The apostle Peter reminds us, Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect. (I Peter 3:15) Peter certainly points out that there may be many situations when we have the opportunity to share the Gospel. Perhaps it will be while watching your own child's little league baseball game, or sitting around the neighborhood campfire on a crisp autumn evening, or even while waiting in line at the local grocery store. Since this is a reality where all of us can certainly remember examples, it also reminds us of the importance to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (II Peter 3:18a) We do this by gathering for worship, attending Bible study, leading family devotions, and reading the Bible in our own private moments. The Holy Spirit sharpens our faith through these opportunities to be better prepared to give an answer for the hope we have.
But how can we increase these opportunities to provide an answer to the world that so desperately needs to hear this message? One simple way is by using the medium of our own personal attire, T-shirts, for example, to share the Gospel message. I have had the privilege of serving as a principal in three WELS schools for the past 25 years. Among my responsibilities, I have coordinated or assisted with the following inreach and outreach activities: Vacation Bible School, STEM+ camps (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, and the + for the cross, Jesus), soccer camps, and church family camping trips. As a principal and teacher each year, I also facilitate the activity when our faculty chooses a school theme based on a Bible passage. This theme permeates our many school functions like team building activities and weekly chapel devotions. For example, this year our theme is "Fix Your Eyes on Jesus" and is based on Hebrews 12:2. All of these differing situations present opportunities to give the children a keepsake to remember these unique events, and a T-shirt fits that role well.
My family has often poked fun at me that my wardrobe at home is mostly Bible T-shirts from the numerous examples listed above. I will admit that when I dress casually, I likely am wearing such a shirt out in the community. While wearing such attire, most of the time I receive no response. But there are special moments that regularly bring a reaction. Most people who have a thought will share some comment that they appreciate my shirt. Usually, these conversations are only a few short sentences, and I leave the talk knowing that the conversation encouraged the other person in his or her relationship with Jesus. While these individuals may not be a member of our church, I believe that based on the person's outward response, that the person is a member of the invisible church. These are the most common responses I receive when living as a part of the community and fulfilling my vocation as a citizen and neighbor to those around me.
However, sometimes the conversations are longer. By the way, I have a strong passion for hiking. My favorite places include both Wisconsin and Minnesota state parks and our country's national parks. When taking hikes, I am a big believer in wearing something that identifies me. Two neat stories come to mind when my family took a vacation to Glacier National Park in Montana in the summer of 2018. While hiking to both St. Mary and Victoria Falls, I noticed a gentleman wearing a Milwaukee Brewers shirt so I asked him if he was from Wisconsin. He was and shared that he was from Morrison, Wisconsin. This led me to mention that our church body has a congregation in the area, and I soon found out that he and his family, who was with him, were members at Zion Lutheran. While visiting, he also noticed that I was wearing a Martin Luther College T-shirt, and he mentioned that he had a cousin who attended MLC. After conversing for a while, we soon noted that we knew many of the same people. Yes, the WELS is a small church body, and yes, you can randomly meet them on a hiking trail in Glacier National Park. What an example of two households encouraging one another in their faith!
A second example from that same trip was a bit different. My family just finished hiking on the Highline Trail in Glacier, and we were returning to our minivan in the Logan Pass parking lot. While walking to our vehicle, I noticed a family of five, Dad, Mom, and three children likely ages 4-10, all wearing Minnesota Twins attire. I made a comment to them that I love the Twins, and soon found out they were from Yankton, South Dakota. They were grilling hot dogs on the back of their pickup and mentioned that we looked hungry and they had too many hot dogs for their family. We promptly grabbed some chips, fruit, and cookies from our van and had a picnic with some new friends. I later mentioned to my wife that there still are some solid families in America. While talking with them, I had the opportunity to share, as my T-shirt displayed, that I was the principal of a Lutheran Elementary School, a school that focuses on Jesus as the Savior of the whole world. While I don't know whether that conversation had any further impact, I trust God's promise in Isaiah 55: as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)
Using T-shirts as a medium for pointing people to Christ is truly an easy thing to do. It brings opportunities to give an answer. Perhaps, it will encourage people in their faith, or perhaps it opens the door for a chance to share Jesus with a soul that is so desperately needing the comfort of forgiveness. We plant seeds, and the Holy Spirit germinates them and makes them grow. Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
by example
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Discussion
Thank you for your kind comments. I truly loved your story. It is amazing the connections that one can make with other people when someone takes the initiative to start a conversation. This past weekend a group of leaders from our church and school attended a WELS Outreach workshop titled, "Telling the Next Generation." Part of it focused on a Bible study from John 4 where Jesus began a conversation with a woman who went to get water from the well in Sychar. He soon turned the casual conversation into a spiritual one addressing her need for a Savior. Commenting on a person's clothes is definitely a way to break the ice and build an opportunity to share the Gospel.
Greet your son and former classmate, Matt, for me.
Thanks for reaching out. I feel like our t-shirts that we get for school, STEM+ Camp, etc. have two main purposes. As you said, name recognition/school promotion is certainly a primary objective. I think an important secondary objective is to share the Good News of Jesus with a Gospel-oriented Bible passage. For example, our STEM+ Camp last year used the Bible passage, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)
I feel that using a t-shirt as an opportunity to share Christ most often will require the individual to take the initiative. Remember how Jesus took the initiative at the well in Sychar by asking the woman for a drink of water. As I stated in the article, both conversations that I specifically mentioned began with me making a comment to someone else about their attire (Brewers/Twins). Using my own attire provides an opportunity to naturally turn the conversation into a Christ-centered conversation.
Finally, printing a Bible passage, especially on the back, provides an opportunity for the Holy Spirit to work through the printed word to whoever takes the time to read the Bible passage. Thanks again for taking the time to read this.
Thanks for taking the time to share your story. Keep the conversations going! The fields are certainly ripe for harvest. May the Holy Spirit bless your opportunities as you fill your vocations as a camp counselor and citizen in your community.
I love the idea of matching shirts at a bible camp. I too, have experienced that and remember often times after leaving the camp, would have many people ask or at least ready what my shirt said. I think it is such an awesome way to evangelize. Do you know of any ways that we can make some of the shirts more appealing/interesting instead of just the verse?
I agree that t-shirts can start a conversation, a conversation can lead to sharing our faith. Wearing a shirt that promotes your church, would give us all an opportunity to share our faith with someone. People are also more willing to listen to a layperson than a pastor because it's their job to talk to people about Jesus, equipping members with t-shirts promoting their church, creates a huge opportunity for growth in a church.
Money is a concern in many congregations. The shirts cost money. Many of us, in the WELS and ELS, own close to a dozen Thrivent shirts. Could there be a synod wide campaign to raise money and produce shirts promoting the synod and churches, just like Thrivent?
Thanks for sharing your article.
Not sure about a Synod - wide campaign for free shirts to distribute. When setting the fees soccer camps, STEM+ Camps, or school, we include a small part of that income is meant to go to the expense for t-shirts. I appreciate you taking the time to comment. God be with you as you share the Gospel with other people and consider using your own clothing to reach out and start a conversation with someone on the Good News of Jesus.
Peter
I wholeheartedly agree with your statement that many churches or organizations don't have the funds to produce these shirts. I think that a synod wide campaign to raise money for shirts promoting the synod would be a great idea. Would one of the synod's youth rallies be able to help in a way with this effort?
Mr. Micheel,
This reminded me of all of the different shirts that I have received over the years. I hadn’t really realised how many people actually look at and make comments about what other people wear. I personally have never received a comment on a shirt that I’ve worn from someone that doesn’t know Jesus, but I now realise that even if someone doesn’t make a comment, that doesn’t always mean that it didn’t touch them in some way. As I am at school at MLC, I’ve noticed many different shirts that spark my interest and I can’t help but think what can be sparked in others as well.
After reading your article, I have one question. A lot of people think that in order to make a difference in the world you have to see a result. How can we show people that little things in life like wearing that specific shirt on this random day can have such a great impact on another person, that isn’t always seen right away? Thanks
Thanks for taking the time to reflect on the article. You raise a good question. We certainly will never know this side of heaven how the printed Word, perhaps on a t-shirt that you have even worn, has given the Holy Spirit the opportunity to work in people's hearts a faith that clings to Jesus as their Savior.
Maybe to answer your question, I have a thought. I remember once hearing from one of my professors who said that the only bad questions are the ones that don't get asked. In a similar way, the only bad conversations are the ones that never got started. Taking initiative and starting a conversation with a random stranger by commenting on their personal attire is not always easy to do. I have "fallen on my face" many times in my experiences. I try to use those experiences as learning opportunities for next time. And I find comfort feeling that it is better to try and fail rather than never taking the opportunity. One of the things I often remind my students in my classroom is that I want them to remember that every person they see/meet each day is someone who Jesus loved and died to take away their sins. I try to remind them that they may be the only Christian that a person may come in contact with that day.
Isabelle, be confident that God will bless your conversations, and you will get better at them when you take the time to start these conversations and look for the opportunity to connect a person to Christ.
Peter
I loved how you made the comment that we can still know that evangelism works through T-shirts even if no one asks you about your shirt. Also, the other person does not have to be the one to make a comment about the shirt. Sometimes, I have tried is finding a way to make my own comment about my shirt when I am around people who I care about that I know do not know God. Just make the comment natural and not forced. Have you ever thought about giving someone a comment on their shirt?
-Abby
I really enjoyed reading this article. It was quite interesting how you’ve used t-shirts in a way to spread the word. When I first saw this article, I thought of the popular Live Generously shirts. It’s pretty awesome to watch God work in mysterious ways! I appreciate the stories. I would have never imagined you’d meet many people in this way. More often than not, people don’t pay attention to a person’s t-shirt in passing. Have you ever gotten negative feedback for a shirt you’ve worn? I am a little curious about that. People tend to be more public about their opinions when they are negative verses when someone has a positive response.
I love this idea and I will definitely be more conscious when I wear t-shirts expressing my faith. It is a great way to reach out!
Thank you for your contribution to this conference!
Thanks for taking the time to read the article. I racked my brain and surprisingly I don't ever remember someone sharing a negative comment with me regarding my shirt. Sometimes, I have run into dead-end conversations where the other people make quite clear either verbally or nonverbally that they are not interested in continuing the conversation.
This past summer, our church had a booth at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair. We included a banner that included the words "By his wounds ... we are healed." Several people passing by made positive comments about our banner. Some, however, I noticed felt quite uncomfortable. Everyone has a natural knowledge of God and knows that they need to be accountable to this just God. Seeing pictures or words does make some feel uncomfortable even when they try to suppress these feelings, and sadly, they turn away when given the opportunity to hear the peace that their spiritually starved soul needs to hear.
God be with you as you live your vocation as an MLC student, classmate, and neighbor to those around you.
Peter
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my question! Thank you for sharing that story about the fair. It is a good example and reminder that sometimes people won't always accept what we believe but we just have to keep on doing the Lords work!
Thank you again for the response to my question.
I also found Alexis' thought about other people seeing Christian t-shirts in a negative way interesting. As she said, people are often more open with sharing their negative opinions rather than positive responses. What do you think is the correct approach if someone comes up to you and asks about what you're wearing in a negative connotation?
Thank you for sharing such inspiring examples! It is hard for us to realize exactly what happens when we wear our Bible gear. You said it perfectly in reminding us that “we plant seeds, and the Holy Spirit germinates them and makes them grow.” We don’t always get a response, but when we do, it is really rewarding.
After reading your article, I would like to know if you have ever gotten any negative feedback from wearing a Bible-related T-shirt. And if so, how did you respond to it? Sharing a story of this nature may help others react in the “correct” manner.
Thank you for sharing your wisdom with the conference.
Thank you for reaching out. I was asked a similar question above. I would encourage you to read the response. No, I have never had a person comment in a negative way to me regarding anything that I have worn. Some respond negatively when I try to initiate a conversation. I also remember that not everyone responded favorably to Jesus when he shared his mission with them that he came to be their Savior.
God's blessing to you in your studies at MLC.
Peter
Thank you for your response. It is encouraging to hear that no one has ever responded in a negative way. There are so many people out there that we can share God's love with! Thanks again for your time while being a part of this conference.
Katherine
Glad to hear that you have also had these positive opportunities.
Peter
I agree. Thanks for reading.
Peter
The T-Shirt Evangelism is something I myself have experienced many times as well. Christian people I run into will sometimes comment nice shirt and as you said there might be a small conversation about it, but then we both move on with our own lives. I think you had some awesome stories. I thought you had some great ideas and very eye-opening comments on what influence or connections a T-shirt could have on someone.
I do wonder though if people who are not Christian, who have never heard the name of Jesus pay attention to our attire. I was wondering what on a T-Shirt promoting the message of the Gospel would in your opinion catch the eye of an unbeliever? You mentioned in your final story that the family who shared hot dogs with you was solid. And that you had a chance to tell them about your job as a Principal. Did they ask about your T-shirt or did you just mention what was on your T-shirt?
Thank you for this great article on a very easy medium of opening doors to spread the Gospel.
As I mentioned in an earlier reply. I truly feel that if one is going to begin a conversation with someone and direct it to a Christ-centered conversation, it needs to begin with the Christian. I think most unbelievers will probably pay little attention to the t-shirts that we are wearing. Yet, when wearing a shirt with a Gospel-centered Bible passage, we remember the Holy Spirit uses the means of grace to turn a heart of stone to a heart of flesh.
Answering your question regarding the family from South Dakota, after building a friendly relationship with them, I felt it was a natural lead-in to discuss what I do for a living, and the t-shirt provided the evidence to my story's truth.
God's blessings in your studies at MLC.
Peter
This article is so encouraging. I feel as though it is relatable to all Christians. Anyone can wear a t-shirt with a Christian message on it. They do not need to be notable church leaders or experienced biblical intellects or talented public speakers. I have worn such shirts often in public places and had people come up to me and comment on my shirt. Often times the stranger is also a Christian. I find that really cool to meet a stranger and realize that he or she is my brother or sister in Christ. Other times, as you pointed out, it can be a chance to share our faith. I think we should work more toward encouraging people to wear such shirts. It is so simple and easy, yet it could change someone’s life!
One question that I thought of while reading this article was related to what kind of Christian message we are sending by the shirts. Do you think it would be better if they promote a specific Christian company/institution such as a church, school, athletic or drama club, etc., or if they offer a simple message of biblical truth, such as the gospel? What do you think are the benefits?
Thank you for contributing to this conference. What a great idea!
Peter
Thank you for your insights on the “T-shirt” ministry! I had not been introduced to T-shirt ministry until my high school years. I had attended a Lutheran grade school. Still, it was not until attending a Lutheran high school that I understood the reasoning behind buying or sometimes giving matching t-shirts away to a congregation, at a group event, or for a sports team. What we wear is assessed continuously in our culture today, and so we can count on others reading or at least noticing our shirts. Using every tool we can to create outreach is a wonderful way to remind ourselves why we are placed here on earth.
After reading your article, I had a question. Could we take t-shirt ministry even farther than wearing the t-shirts ourselves? Could we provide t-shirts at community events to raise awareness of the church? Could we send t-shirts home with those who walk through our church doors for the first time as a reminder of what we teach? We do not want to turn religion into a ‘cheesy gimmick,’ but would it be beneficial to use t-shirts as an outreach potential, especially because of the versatility and usefulness that t-shirts can provide?
Thank you so much for your work!
Thanks for taking the time to read the article and respond. You have some great ideas. We provide t-shirts to those that attend our STEM+ and soccer camps. Thanks for the suggestions to go even further.
Peter
I thought that your article on t-shirts and the impact they can have was intriguing. I specifically liked the proof that you showed when talking about experiences that you had with people based solely off a t-shirt.I feel that it is essential for Christians to be making every effort to spread the message of Christ which could include what Chrtistians wear. I remember many times that I have seen my brothers and sisters wear clothing that does not reflect their faith well at all and when reading your article I thought about how we need to make the impression before the conversation even begins.
You said that t-shirts are one of the easiest mediums for evangelism. I couldn’t help but think about why many don’t go out of their way to put on t-shirts reflecting their faith. Why do you think for many these kinds of t-shirts aren’t part of their daily wardrobe? Do you feel there needs to be a greater push to utilize the t-shirt as a tool for Christians? Or do you feel it is more the opportunity for someone to come to you?
Thank you for your time and contribution to the conference.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I think that some people perhaps feel awkward wearing such clothing. Sharing Christ with other people takes practice. I remember once learning from a pastor that a great way to practice sharing Christ with other people is to practice on those unwanted telemarketers. It can actually be quite fun to ask the caller a question like, "If you were to die tonight, would you be assured that you have eternal life in heaven?" Most of the time the people hang up, but I have been able to have a couple of meaningful conversations, including one man who was calling from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. I had the opportunity to direct him to one of our WELS churches, and he even asked about baptiizing his children while on the phone.
Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions.
Peter
Thank you for answering my questions. I have always thought about that fear that many hold for sharing their faith in a public manner, and it seems that the Christian mindset is misplaced there. I feel that our shortcomings are the reason we do not seek out opportunities as much as we should. I need to work on this in my life and future ministry because I want to be a brave soldier of Christ.
Thanks again.
Joshua Mark Snyder
I think it is really cool that you have found this as a useful way to evangelize. Wearing Christ on my clothing is something I have done often and never really thought of as an evangelism opportunity, but I think that it is a useful way to show our faith. It also gives us an opportunity to live in a way that makes what we advertise on our t-shirts appealing.
Did you ever have a negative experience because of the t-shirt you were wearing? Do you think it may be off-putting for some to see someone wearing a t-shirt that may support something that they do not necessarily agree with? I’m wondering if for some less inclined to the faith it may be more appealing to share who you are verbally when they already have a positive impression of you than to have your first impression for them be your faith.
Thank you for your contribution to the conference.
Thanks for taking the time to respond. I shared a response that is similar to your question above.
God's blessings to you at MLC.
Peter
Thanks for your response. Your response got rid of any reservations I had regarding t-shirt evangelism.
Blessings,
Maya
Thank you for sharing your story with us. It is simply amazing all the ways that the gospel can reach people. T-Shirts are a casual enough outreach that could impact a lot of people. My late grandfather used to wear a blue ball cap with the words, “Jesus says ‘Go Fish’ ”. I remember being shocked while hearing all the people he met and was able to talk to all because of the simple message on his hat.
Have you ever considered making more than just shirts with Gospel messages on them? And along with that question, Do you have any shirts that reach other cultures or have passages in other languages?
God’s richest blessing on continuing this form of evangelism!
Good to hear from a person that I know! Good suggestions. Some people wear hats, and some don't. I think usually a t-shirt is the easiest, but you gave me some things to think about. God be with you at MLC. Make sure that Abby behaves herself.
Mr. Micheel
Thank you for your response! I wholeheartedly agree that shirts are a lot easier to wear casually. I am excited to hear more about your evangelism. I will keep an eye on Abby for you! God's blessings!!
Amanda Backhaus
I love your ideas! It would be so cool if we had shirts in different languages. That way other people can get the same message everyone else is! I think this would be perfect for when we have trips to other countries like the upcoming Spanish trip to Argentina. It would be awesome if all the people going wore a shirt with a message in Spanish on it. Thanks for adding to the conversation!
Katherine Fink
Thank you for your work with your school and church. For a lot of people, the clothes someone is wearing can tell you quite a bit about them. Whether that be a fancy suit or sweatpants and a t-shirt. It is an amazing thing that we can use what people are wearing as a way to start up a conversation. I work at Kwik Trip and find that people’s T-shirts can be quite interesting. It is cool how open people can be about themselves when you just ask a simple thing about themselves, that being their T-shirt.
How would you go about bringing up your church if you aren’t wearing an evangelism themed T-shirt but you talk about their shirt?
Thank you for your time writing this and reaching out to others about our Savior.
Since I feel that the Christian usually takes the initiative, I think you can still start a conversation based on what someone else is wearing. It may be a bit more challenging/not natural without an evangelism themed shirt, but you can always practice. Engaging others in conversations can be quite fun, and you get to meet some really neat people.
Peter
This article did prompt a question which was, could the “Bible shirts” be a deterrent that we might need to be cautious about? Some people could possibly be turned off by a group walking around wearing matching Bible shirts solely because of the stereotype sometimes paired with that situation. Could this be a bigger issue than what is noticed and if so what should be the actions taken? I personally feel that t-shirts are a great tool, but I most certainly would not want it to make people steer clear of me.
Thank you for your contribution to the conference.
That could certainly be the case. Some do feel uncomfortable when seeing a Christ-centered theme. I think it goes back to the natural knowledge of God and a conscience that is troubling the person. Sometimes it could be a circumstance that a person is going through at the time that makes it difficult to engage in a conversation. I still think that it is better to share the Good News of Jesus vs. not taking the opportunity to share the Gospel.
Thanks for taking the time to respond.
God's blessings to you at MLC.
God's blessings
I loved the idea of showing simple ways to evangelize to people like the use of t-shirts. I do recall you making the comment in Glacier National Park that one should wear a shirt that reflects their background because of the fact that people will make comments about your shirt that could spark into meaningful conversations. I do appreciate how you can always make connections of mundane facts of life to God’s Word. I, as a child in your family, would love to also state that our family does not tease you because you wear shirts have Bible passages on them, but it is because of the fact that you wear the same 3-5 shirts for the whole summer.
I am curious if you can write an article about how you find the courage in evangelizing to people who do not come from the same background as you. As a person training to be in the public ministry and knowing how many random people you share God’s Word to, I find your point of view necessary to learn how to build up the courage to evangelize to strangers or good friends who don’t know the truth yet. Will you consider writing this? Also, why didn’t you tell me that you wrote an article??
Thank you so much for your input Dad!
Thanks for taking the time to respond and clarify the family's teasing. Writing another article is a neat idea. Maybe you could help me and hang out with me when we are camping /hiking/talking to campground hosts and help me identify the techniques to use that makes it easier to share Jesus with other people. What do you think? Let me know what grade you get on this assignment too.
Dad
Thank you for your reply to my comments. I am glad that you appreciate that I cleared up about the teasing. As long as you are not having a conversation at 5 am again like you did with that Jehovah's witness, I would be happy to observe your techniques. Also, have you ever had a time where you just felt terrified to open up about your faith/afraid that you would say the wrong thing? If so, what would you do in those situations?
-Abby
I have absolutely been terrified at times. I think the older I get, the less I care what others think about me. Also, the more opportunities that I use, I feel like the Lord truly blesses them and gives me better experience for the next conversation. Thanks for reminding me about the story with the Jehovah's Witness on Minnesota Highway 61 at Temperance River State Park so early in the morning. Even when talking to such a person, if you can at least put a "stone in their shoe" that may lead them to question what they believe, God's Word won't return empty. Always be prepared to give an answer! Find courage to start conversations, and trust the Holy Spirit to bless you and give you the right words to speak. Love you, Dad!
Thank you for sharing your experiences with “T-Shirt Evangelism.” The stories you shared were both encouraging and relatable. My family has also experienced the Martin Luther College t-shirt recognition - through an MLC t-shirt, we found out that the tour guide on my brother’s college visit to a public university had a family member who attended MLC. I liked how you included the Twins t-shirt story. It reminded me that we can make connections in many different ways to share the gospel with those we meet. As one training for the public ministry, I will now take special note of the importance of “T-Shirt Evangelism.”
I enjoyed reading about the conversations you were able to have from t-shirts. Have you ever had negative reactions to church or school t-shirts, either from the public or from within the church or school? Have you received any criticism on the t-shirts? What do you think makes a good evangelism t-shirt?
Thank you for your contribution to the conference.
I responded above to a question that you asked about any negative feedback or criticism. I also think it is best to focus on a Gospel message / Bible passage as a theme for a t-shirt. Thanks for taking the time to respond. Is your father, Jon? If so, send him my greetings.
God's blessings in your studies at MLC.
Peter
Thank you for your suggestions on t-shirt ideas. I can remember past school t-shirts that included a theme passage on the back, which could easily be used in a conversation. It is encouraging to hear that you have not had very negative experiences with your t-shirts. I appreciate your comments about the natural knowledge of God - even if people don't say something about the message we are proclaiming, they may feel something.
I will pass on your greeting to my dad.
Thank you!
I greatly appreciated reading your article that reminds us of how something as simple as the words on a T-Shirt can be used to spread the divine message of God. This also shows to me how many other tools in everyday life can be used to share this message.
I was left with a question after reading this article. Have you considered giving this idea to our brothers and sisters in Christ who are working in our World Missions? This strategy of spreading the God’s Word in different countries with various languages on them as well.
Thank you for writing this article, and showing us this great tool that can be used to spread the Gospel.
I loved the stories you shared about how a t-shirt can bring people together. For example when you went to state parks, you bonded to people over a t-shirt, which is a great conversation starter. You also mentioned that wearing t-shirts shows who you are and what you believe, which is why I enjoy wearing t-shirts and collect a t-shirt when I visit somewhere new. These stories show that you can connect with people or the simplest things and show them God’s Word in every situation.
A question I had while reading your stories was, do you make all of the t-shirts you have? How do you come up with your t-shirt designs if you do design them on your own? I know people who wear t-shirts all the time, and it would be great for them to start wearing Gospel t-shirts, so they can start sharing the Gospel news to all people.
Thank you for those wonderful stories, and make God Bless you on your ministry.
Thank you very much for your very practical article. I really enjoyed reading it, and think that it is very applicable. I know that I have lots of old church and camp shirts, and reading this article shows just how important and easy sharing the gospel can be with just shirts.
After reading, I wondered if anyone else has done the same to you. Obviously the WELS isn’t the only church body that makes shirts, so has anyone from another denomination ever tried to talk with you about their faith because of their shirt?
Thank you for the great article and for your contributions to the conference.
Pastor Micheel,
I found your article faciting due to the fact that it shows how easy it is to proclaim the Gospel. Your article reminds me that little things can have a tremendous impact on people. I am a very social person, but I sometimes struggle to find ways to tie my conversation to God. The things that we do and even the things that we wear represent who we are as individuals. It is as simple as putting a christian shirt on.
After reading your article, I had two questions. Have you thought about wearing or providing shirts written in spanish or any other language in order to catch the eye of more people in your daily activities? And also, have you ever experienced any type of bullying or aggression because of the message you are trying to share?
Thank you for your contribution to the conference.
Thank you so much for all the work you have been doing. It is truly amazing the impact you can and are causing on people with their faith. It’s funny because making biblical t-shirts is such an easy way to spread the gospel, outreach to people, and to just represent our Savior, and I never thought about how much impact I could cause for a person by just wearing a shirt. I have made t-shirts for my SDTeenAge Republicans(TARs) organization when I was the Chair. We would always have people talk to us about it and it always served as a great conversation starter. Thank you for the impact you are causing in this world.
I am curious to see if you any further ideas of ways of outreach. Such as maybe other accessories to be worn or events of some kind?
Thank you for your contribution to the conference. God’s blessings.
Thank you for sharing your story on T-Shirt Evangelism. This use of t-shirts for spreading God’s Word is awesome. Talking to everyone you see throughout your day to day life about Jesus is not always the easiest thing. Wearing a t-shirt proclaiming God’s message will always be an easy and effective way for Christians to let their light shine.
Reading your article left me with some questions. Do we have t-shirts for outreach around the globe? Would these t-shirts have the same effect for other cultures if they had words with their language on them?
Thanks for the article on T-Shirt Evangalism. God’s blessings!
Thanks for being a great partner with the STEM+ Camp. Thanks for sharing your experiences. You are a tremendous classroom partner to work with as we share Jesus with both our students and the community of Eau Claire. By the way, the North Shore has some great hiking opportunities and lots of souls to meet who need to hear about their Savior.
Peter
In this day and age, everything revolves around identity and defining yourself to the world through whatever means necessary. Isn't it wonderful when we do not have to worry about that, thanks to Jesus! I completely agree that people often assume what you wear is a part of your personality and how you communicate your values to the world. I always try to engage in conversation with someone when they are wearing a shirt I like or that I do not understand and want to learn more about. It's so easy to make a difference in someone's day through simple small talk and evangelizing to them could well open the door to salvation.
Being from Colorado, I thoroughly enjoy hiking as well and I love interacting with the people I meet. I've never made a conscious decision to evangelize through my clothing on hikes or other places. I will certainly start doing that from now on!
Thanks for taking the time to read and respond.
God's blessings as you hike the trails of Colorado.
Peter
Peter
Thanks for contributing. God's blessings in your studies at Bethany.
Peter
I really like the part about the shirt you wore growing up, that said NONONFORMIST. It proves how much a T-shirt can do if you still remember it years after you have worn it. I think that for all mission trips, the people going on them should have shirts made just to have a point to talk about to the people they pass by. I agree with you that T-Shirt Evangelism can be really powerful as well.
I loved hearing about your stories in witnessing your faith partly because of T-Shirt Evanglelism! What a cool and conveneient way to spread the gospel!
What other challenges have you encountered because of your t-shirts? Are you known as “The T-shirt guy” or do people not really notice? Perhaps they do notice and turn away because of it? In your opinion, would you say it’s better to “passively” be a witness with t-shirts, or better to “actively” be a witness by asking people upfront about their faith? Perhaps a mixture of both? I am genuinely curious because I am not sure. I could see being upfron and asking people could be both good and really bad. But I’m curious to hear what you have to say about it!
God’s Blessings, Jack.
I think you really need to see the tone of the conversation and read the person's body language. I often pray and seek God's guidance to give me the right words to speak at the right time. It takes practice. It takes courage. There will be times that it may seem like you fail. There will be times when you know it was the right thing and trust the Holy Spirit to do his work. Above all, keep Christ at the center of the conversation and use his word when discussing with someone.
Peter
I really appreciated how you highlighted the uses and efficacy of T-shirt messages to share the Gospel with the world. A Bible passage on the back of a shirt might be what it takes to start a conversation with a stranger who does not know Jesus Christ as their Savior. Regardless of how that conversation goes, one can be confident that the Holy Spirit has the power to work faith in their hearts through such a conversation. Also, believers can be uplifted and encouraged in their faith when they see the Gospel message on someone’s clothing. I have gotten compliments from such people who were pleased to see God’s Word being shared in that way and strengthened in their own faith as a result. Finally, I enjoyed your mention of how noticing someone’s clothing could lead to finding something in common. I have a question for you about your personal experience with T-shirt evangelism and younger children. When you gave students (especially younger students) a T-shirt with a Bible passage on it, was the meaning and use of that passage made clear? I apologize if my question is a bit unclear, but my thought is that if students are wearing clothing with the Gospel message on it and are also able to understand and possibly even share that message with others who notice it, this would be a great head-start as far as teaching young Christians how to share their faith with those who might not have it. Thank you for your contributions to the conference.
Thank you for triggering my thoughts. Since having the opportunity to share this article, I have made a point to share the article with our students to encourage them to share Jesus with other people. Wearing their shirts in the community is such a simple way to wear your faith to those in whom you come contact.
Thanks again.
Peter
Thanks for the great article, photos and stories that illustrate the topic well.
T-shirts, yard signs, car stickers, pens, coffee mugs, stocking hats and branded water are all my favorite conversation starters. One may want to choose a different item based on the ministry and the context of the user. What would a parent utilize at work to start a conversation with a co-worker? What would a student be proud to use in front of community camp kids in the summer? You give some great examples of how to approach personal visuals in public and how it leads to the wonderful Word of Mouth ministry.
Thanks for taking the time to comment. It was good to see you last night at the WELS Choral Fest. God's blessings to you, and thank you for contributing to the conference as well.
Peter
What an interesting perspective! God's blessings as you serve our Lord in the Lutheran Church Central Africa.
Peter
Thanks for the neat story. Since publishing this article, I have heard many others who have so many great stories to tell that are similar. I feel humbled to have the opportunity to trigger others to share such beautiful stories. Keep sharing the good news of Jesus with those you meet. The fields are ripe for harvest.
Peter
Thank you for commenting and your encouraging words. God's blessings in your studies as you carry out your vocation as a student and member of the community.
Peter
I think the double blessing is exposure and opportunities to share the Good News of Jesus. Thanks for the comment and reaching out.
Peter
Thank you so much for the awesome article! I feel that the idea of wearing a “faith-oriented” t-shirt is genius. It is such an easy concept, that we as followers should take advantage of. When I have worn a t-shirt with a bible verse or from a VBS camp, I have had a wide range of responses, and even the people who don’t comment on my shirt, many times I notice the individuals still reading the shirt. There is still evangelism in that. Taking the opportunity to talk to people who comment on your shirt can be a game-changer for people and their faith.
Although I agree with evangelism through t-shirts and love the idea, do you have a favorite website where you can get t-shirts as cheaply as possible so this can be an affordable option for most churches?
We buy locally from a business in Eau Claire. It supports the local economy and even subtlely serves as a witness and reveals that our church and school are part of the Eau Claire community.
Peter
I appreciated how you incorporated many personal stories into your presentation. It made me feel like I knew you and the situation you were in. I loved how you both opened and ended your thoughts with Bible passages. It kept your topic strongly connected to the Word, and this makes this source of evangelism so much more touching and effective.
Have you ever received negative reactions to the shirts when you wear them? I know that persecution is a source of major concern and worry for many people, and this could possibly turn them away from wearing such an expressive shirt.
Thank you for your contribution to this conference.
Surprisingly, no, I have never heard a person make a derogatory comment to me to my face. I have experienced people who make very clear that they are not interested. It is best just to move on and look for the next opportunity.
Thanks for encouraging me with the Bible passages. I always feel that my words are a distant second to the words God reveals to us in the Bible.
Peter
This is an amazing idea to get people open up for a conversation about our savior. We should be proud to share our faith, don’t take living on a free land for granted. Sharing the Gospel does not only apply in church. Realistically, people are more likely to pay attention if the message is delivered through a casual conversation instead of, for example, door-to-door canvassing.
Since the T-shirt is a great way to deliver the message, why don’t we expand our focus on people with different cultural backgrounds? Is it doable to print on the massages in different languages like Chinese, Spanish and German? As for me, an International student from China, it is always eye-catching to see Chinese on someone’s shirt.
Thank you for your comments. What a great idea to share the message in a different language, especially if the area that you live has many different nationalities and cultures.
Peter
Your presentation brought to mind an experience I had about twenty-five years ago with my siblings in Florida. We went to Disney World with my grandparents, and my eight-year-old brother Peter wore a tank top that had thirty trivia questions printed on the front side and the thirty correct answers on the backside. During the long day we spent riding shuttles between locations or standing in lines for rides or snacks, countless strangers read over his shirt and asked him to turn around repeatedly so they could confirm their guesses using his back. (This is in the pre-internet era when you couldn't just Google such information on your phone.)
In your piece, you mentioned that "While wearing [attire related to church or school programs], most of the time I receive no response." Combining your thoughts regarding t-shirt evangelism and that experience with my brother, I wondered if there were specific design traits or strategies that might be more likely to comfortably engage people, especially those who might be unfamiliar with our church. The most direct relevant cousin to my brother's shirt would probably be a t-shirt featuring Bible trivia questions, but I'm sure there are other better ideas as well.
Incidentally, my brother refused to wear his trivia tank top ever again on vacation, claiming that he grew tired of being a personal gamepiece for tons of unfamiliar folks. So it would take the right personality to wear a shirt that actually nudged people toward interacting with you in a positive fashion. But I thought if you or other readers had thoughts along this line, or strategies they'd tried in the past, it could be an interesting addition too the useful conversation you started here.
Thanks for your article, and I also enjoyed the pictures of your family modeling recent efforts! :)
Glad to hear the article triggered such a memorable moment. Thanks for the thoughts. Putting trivia questions on a t-shirt could stimulate more people to start a conversation with the person wearing it. I would welcome curious people who wanted to ask.
Peter
Thanks for the encouragement. Keep in touch to let me know what your family does with it. My email address is pjmicheel@gmail.com
Peter
Our question is how do you think we can harness this power of a t-shirt to continue to bring followers to Christ, or at the very least get them to ask about him?
Thanks again.
Peter
Good question. I would go with a STEM+ Camp shirt that we had in the summer of 2018. The Bible passage is John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This passage clearly shows that God's plan of salvation for sinners is through Jesus alone.
Peter
Something to consider: reaching out to media arts students at Bethany and our other Lutheran colleges and asking for them to practice their design with creating tshirts for various events and things. It would help to keep students involved in the community and also to help them practice what they are learning in classes. It also makes some pretty cool tshirts!
Peter