Wal-Mart store asks man not to hand out cards

CONROE, Texas — While inviting people to church as he shopped in Wal-Mart, Steve Barrett, a pastor in Conroe, Texas, was approached by a store manager who told him he could not do so anymore. The manager said Barrett’s passing out cards violated Wal-Mart’s solicitation policy.

Barrett, pastor of Northridge Baptist Church in Conroe, was speaking with one of the store managers with whom he had developed a relationship and had invited to church several times. He saw another store manager watching them, so he handed the man a card with information about the church on it and said, “You’re invited too.” Barrett said he continued with his shopping and was approached by the second manager as he proceeded to the checkout line. The manager told Barrett he could not invite people to church at the store.

Though Wal-Mart has not prohibited Barrett from shopping at the Conroe store, he said he can no longer do so because inviting people to church is such an integral part of his Christian walk that the only way he can comply with the request is to stay away. Even so, Barrett said he does not believe Wal-Mart means harm with its request. Now the sign in front of Barrett’s church reads, “Wal-Mart employees, you’re invited to church.”