Horns honk, people wave, or give a thumbs up gesture as they pass him on the side of the road on a frigid, sunny morning. A woman pulls up and rolls down her window.
The man is standing next to a sign that says, “Free Bibles.”
Another sign reads, “Are you safe in the arms of Jesus?”
“Would you like me to get you a cup of coffee from the station over there, or something to eat?” she asks.
“No, thank you,” he replies. “I’ve had breakfast this morning.”
“Thank you for doing what you’re doing. I think it’s great. Keep up the good work,” she says as she drives away.
Known simply as The Bible Man, he grew up in Cumberland County, served in the military and worked for many years. Now he’s retired, except for his sign and Bible ministry.
He’s been all over the country but came back to Crossville in 2015.
“Around 2013 I made signs and started giving Bibles away when I lived in Lexington, KY. After I came back to Crossville, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” he said.
At least three days a week in the morning and afternoon, The Bible Man can be seen standing across the street from Homestead Elementary School, Stone Elementary, Cumberland County High School, or Pleasant Hill Elementary School.
He stands near his vehicle with home-made signs that praise the love of God and Jesus. He gives away new Bibles at no cost.
The Bible Man pays for the Bibles himself that he gives away. He accepts donations occasionally, but most of the time he pays for them from money out of his own pocket.
Any donations he receives he spends on purchasing more Bibles. He insists on being anonymous.
“I don’t want to take or get any credit for doing this. This isn’t about me. This is about God and giving to people His message,” The Bible Man said.
“To me there’s nothing more important than living for God and telling people about God.”
He began giving away free Bibles at the Hwy. 127 Sale, parades and public events in Crossville.
“At the Christmas parade last year I gave out around 125 Bibles. But then I thought it would be better if people came to me,” he said.
Now, he doesn’t approach people. He stands with his home-made signs and if somebody approaches him, he asks if they would like a free Bible.
“Most of them do or they want to talk. They ask me to pray for them. They tell me their stories. Ask God for forgiveness, or help,” he said. “A lot of times we pray together. You see, this is a blessing for me. To be able to do this is a blessing. To put the Bible in someone’s hands who doesn’t have one is a blessing. To give one person the word of God is huge.”
“People would ask me if I had any Bibles for kids. So, I started getting Bibles for both adults and children. That gave the idea of doing it near the schools. I want to help the children,” he said.
On average he gives out five or six Bibles per week, but sometimes more.
He said last week he gave one woman seven children’s Bibles in Pleasant Hill because she is raising her grandchildren.
Most people are friendly. Some are not.
“I have had people flip me birds, I have had people cuss me, scream … I’ve had opposition. I’ve had people say vulgar things at me about Jesus. I get opposition, but that’s normal,” he said.
“Most people they either ignore me, or they wave at me and blow the horn. I have people yell out ‘I love what you’re doing.’ It encourages me. I love talking about God and I love talking about doing this. God has really blessed me,” the Bible man said.
He said he has “been through the mill.”
He lost his wife to cancer.
“She’s in Heaven and for a few years I didn’t get to do this as much while I took care of her,” he said. “God has done so much for me. I can talk it about it all day. He gave me another wife and a home to live in. I prayed for that.
“It’s amazing what God will do.”