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By: David Deschesne

Editor/Publisher, Fort Fairfield Journal, August 29, 2007, p. 1

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Obadiah Franklin has preached in no less than four very successful churches in Florida. But, he has taken on a nationwide ministry which reaches many times more people than he ever could within the confines of the four walls of a church building.

“Eighty-plus percent of the people in this country do not regularly attend church anywhere,” said Franklin. “Ninety-six percent of pastors are only preaching to four percent of the people.”

He reflects upon Jesus’ saying that the Harvest is Plenty, “but where’s the harvest?”

“I’ve preached in churches ranging in size from seven members to 7,000 and I didn’t see the harvest. I was pastor at four successful churches in Florida until one day God told me to put down my suit, put on red and start traveling.”

Travel he has. Four years ago he received his new calling from the Lord prior to attending a revival in Shelbyville, Tennessee. “God laid it upon my heart to touch the entire city of Shelbyville,” Franklin said. “I had no idea how I could do that. I’m no ‘Billy Graham,’ after all.”

“As I worried about how I was going to touch Shelbyville, the way God wanted, He told me to ‘just be quiet and listen.’”

Franklin recounts how he was Divinely inspired to construct the twelve foot by eight foot cross, dress himself in red and prepared to visit the city of Shelbyville for a total of four days.

“Those four days carrying the cross in the streets of Shelbyville were the four most defining days of my entire life.”

Pastor Franklin has had some limited missionary experience and came to the Lord when he was just ten years old. Since he has taken on this new mission in life, “God has catapulted me to a national and soon international vision.”

While kneeling with his cross on the street corners of the United States, he meets all types of people, some saved, some not. “This is the church I’m preaching in - it’s on every street corner in America.” He describes meeting many lost souls who have come to Christ across the United States while standing there in prayer with him and his cross.

While in Aroostook County, Pastor Franklin stayed with a host family in Caribou and spoke at a week-long schedule of services at Abundant Life Ministries at 485 Washburn Road in Caribou.

“A lot of people came up to me while I was kneeling and I loved talking to them. Most of it was words of encouragement and support, but everyone kept offering to feed me. I normally fast during the day, so I graciously accepted the food, and placed it in my truck until later.” Several area people also treated him to supper at some of the area restaurants.

In addition to illustrating the key symbol of the Christian Faith on the street corners of America, Pastor Franklin also tours our nation’s schools and provides a prepared speech against drugs, pre-marital sex and gangs. “While in a public school, I’m usually not allowed to preach the Word of God,” he said. “So, I usually give a secular speech to the kids about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse and try to steer them on the right path in life.”

He recounts one school in Georgia whose principal did allow him to bring his cross into the school and present the message of Jesus Christ to the entire student assembly. “That’s a rare occasion, normally I’m only allowed to present a Christian message in schools if there is a club or sports team organized after school specifically for Christians.”

When asked why he chose to dress all in red, Pastor Franklin reminds people that red is symbolic of the blood of Christ and that we all must be covered by it in order to wash away our sins. “It is also a common misconception that Satan is red,” said Franklin. “The Bible says Satan comes as an ‘Angel of Light,’ and as a lamb or sheep; pure light and sheep are both primarily white. Indeed, Satan hates the color red because it reminds him of what Jesus did for all of us on the cross!”

So far, he has been to many cities and states in the United States. He plans to move south from Aroostook County, going to Vermont, New York, Minnesota and across the northern tier of States before heading down the west coast and back across the country to Tennessee. “By the end of the year I will have been in every state in the contiguous United States,” said Franklin. “I currently have fifteen invitations to tour foreign countries and plan to take my mission internationally next year.”

He currently has no home, and hasn’t for nearly four years. “I’m technically homeless.” He relies on host families and an unfettered Faith in God for his safety and sustenance as he travels from town to town in a pickup truck provided for him by his supporters. “All I really own is this cross and a few clothes.”

For more information on Pastor Franklin and his mission, go to his website: www.mapjesus.com

Picking up his cross. Obadiah Franklin has traveled nearly every state in the continental United States bringing the message of Jesus Christ directly to the people; literally in the streets. Here, dressed all in red to signify the Blood of Christ, he kneels with his cross all day long on Route 1 in Presque Isle, stopping to take breaks and chat and pray with the many passersby who stopped to fellowship.