WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? BRACELETS, CLOTHING SERVE AS EVERYDAY REMINDER FOR CHRISTIANS

Items such as these ink pens that bear the WWJD slogan are designed to remind Christians of what approach Jesus might take to everday siutuations.

What Would Jesus Do?

It's a question posed on everything from nylon bracelets to coffee mugs and bumper stickers. The letters WWJD not only serve as a reminder to Christians but also as a moneymaker for Christian retailers everywhere.

The WWJD bracelets started as a reminder for Christian youths and have spread to youngsters and adults alike. They typically sell for $1 apiece and come in an array of colors.

Angie Francis wears her WWJD bracelet as a reminder of her faith, not just as a tool for witnessing.

"It's as much for myself as for anyone else," said the member of First Assembly of God Church in Cape Girardeau.

Because the bracelets have become something of a fad among younger children and teen-agers, few people really ask about its meaning anymore.

But when they do, "It's a way of them approaching you versus you going out to approach them," Francis said. "It's not an in-your-face kind of thing."

Cindy Adams, owner of Living Water Books and Gifts, has had many customers come into the store to buy replacement bracelets for those they had given away.

"If someone asks what it stands for or what it means, then you're supposed to give them the bracelet," she said.

It's not limited to bracelets with the slogan. WWJD is emblazoned on everything from jewelry to golf balls, T-shirts, ties and even Bible covers. There's also a line of books and a song that ask the question.

What Would Jesus Do? is somewhat based on a Christian book written during the 19th century. The book, "In His Steps," tells about a man who challenged people in his town to think about their actions and how they compare to what Jesus would do in the same situation.

It was modernized by a youth leader in Michigan who had the letters embroidered on nylon bracelets and stamped on buttons. Now the message is a multimillion-dollar industry.

It's a phenomenon that really just caught people's interest, and it was sort of a surprise, Adams said.

"It's strong enough that you notice it even in the secular market," she said. "It will be popular for a while."

The Southern Gospetality Bookstore in Marble Hill has been selling the bracelets rapidly since early spring. With the purchase of one, you get another free to give away, said store clerk Jenny Jones.

Because the message is so simple, it's not just youths who are attracted to the WWJD wear. Many adults wear the bracelets or T-shirts as a subtle witness.

Chad Clark, a member of Christian Faith Fellowship in Cape Girardeau, recently bought a bracelet while on a church trip to South Padre Island in Texas.

"It was sort of an impulse buy," he said, but it was a purchase he had been considering.

Clark's three daughters and wife also wear the bracelets.

Most people know the meaning of the bracelet, so even if it is a fad, Clark said, "it's a fad with a good message."

Brenda deCoursey agrees. Her sons also have a collection of WWJD bracelets.

"We're very proud that they would choose to wear that over the other things they could wear," she said. "And if there's a chance that it would make them think twice about doing something, then I'm all for it."