c. 2006 Religion News Service

(UNDATED) Army Reserve Sgt. 1st Class Cornell Jackson switches out of his military uniform and pulls on what looks like a Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls basketball jersey bearing the number 23.

But where the word “Bulls” would be, it says “Psalm.” So the sports jersey becomes a biblical reference to Psalm 23.

Another version looks like Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers basketball jersey, except it says “Luke 8.” And Acts 27 adorns what looks like the uniform of Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero.

Jackson calls them Christian Throwback Jerseys. But instead of hearkening back to classic NBA or NFL uniforms, they’re invoking books of the Bible.

He started the business in July and has sold several hundred jerseys, mostly in New York, California and Washington, D.C.

“People really jumped on it,” said Ronea Rouse, owner of Rtistic Rriginals Christian Bookstore in Los Angeles, who has sold more than 100 of them. “We do a lot of street evangelism. It’s really a good tool. We’ve really been pushing them. It’s a good thing he’s got going on.”

Some popular Christian rappers have made public appearances wearing the shirts, Jackson said. “The artists are loving my jersey,” he said.

Jackson was hired by a friend, Paul Fleming, to be manager at a Birmingham, Ala., Christian gift store in 2004. Fleming closed the store in 2005. But while helping out there, Jackson began thinking about Christian products for young people.

“I was trying to come up with something different for youth, offering the kids a message in a product they can wear and be cool,” he said.

Jackson studied popular sports jerseys and noticed that the kind he wanted to emulate, with thick, hand-stitched letters, were all made in Korea. So he flew to Korea on Feb. 13, 2005, to look for a manufacturer who could produce what he wanted. He stayed three weeks.

He visited companies and met the owners, who typically spoke some English. He showed them his designs.

“I got a company to agree to it,” he said. “We came up with a great product.”

He also showed the jerseys to the NBA Properties office, which said he was clear of any copyright or trademark infringements, since he was only imitating colors and type fonts but not using any team names or logos. Nonetheless, they look enough like authentic jerseys to create a buzz.

“A lot of youth pastors have been looking for something to use to get in touch with youth,” he said. “Adults are loving it just as much as kids.”

Jackson, 35, hopes the jerseys prompt people to think about the Bible, maybe even look up, read and study the biblical references.

“It’s a conversation piece,” he said. “It’s a way we can witness.”

Jackson has been in the Army for more than 16 years, and for the past nine years has been a recruiter and retention officer, in charge of keeping soldiers enlisted.

His sideline of selling jerseys has gotten a lot of notice and appears ready to take off.

In its pre-Christmas issue, Gospel Today Magazine touted the Christian Throwback Jersey as one of its Christmas gift recommendations. Sports Illustrated columnist Pete McEntegart mentioned the jerseys in his Dec. 20 online column at SI.com.

“It is indeed strange to see a No. 8 jersey in Lakers colors but with `Luke’ written across the front; it’s like some bizarre, mismatched trinity of Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton and Jesus Christ,” McEntegart wrote. “Yet who wouldn’t love to be the first kid on the block with a fly Deuteronomy jersey?”

Jackson mainly sells them through his Web site, http://www.christianthrowbackjersey.com. Kids’ jerseys cost $59, youth jerseys cost $69 adult jerseys cost $75.

Jackson sees them as a perfect blend of sport, style and evangelism.

“Now you have a powerful message and you witness at the same time,” Jackson said. “The response has been excellent. I came up with something people have been wanting and just never had.”

MO/JL END RNS

(Greg Garrison writes for The Birmingham News in Birmingham, Ala.)

Editors: To obtain a photo of Cornell Jackson wearing one of his jerseys, go to the RNS Web site at https://religionnews.com. On the lower right, click on “photos,” then search by subject or slug.