In our hectic, fast-paced world that is filled with so much negativity, it is refreshing to hear some good news. This past week, I received a call from one of our loyal readers, Terry Hill of Mt. Airy, telling me about a trip he had recently taken to visit a relative in Ashboro, NC.
While driving on a country road, he saw a sign in a yard that drew his attention. It wasn’t the size of the sign but the three words o the sign that hard caught his eye. The words were, “Thank You Jesus”.
“After that first sign, I saw another, then another and soon it seemed that every yard had one,” stated Hill. “I didn’t know anyone in that area, but the signs made me feel welcome and I thought that this must be a really friendly community.”
Hill returned home but couldn’t stop thinking about those signs. “I couldn’t stop thinking about those signs. “I decided to try to get some of those signs out in our area because we have so many tourists come here, and I wanted them to get the same, warm feeling here tha tI had on my trip to visit my brother,” Hill explained.
Hill thought that it was also a great witnessing tool and that if more people knew about the signs and the story behind the movement, that yards in our community would soon be filled with that name of Jesus.
The story behind the signs should inspire us all to spread the message of the hope we have in Jesus, despite any limitations we might have. It began with a sixteen year old, Lucas Hunt, in Ashboro, who wanted to spread the love of Jesus. But he had doubts about how to do it or if he could accomplish anything meaningful.
“I’ve always wanted to do something big for God, but I always thought I was too young,” Hunt replied. Not only was here young, but at the time, he had no driver’s license, no job, and little time to spend ministering.
Then around Christmas in 2014, Hunt had a brainstorm from God while shopping with his parents. He had seen some Christian themed yard signs for sale, and his family bought three to place in their neighborhood to remind people the true meaning of Christmas. They were such a success, that he began praying about putting up different faith-based signs. A friend, Connie Wilson Frazier, came up with the design for the “Thank You Jesus” signs, and help Hunt get some printed.
“Our goal was to get 500 out, but we didn’t really think that was possible,” Hunt recalled. But their three word message began to quickly spread throughout the area. Soon, it moved across the state and even across the country. Today, over 35,000 signs are in yards in over 35 states and four different countries!
Hunt explained on his Facebook page, “Our goat is to spread the name of Jesus throughout the nation and share with other how thankful we are for what Jesus does in our lives. We also want to plant seeds in people’s live so they can be saved.”
One woman in Ashboro did get saved recently, after driving by several signs. She stopped at a home to ask about the sign in the yard, and the resident led the woman to Christ. Many other stories have been sent in about people being saved or uplifted by the signs.
Hunt, his parents, and Frazier created a non-profit organization, “Thank You Jesus Mission,” to channel what profits were made to a fund to help small rural churches spread the Gospel. “I could have sold these signs and made money off them, but God has blessed us so much already,” Hunt shared. “It has never been about the money. It’s always been about getting those signs out to spread God’s message.”
Many Christians seem to have a hard time witnessing to people. In fact, a recent study showed that 95% of all Christians have never won a soul to Christ, despite the fact that Jesus’ last command to the Christian community was to spread His life-saving message, and to make disciples. This Great Commission was not meant only for the eleven remaining disciples, or for today’s preachers, but is the responsibility of every man and woman who professes faith in Christ as Lord.
Sadly today, many Christians are too busy or too afraid of rejection to approach people who need to hear the message. But because of an idea that God placed in a young man in Ashboro, we all can do something by simply buying a sign and sticking it in our yard.
The “Thank You Jesus” signs can be bought online at http://thankyoujesussigns.com for $8, but there is a $8 shipping charge for any purchase less than 25 signs. If you want to buy one locally, you can call Terry Hill at 804-467-0257 or email him at telconn@juno.com. He has bought a number of signs and is selling them to individuals for $12 each, and to churches for $9. He will even install the signs for churches in this area for free. They can also be purchased locally at Gullion’s Christian Supply Center in King for $12 each.
In a time when the Christian message is being challenged at every turn and Christian symbols are being removed from the public square, this is a great opportunity to take a stand for Christ by joining the “Thank You Jesus” movement. Hopefully, we will soon be seeing these signs in yards across our communities. It will not only be a blessing to people riding by, but will drive the Freedom From Religion people, and other anti-Christian groups crazy, because they can’t get them out of our yards!