The Beaufort Gazette: Stranger in town looks surprisingly ...

The Beaufort Gazette: Stranger in town looks surprisingly familiar

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Stranger in town looks surprisingly familiar

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Published Sat, May 8, 2004

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By CATHY CARTER HARLEY

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Gazette assistant Lifestyles editor

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You've probably seem him -bearded, long brown hair and white robe blowing in the breeze,

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barefoot, a shawl thrown over his

Feeds

shoulder and a Bible tucked under

Help his arm.

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James Joseph also wears a big smile and frequently asks those who stop to chat: "How's your spiritual life?"

A self-described "itinerant" or "traveling preacher," Joseph explains: "I do it in a literal way, the way Jesus told his disciples," quoting Matthew and Luke.

Joseph, who has been visiting

Beaufort for a couple weeks now,

has spent the past 13 years visiting

47 states and 13 countries, living

the life of an old-time disciple of

God. He wears robes like the

disciples and carries no money,

just as Jesus instructed his

Bob Sofaly/Gazette

disciples not to. He only carries a James Joseph, who is visiting Beaufort, has spent the past 13

Bible, but admits to owning a

years visiting 47 states and 13 countries, living the life of a

toothbrush.

disciple of God. He wears robes like the disciples and carries no money, just as Jesus instructed his discples not to. He only

carries a Bible.

His work is also known

+ Enlarge Image ? Buy This Photo

internationally through a half-hour

documentary, "Barefoot Miracle,"

which was part of a "Miracles of

Faith" series filmed in England.

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Faith & Values



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The Beaufort Gazette: Stranger in town looks surprisingly familiar

Faith" series filmed in England.

"Birds have nests and foxes have holes but man has no place to lay his head. Sometimes I spend nights praying through the wilderness, sometimes I travel through the night," he said.

Since his arrival to Beaufort after Liz Rigg/Gazette

spending about a month in Charleston, Joseph has enjoyed an evening with college students who treated him to the movie, "The

The Rev. Chauncey Campbell, right, pastor of Old Fort Baptist Church in Port Royal, welcomes James Joseph, a traveling disciple to his church Sunday afternoon. + Enlarge Image ? Buy This Photo

Passion of Christ." He's visited

youth groups at St. Peter's Catholic

Church and Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Lady's Island. He's visited a Tuesday night

Bible study and preached at a Sunday service at Old Fort Baptist Church in Port Royal.

He's dined with several local families. He attended the Blue Angels' Air Show, the

Blues Festival, A Taste of Beaufort and Sunday's Pets in the Park, in Henry C.

Chambers Waterfront Park.

Since Christmas, he has traveled around the coastal areas from North to South Carolina with stops in Myrtle Beach, Georgetown and Charleston.

Joseph doesn't like to be labeled, by name, age, hometown, former occupation or religious status. "All of us who believe in Jesus are one body of Christ. We need to work toward healing those differences," he said.

Joseph is vague about his past. He says when people discover certain things about a person it tends to begin the categorization process, which interferes with his purpose of ministering to others. Originally from Ohio and Detroit, he has parents who worry about him. He was formerly a religion journalist, but prefers not to say for what organization.

He does not want to be described as "non-denominational" preferring to be called simply, "a Christian." "We are one denomination," he said.

Joseph said he left his Ohio home one spring 13 years ago, leaving behind a business. As a youngster, he was fascinated by people who had given up all their belongings such as Buddha, Gandhi and Mother Theresa. Out of high school he knew he wanted to serve God.

"There was a time period I thought if I made more money, I'd be able to do so much more for God. I found I was able to do more this way," he explained.

Throughout his travels, he's been labeled many names "Bay City Jesus" in Michigan; "The Prophet"; "What's Your Name?"

A second movie about his life is being filmed by Sean Tracey and Associates of New Hampshire, with parts filmed in New Jersey and final taping is planned to be shot in South Carolina. He's also hoping to talk to Mel Gibson about media evangelism.

He's been featured on 20/20, World News Tonight, Good Morning America, the Washington Post and Time Magazine, but he says: "I'm simply somebody who shares God's word."

11/16/2007 09:25 AM



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The Beaufort Gazette: Stranger in town looks surprisingly familiar

11/16/2007 09:25 AM

His demeanor is low key, non-confrontational and respectful.

"I see myself as a street evangelist. I talk with people about what's going on in their lives spiritually. I suggest prayer, moral choice. I don't think I'm Jesus. I'm somebody who lives like him," he said.

"We as Christians are all here to change the world but only those whose hearts are open to it can make that change," he said.

His clothes are not a "costume." "I wear loose fitting clothes because it is designed for hot weather, natural in cloth and design and can be seen at night," he said.

Many ask him for prayers. "And it's easy to do that with my job. I don't get paid for it but the benefits are out of this world!," he said with a large smile.

What kind of reactions does he receive? "There are those who think they actually saw Jesus, some see it for what it is. It (this lifestyle) challenges people. People will think 'will I be willing to do that?' 'Could I live without shoes, without money?' 'What if?' It is one of the biggest things I do ... make people think and the process brings people closer to God and to each other," he said.

Monday, as she exited a local restaurant, Barbara Olendorf saw Joseph for the first time. "It hit me as a Christian ... that Jesus is among us all the time and we don't recognize him, all he wants is an invitation to share our lives," she said. Olendorf said she stopped and spoke with Joseph. "I was impressed with his quiet, nonconfrontational manner. It made me think about how we are supposed to live, with love, compassion and forgiveness. It was a good reminder," she said.

The Rev. Chauncey Campbell, pastor of Old Fort Baptist Church in Port Royal, said he first saw Joseph walking along Ribaut Road. "I noticed his attire, and I stopped him and talked with him about what his ministry is about. He is genuine and real humble. It makes you take a step back, seeing his dedication and his belief about Christ. It really draws you to see what true dedication really is," said Campbell, who invited Joseph to speak to members of his church later in the week.

Mary Howe, whose family attended St. Peter's Catholic Church and shared a meal with him, describes Joseph as brave. "He is taking a brave step, to step back in a time years and years ago. This is what a disciple did back then," she said. "I felt very comfortable. I felt that presence of peace that he has."

Attending a church is important, Joseph said. "There are a lot of people who believe in Jesus. They just don't go to church but they need to go to church, they need that encouragement. "There's a power when we worship God together in numbers ... It helps our focus."

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The Beaufort Gazette: Stranger in town looks surprisingly familiar

10. Check response facts before calling names

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