Local Christian Book Store’s Name Called “Offensive”
Christian Book and Gift Shop owner Don Toy (right) told host David Croyle that his store was rejected by an advertising agency because the name “Christian” is offensive.
The owner of Kittanning’s only Christian book store said he was denied advertising on a restaurant menu because the name “Christian” is offensive.
Reverend Don Toy, owner of the Christian Book and Gift Shop, appeared on last night’s Talk of the Town program on Family-Life TV, to describe a national movement against Christianity that has made its way into our community.
“Last Wednesday, a salesman came to our store selling advertisements for a menu. The salesman said, ‘My company is printing a limited edition special menu for Garda’s Restaurant in Ford City.’ It got my attention. I know the owner well. I respect the place. ‘For the upcoming holiday season, we are going to print 5,000 of these menus and they will be made available to the clientele at the restaurant and provided with take-out orders.’ He was selling advertisement around this multiple page, attractive menu,” Toy describes.
Toy decided to advertise the Christian Book and Gift Shop since the ad would run during the Christmas season. To get a business-size ad around the menu, the cost was $135, which Toy paid in advance by check.
“A few hours later, [the salesman] came back into the building. He said, ‘We have a problem. I contacted headquarters. Our company has rejected your ad. They told me I have to return your check. We don’t take religious advertising. They are exercising the clause in the contract you signed their right to cancel with you.”
The advertising agency is Brecht-Pacific Publishing, Incorporated (BPPI) located in Longview, Washington.
Toy read the clause: “BPPI reserves the right to refuse, edit, omit any portion of any ad that we think is offensive, sensitive, questionable or otherwise not in good taste.”
“What’s wrong with my ad?” Toy asked the salesman. Toy stated that the salesman responded: “The name. It has the word ‘Christian’ in it.”
Toy asked, “Who am I offending? He said, ‘Non-Christians.’ I looked at him stunned for awhile and said ‘You’ve gotta be kidding!’ I have heard about being politically correct, but this was beyond what I could imagine,” Toy said.
Toy said when he continued to push the issue further, the salesman responded: “Mr. Toy, we turn down a lot of businesses for ads, like massage parlors, tattoo shops, and bars.’” Toy maintains that the agency is putting Christians in the same category of being offensive as massage parlors.
Toy said the irony is that the salesman promoted the reason to advertise was because it would reflect the Christmas season. “That was to be the reason they were offering the advertising. Yet the term ‘Christian’ could be offensive, so the company refused to take my money and gave me my check back.”
Don Toy
Toy said the experience was very emotional for him. “It upset me beyond words. To think that the term Christian could be that offensive and turn people off that much. I remember the day when we used to be considered a Christian nation. We have a president that says we are not anymore. I didn’t believe that. I didn’t believe that was true. Maybe he is right.”
Toy said many other businesses in the area had also placed advertising for the Garda’s promotion with the agency. He said he contacted Chris Arco, owner of Garda’s Restaurant. According to Toy, Arco said he was unhappy about the incident, but had a contract with BPPI and could not do anything about it at this point.
Toy urged businesses that already contracted for advertising with BPPI to insist on “Christian-friendly” phrases in their ad, such as “Jesus is the reason for the season” or “Keep Christ in Christmas.”
“The Christian Book and Gift Shop has been a fixture in Kittanning for over 60 years.” Previously owned by the Reverend John Snyder, Toy is the fourth owner of the establishment.
Toy acquired the Christian Book and Gift Shop when Snyder retired approximately five years ago. It was then moved from its North Jefferson Street location to the former G. C. Murphy building at 212 Market Street. “We have kept it in the community,” Toy said. “We supply services to about 75 to 100 churches for their Sunday School curriculum and material. We are also a retail outlet for Christian supplies and gifts and cards.”
The program can be viewed on the station’s website at www.familylifetv.com (click on the “Talk of the Town” heading). The audio portion will also be rebroadcast today at 1PM on WTYM 1380 AM radio.
Local News | KP NewsDesk September 29, 2010
By mlerner, September 29, 2010 @ 12:42 PM
This really takes the cake. Obviously, the salesman didn’t see the name on the bookstore. He also didn’t see the many churches in Kittanning. This company seems to be very ignorant of the fact that Armstrong County is a religious area, the majority of us being Christians. Hopefully, other businesses will boycott this company, and not give their salesmen the time of day. We should show this company how offended we are as Christians to be subjected to such hate and bigotry. We must stand united as a county and insist on respect from outsiders.
By ASDpayer, September 29, 2010 @ 4:57 PM
Well if this is true, then we could or maybe should boycott Garda’s. I bet they would find another ad agency pronto.
By johnmalloy, September 29, 2010 @ 5:55 PM
You’re right: this is sad, but I don’t think it’s because of the reasons you say.
Toy says that the clause read “offensive, sensitive, questionable or otherwise…” and it seems he IMMEDIATELY jumped to it being offensive, rather than sensitive. I worked for an advertising agency that allowed (oddly enough) a Christian bookstore but refused to sell advertising for an occult store because their logo featured an inverted pentagram, and the resulting lawsuit forced them to shut their doors. In order to not allow material that feature OTHER religions (this includes everything recognized as a religion, including Muslim, Satanism, etc.) they have to disallow ALL religions. This isn’t a matter of being offensive; this is so obviously a legal issue. What truly sickens me beyond words are people who claim to be Christian yet are so opposed to forgive their fellow man. Please, make an effort to think outside your own experience and consider the standpoint of others. I feel you owe this company (and yourself) an apology. I could go on, but I’ve already wasted too much time on such a shameful display of childish behavior.
By lucky1, September 29, 2010 @ 8:05 PM
This article is ridiculous. The company states it takes NO religious advertising. NONE. Not from ANY religion. What part of that did Toy not understand? The salesman probably said something incorrect instead of just telling Toy, “Sorry, we do not take ANY religious advertising.” It Toy was Jewish, I am sure the salesman would have said the same thing if he kept pressing him about the issue.
By Therev56, September 29, 2010 @ 9:21 PM
“Don’t be surprised when the world hates you, as it hated me first.” (Jesus Christ, John 15:27 paraphrase)
By h8er86, October 5, 2010 @ 3:49 PM
I think that this publishing company has done this many times in the past, and they will continue to do it for years to come, and it is about time a restaurant owner steps up and calls them on it. and i am pretty sure they have other restaurant menus that have the fish symbol on them and witches on others. they only try to defend themselves or try to make themselves feel better when people call them on it. I think that if the owner of the book store had bought a bigger sized ad they wouldn’t have said a word about it. They are the type of place that only cares about the money and how they can make more
By peteflynn, October 7, 2010 @ 7:59 PM
There is a group called the American Center for Law and Justice. They are Christian lawyers and fighting for our beliefs. God Bless you and be strong in this fight for Christ. I wished I lived by you, I would support your Christian Bookstore.