Speaking + Spreading The love of Jesus Christ

At first “the nudge” about creating a t-shirt displaying a vague biblical reference felt like a goofy idea.  However, it also felt like the easiest and most comfortable way for me to initiate a conversation about Jesus Christ, specifically because the great commission is something I’m seriously challenged by.  Yet, as my faith grew I couldn’t stop thinking about this idea.  And although this concept required that the shirts saying had to be both vague and appealing enough to pique the curiosity of the reader, there were other very specific design features about it:   

• The saying had to be in all lower case letters.  
• The saying also had to begin with three (3) dots before and after the saying  …representing that there is a beginning to this story and an end…
• There had to be a logo and this logo had to be vague in appearance, yet it needed a cross incorporated into its design.  It also would be small and obscure.  If the vague saying on the shirt didn’t reveal to other Christians that the wearer was a fellow-Christian, then hopefully the cross within the logo would.  However, I didn’t want an obvious cross within the logo to deter a non-believer from asking about the saying.     
• The shirt had to have a bookmark.  The bookmark had to have a description of what the saying on the shirt meant to the author of the saying.  The bookmark is (1) intended to help the wearer use this information to help “speak” the Word to a non-believer and (2) to be used by the wearer in their Bibles.  The bookmark had to be of a durable and visually appealing design, intended to last a lifetime.  It also had to be attached to the shirts with twine, don’t ask me why.
• The saying “Spreaking the Word” had to be inside the collar of the shirt, not visible to anyone while the shirt is being worn.  This saying is intended to remind the wearer of the shirt of their responsibility to speak and spread the Word of Christ. 
• The apparel and anything associated with this product had to be of quality material.  This product is intended to Honor God and “less than” is not acceptable.    

As this idea evolved, I eventually shared my concept with a few trusted friends, only to generate a lukewarm response and a suggestion that I just indiscriminately make it available on a commerce website.  But that was too impersonal, and it meant more than that to me.  There was a purpose behind this idea, and it wasn’t as simple as designing a shirt over the internet.  This concept was too personal, so it needed to be personally designed and developed.  I needed to guarantee the shirt could be designed with the vision described.  

However, I didn’t know how to move forward at this point, and things stall but that’s okay because God had a plan.  He directed me to the one person I should have included from the beginning, someone who was a bold, courageous, optimistic, and encouraging Christian family member.  I’ve seen this person act creatively with their Faith before, and it also didn’t hurt that they were in the “shirt-making” profession.  But most impactful was that they understood every aspect of the concept, and encouraged me to put it into action, while also agreeing to help me along the way.  They have been my strongest advocate with putting the “nudge” into action, specifically “spreading the word”.

I hope you will find this apparel as inspiring to you as it has been to me.  I’m not real sure what part I’ve played with this “nudge,” as I have struggled with getting this project moving forward, but I do know God has been in it from the beginning, prodding me along the way.