"It's just who I am," the 16-year-old Turpin High School sophomore said of her favorite shirt that carries the Romans 1:16verse:
For I am not ashamed of the gospel: it is the power of God for salvation to every one who has faith.
"It's how I want to live my Christianity. I'm not ashamed."
More Tristate teen-agers like Allison are wearing their faith on their chests. Christian retailers call it witnesswear -- T-shirts, sweat shirts and bracelets -- that profess faith in Jesus Christ.
"Witnesswear is a growing sector in Christian retailing," said David Mocsny, owner of Triune Book & Bibles, Bond Hill. "It's another vehicle for bearing a testimony to Jesus."
And youth are big consumers of witnesswear, he said. "Young people want to be different. That's a way of expressing oneself in a unique way."
Among the most popular items are WWJD? (What Would Jesus Do?) bracelets and parody shirts with Christian messages on familiar designer logos. A shirt resembling Tommy Hilfiger's designs says instead, "Today He Forgives." A logo with C K refers to "Christ the King" rather than Calvin Klein.
(Mr. Hilfiger has complained about the similarity, so the maker of the Christian parody is revamping the design.)
Adults also wear the apparel, but it's young people who are most unabashed about publicly sharing their faith. "I have a lot of shirts, but I do think twice about where I'm wearing them," said Jan Zender, assistant director of student ministries at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Milford.
Not so with Allison, a member of the same church. She said she wants to share something in her life that not everyone has -- a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Once the fare of evangelical Christians, witnesswear is spreading across denominations, showing up on Catholics and mainline Protestants. Tom Hess, 17, a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Symmes Township, wears a WWJD? bracelet everywhere.
"I think it helps remind me on a daily basis to make the right decisions," the Sycamore High School junior said. "Life does get difficult at times, but it helps me decide between right and wrong." Witnesswear traces its roots to the 1980s with the introduction of "God's Gym" T-shirts, a parody of Gold's Gym shirts. The trend picked up steam in 1997 when the WWJD? bracelets became popular.
"It's standing up and being an example for Christ at school, on the soccer field and football games," said the Rev. Pete Reed, youth and young adults pastor, at College Hill Presbyterian Church. "It's just a bold time right now. People aren't scared about what other people are thinking."
Growing business
Witnesswear accounts for just 1.1 percent or $30 million of the $3 billion Christian-oriented retail industry. Still, retailers aren't ignoring growing sales of Christian clothing and jewelry. Shirts, caps and ties account for 3 percent of sales in the Family Christian Stores' 200-store chain, including three stores in the Tristate.
"I think we'll be at 5 percent by the end of the year," said Jill Day, apparel buyer for the Grand Rapids, Mich., chain. "It's no longer an afterthought. It's an active pursuit."
Jewelry, including WWJD?, accounts for 20 to 25 percent of the chain's sales, compared with 10 percent five years ago.
Retailers say inspirational apparel is more appealing today in design, quality and message than five years ago.
"The majority of what used to be out there was real in your face, real confrontational," Mrs. Day said. "WWJD? has spurred on a whole new dimension. Let's be more polite and more loving in what we say."
The shirts and bracelets are a non-confrontational way to evangelize. They allow other people to broach the subject by asking what the bracelet or shirt means.
"If I'm wearing a bracelet, it doesn't smack somebody in the face," said John Bartlett, manager of Family Christian Stores at Eastgate. "I'm not using it as a trap, but an opportunity to start speaking to someone. People are surprisingly receptive." subhed:Spreading the word body:
Jeremiah Hembree, a 17-year-old Fairfield High School senior, is "Dressed for Battle." That's what his favorite sweat shirt says. On the back is a Scripture verse about putting on the armor of God.
Classmates often ask him about his shirts and WWJD? necklace. "It gets out the word to those who don't normally want to sit and listen to it," said Jeremiah, a member of Tri-County Assembly of God Church.
"(Witnesswear) gives you another avenue to stand up and say "I love God with all my heart.' We're called to be a light out there. Let's do it in a way they're going to listen. If T-shirts and bracelets are the way to do it, then let's go for it."
While evangelical Christians wear both the shirts and WWJD? bracelets, Catholics and mainline Protestants are more likely to wear just the bracelets because they're more subtle. Historically, those religions are less likely than evangelical Christians to publicly evangelize.
Some youths from those faiths wear the WWJD? bracelets more as a reminder to themselves, rather than a display of faith.
"It helps me make better decisions, and yet, it's not something that would be too offensive if somebody saw me wearing it. It's more for me, not to show other people," said Tracy Ellspermann, a 17-year-old Ursuline Academy junior and member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church.
Chris Knueven, a 20-year-old Xavier University sophomore, wears his Christian shirts and WWJD? bracelet to school and work. He delivers aircraft parts, so he spends his afternoons on the road. His WWJD? bracelet and shirt are reminders whenever he's tempted to speed or engage in road rage.
"Every time I see them, it helps me remember what I'm supposed to be acting like," said Chris, a member of College Hill Presbyterian Church. "Even though I'm a Christian, that doesn't mean I'm perfect. I need to be acting on what I believe."
Church youth directors welcome displays of faith, as long as those who wear witnesswear are walking the talk.
"We try to emphasize your walk is what's more important than what you're wearing," said Darin Lewis, youth director at Kenwood Baptist Church, he said.
"There's nothing more frustrating than seeing someone with witnesswear who is not living the life. It's like the "Honk if you love Jesus' people who cut you off on the expressway."
What Would Jesus Do? bracelets go mainstream
