| A growing movement that has everyday | | | | total strangers. They are a great evangelism tool |
| Christians sharing their faith in non-church settings | | | | and today's shirts are so sharp and stylish that |
| is showing up - literally - on the backs of believers. | | | | they can be worn just about everywhere." |
| Its called lifestyle evangelism - using the places | | | | Fletcher says industry experts say that a |
| and situations you find yourself in each day to | | | | Christian T-Shirt is typically read by over 3,000 |
| share your faith. | | | | people during its lifetime of wear. |
| And it's often done without words at all, through | | | | "They let people literally become living, walking |
| the wearing of Christian clothing and Christian | | | | around, breathing billboards for Christ," he says. |
| jewelry. | | | | While Christian shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and the |
| The design and style of religious clothing has | | | | like are appropriate for everyday wear, there are |
| changed greatly over the years. This year, it's as | | | | some situations where they just don't work - like |
| sophisticated, stylish and trendy as regular clothing. | | | | the office or at formal gatherings. |
| The big difference is in the message. Christian T- | | | | That's where Christian jewelery comes in. It used |
| Shirts, for example, deliver catch Bible verses in | | | | to be a simple cross was the only choice in |
| sharp and bold deisgns. | | | | Christian jewelry. |
| For example, one shirt aimed at sportsmen is in | | | | That's all changed now as the lifestyle evangelism |
| camo green and emblazoned with the image of a | | | | trend has taken off. Christian rings, necklaces, |
| huge buck deer. The message reads: "Are you | | | | earrings and braclets have become hugely popular |
| Hunting.... For God." A subtle Bible verse | | | | in recent years. Rings in the design of a crown of |
| accompanies the design. | | | | thorns, with the name jesus, or bearing the image |
| Another, aimed at football nuts, has the image of | | | | of a dove or the ancient fish symbol for a |
| a referee with the words "Penalty Declined" boldly | | | | Christian are hot sellers. There are even toe rings |
| splashed across the chest, followed by Romans | | | | now for Christians. |
| 4:8, which says "Blessed are they whose sin the | | | | The success of Christian clothing and Christian |
| Lord does not charge against them." | | | | jewelry has spread to other areas. |
| There are other Christian shirts that parody top | | | | One of the hottest items this year picks up on |
| TV shows, pop advertising campaigns, slogans | | | | the digital music craze. It's a "suit" for the Apple |
| and images. One of the most popular sold by by | | | | Computer iPod. The iPod suit is a case that wraps |
| the Christian Christian Shopper Web store is a | | | | around either the nano or the larger iPod video |
| dark navy shirt that mimmicks the style of the | | | | model. Constructed from soft Neoprene and |
| wellknown Abercrombie and Fitch logo.... except | | | | flexible vinyl, the Pod Suit allows full access to all |
| the words on this shirt read "A Breadcrumb and a | | | | controls and comes with a sturdy clip is perfect |
| Fish" and tell the story of the feeding of the | | | | for attaching the iPod to a belt, purse or |
| 5,000 from matthew 15, noting that "He still | | | | backpack. It's message? "Tune in to God." |
| works miracles." | | | | Fletcher says Christians are embracing the |
| Mike Fletcher, the owner of Online Christian | | | | lifestyle evangelism movement because they |
| Shopper, says Christian clothing has extremely | | | | have grown tired of being marginalized by society. |
| popular this year. | | | | "People tell me all the time that they want to |
| "We live in a T-Shirt culture," he says. "Too often, | | | | share their faith but they didn't know how until |
| the messages on secular T-Shirts is crude or | | | | they realized that they could make a statement |
| offensive. Christian T-Shirts bring a message of | | | | by the clothes they wear," he says. "They love |
| hope and joy. You should hear the stories I get | | | | being able to let the world know that they follow |
| from customers who wear them and end up | | | | Christ and that all is not gloom and doom out |
| having very meaningful spiritual conversations with | | | | there. |