Would you wear a t-shirt about Jesus?
Recently Arsenal footballer Gabriel Jesus (great name) celebrated a goal by removing his team shirt (meaning an instant yellow card) to reveal a white t-shirt with the words “I belong to Jesus” on. This was shown across national and international television and across many social media platforms. He is later quoted as saying when he was asked about it “It’s very clear why I’m wearing this t-shirt. Jesus saved my life from the beginning, when I was born, I didn’t know it yet. Through the tough moments in my life, I realised we are nothing without Jesus, so I want to glorify his name” (Facebook 31/12/2025).
Quite a statement.
Would you wear a t-shirt about Jesus like that, in a public place seen by many many people, knowing you are going to get asked about it, and that a cost will be involved?
Many of us would shy away from doing that probably, but if we know Jesus, we are His witnesses so it is a question then of what sort of witness are we: an expert witness, a public witness, a private witness, an eye witness or a silent witness?
What’s been happening
Love Essex Southend High Street event
Love Essex organised another High Street event in Southend on a Saturday in September with live music, testimonies, street preachers (including me this year), activities for children and young people, and stands with Believers in recovery (from addictions), Christian motorcyclists and a Spiritual Spa. I was overseeing the 4 street teams who were talking to passer byes and people interested in finding out more. As always we met a whole range of people with many different responses. I had a positive conversation with a lady who started by shouting abuse at one of the preachers and when I spoke with her to find out why, she said she was an atheist. We then had a really open conversation about life and faith and left on good terms.
The Word on the Street / Churches Together in Chelmsford event in the High Street
In October we had a ‘Word on the Street +’ event with live music, some extra gazebos and a bigger team talking with people about Jesus. With the team involved in the Good Friday community events over the past two years we wanted to build more momentum during the year and are planning on doing another one in 2026.
Christmas Cafe Church
Great Leighs Free Church asked me to speak at their Cafe Church again in November, where they had people from their community activities coming along as well. So of course we had a decorating the Christmas tree competition: one team had 10 minutes, and one had 10 seconds. Are you ready for Christmas?!?
Street evangelism
I was asked to preach about street evangelism at The Church of the Holy Spirit in Chelmsford in January. I said at the start of it that street evangelism is definitely not for everyone but please pray for it as it is a statement we can make in our city and the same principles as listening to people and saying something about Jesus, are for all of us in our witness to friends and family who do not know Jesus themselves. It was great to be able to talk about Word on the Street, the Good Friday afternoon community event and other churches who do street evangelism in Chelmsford.
What’s coming up
Good Friday afternoon community event organising team member
We will be running this again this year with more of a focus on activities for children and young people, ending up with some live music. There will be the usual mix of free food, gazebos with various activities, and street teams. I am only involved in the organisation of it this year as I am away over Easter. We are hoping to add some training opportunities in before the day this year to better equip the team on the day. Please pray for churches to support it and most of all, many people to encounter Jesus because of it.
Life Church Discipleship training leading
There is the possibility of running some training about sharing our faith in our everyday lives at my church in Chelmsford in March. Please pray that people will be motivated to share Jesus in their lives to those they meet.
Word on the Street team member
The team has two more dates in May and June to be out on Chelmsford High Street. Please pray that we will have more significant conversations and point people to Jesus.
Preaching
I will be leading the service and preaching on a Sunday morning in August at Great Leighs Free Church and on another Sunday (TBC) at Great Wakering Evangelical Church. As aways my themes will be something of an evangelism nature, so please pray that peoples’ hearts and minds can be open to opening up the hearts and minds of others to Jesus as a result of these opportunities.
Chelmsford evangelism group?
I have been part of some discussions recently about putting together a group of Church and ministry leaders from the Chelmsford area who have a commitment to communicate Jesus to the city. A couple of us have been aware that recently events have happened in the city but sourced from only a few of us, and we want to spread that passion and commitment to others to get involved. Please pray for this as it sounds a healthy thing to try and do to get an ongoing visible presence in our city.
Thanks for all your prayers and support
Nigel
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