FRISCO, Colo. (AP) - An A&W Restaurant in the Colorado mountains is putting Scripture on its outdoor sign despite warnings from company attorneys and complaints from area residents.

The restaurant held off on posting Bible verse for a few weeks, but franchise owners Reuben and Donna Drebenstedt say they are in a freedom-of-speech fight for the long haul.

"It wasn't very encouraging when the sign just said, "Open,"' said Reuben Drebenstedt, who is a Jewish Messianic Christian pastor.

"We're not doing it to be obnoxious," he said this week. "Anyone who knows me understands I'm not out to hurt anyone. It's my First Amendment right to post Scripture on our sign."

On a recent day, the billboard outside the restaurant read: "Chili cheese fries/onion rings/praise Jesus with thanks giving!/Isaiah 12:2"

Inside, there are leaflets advertising the Messianic Jewish Christian religion, a movement commonly known as "Jews for Jesus." Patrons enter and exit beneath a plaque with Hebrew characters for the word "HaShem" or God, and the phrases "Psalm 1" and "Thank You."

Earlier this year, some people complained to A&W headquarters about the religious overtones at the restaurant. The Anti-Defamation League stepped in, saying Messianic Jewish Christians "falsely claim that they are interested in Jewish practices when the real goal is to convert Jews to Christianity."

The ADL asked A&W to make sure the Scripture is no longer posted. A&W All American Food Restaurants are owned by Yum! Brands Inc., which also owns KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.

"We originally received complaints about the religious messages," A&W spokeswoman Virginia Ferguson said. "We listen to these complaints because we do not want to offend any of our customers. We are hopeful this will be resolved amicably."

However, Reuben Drebenstedt said any discussions on the issue are between attorneys.

"They call themselves the American food place, then they say we can't advertise to Christians," he said. "We'll continue (posting Scripture) and we'll continue to pay them royalties. We are a high-producing store for them."