In the book of Mark chapter 12, verses 30-34 Jesus tell us what the greatest commandment is, to love your God, and then to share that love with your neighbors. One South Carolina church is taking that command and putting it on their wrists.
First Baptist Church of Florence is reaching out to their community, and overseas by wearing a little blue rubber wristband that says, “Love God Love All.” You probably have seen other wristbands like this one before, for instance, the LiveStrong wristband that supports cancer research through the Lance Armstrong Foundation. First Baptist Church of Florence has taken this idea, and has created one wristband that has become a huge ministry tool. Kevin Qualls, Senior Pastor at First Baptist Church, Florence, said, “People are sharing the gospel like they never have before.”
The “Love God Love All” concept came about when Rev. Qualls started a 12 week series on the Ten Commandments, and he was looking for a way to tie in the greatest commandment which is stated in Mark 12:30, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” into the series. John Gilman, a member at First Baptist of Florence, and Rev. Qualls were talking one day about the upcoming series, and Gilman explained to Rev. Qualls about these wristbands that a lot of people are wearing. “When John came up with ‘Love God Love All’ as the inscription for the wristband, I said ‘That’s it. That is the greatest commandment summed up,’” stated Rev. Qualls.
When Rev. Qualls began his 12 week series on the Ten Commandments, the church had ordered 3,000 of these wristbands. On the first Sunday that they passed them out they gave away around 500, and by the end of the week they had given all 3,000 of them away. Rev. Qualls said, “We had over 110 phone calls the first day we gave them out requesting the bands.” Once the first 3,000 ran out, the church then decided to order an additional 3,000. Again, in just one week the second batch of 3,000 were gone. In a matter of five weeks, First Baptist of Florence had given out 6,000 of these “Love God Love All” wristbands.
These wristbands make it so easy to share the gospel with people you come in contact with. “These wristbands are so conversational and easy to share the gospel with people, because most people know what the yellow bands stand for. So they come up asking what the blue ones stand for, and we tell them ‘Love God Love All’, and then we share with them what Mark 12:30 says,” said Rev. Qualls.
First Baptist of Florence has ordered an additional 6,000 of the bands. They have even ordered a camouflage version of the wristband to send over to our troops serving in Iraq. Steve Grady received one of these wristbands from a member of First Baptist of Florence. Grady works for the Department of Defense over in Iraq shared his story of how he was able to witness to a man over in Dubai. Grady was going through the screening process when one of the screeners asked him for his “Love God Love All” wristband. Grady had some extra ones in his bag, and gave the man one. “I asked him if he knew what it said and he said "Love God Love All" and I said yes. He looked at me and I looked at him and he said, "Love God" and I said, "Yes, if you love God you will love all" and he said, "I love God, thank you" as he put his bracelet on his wrist. I don't know if he was Muslim or what faith he may be but I do know this--there was a seed planted and there is a male in Dubai walking around with a ‘Love God Love All’ wristband,” stated Grady. This is just one of the many stories Rev. Qualls and First Baptist Church of Florence are hearing about.
First Baptist of Florence has been contacted by churches in Missouri, Virginia, Georgia, North and South Carolina about starting the “Love God Love All” series. If you would like more information on how to bring this series to your church, contact First Baptist Florence at 1-877-881-6400, or log onto www.fbcflorence.org or www.loveGodloveall.com.
