to counter hostility. JewBelong's billboards represent a shift toward positive public messaging alongside rising reports of assault, harassment and vandalism.
Colorado Springs residents driving near Austin Bluffs Parkway and Sapphire Drive will see the billboard through January. The placement offers a visible local example of interfaith support that residents can observe during their daily commutes.
The takeaway
Public expressions of support can counter isolation for Jewish residents during periods of heightened hostility. Readers interested in the issue can review the organization's resources on Judaism directly.
Further reading
Explore more coverage in our Judaism section.
More information
Learn more about the group's work on the JewBelong support and donation page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Colorado Springs Gazette.
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