Simpsonville retiree launches Operation Orange Ribbon

Jesse French wants to raise awareness for persecuted Christians overseas

 

When a persistent thought met a challenging sermon, the result was a new prayer movement called Operation Orange Ribbon.

Jesse French, a member of First Baptist Church of Simpsonville, became concerned about the plight of Christians in Africa and the Middle East. “I kept thinking, somebody needs to do something,” French said.

“Then I heard [Simpsonville West Campus pastor] Bob Felts preach a sermon on the dangers of being a Christian. That got me,” he said. “I got an orange ribbon [a symbol of the orange jumpsuits Christians were dressed in before they were executed], put a cross on it, and attached an information card with 1 Corinthians 12:26 printed on it.”

ribbon2_onlineOperation Orange Ribbon launched on May 21, 2015. To date, more than 11,000 Christians from 36 churches in six states have gotten involved. “They are specifically praying for our persecuted brothers and sisters in Christ,” said French. “Our mission is to raise local and national awareness of the persecution of our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ around the world, but especially in the Middle East and Africa.”

After some youth mentioned the idea of using orange wristbands, French began producing them. “We have found that people prefer the wristbands about two to one over the ribbons,” he said. “I see it this way: The ribbon is a witness to others, and the wristband is a reminder to pray.”

Many people wearing the orange symbols have been able to share the Gospel with others, French said.

His wife, Marilyn, serves as the movement’s director of volunteer services. Others give their time and experience to production, promotion and development of the ministry.“It seems like the Lord was in it from the beginning,” French said. “He pushed me out of my comfort zone. We did not know it was going to grow like it did.”

French, 77, retired from Rockwell, where he served as a materials manager for 10 plants. He was working part-time in retirement but gave that up in order to devote himself full-time to Operation Orange Ribbon.

“I can’t stop doing this,” he said. “I have ideas that have to come from somewhere beyond me.”

orange_band_onlineFrench said there are costs associated with the program “that we must share in order to continue our mission.” Individuals, churches and other groups have begun making donations.

“When I can talk to pastors directly, the response has almost always been good,” he said. Several churches have purchased wristbands and ribbons for $1 each to distribute to their members. French has opened a “Go Fund Me” account online.

French said no one is paid for serving in the organization. “We are almost at the break-even point financially now,” he said.

He plans to incorporate the ministry as a non-profit in 2016 and has several other objectives. “In 2016 we want to move it up a notch — provide DVDs and downloads, develop a four-week Bible study on persecution, produce T-shirts and more,” he said.

French can be reached at OperationOrangeRibbon.com, by email at scfrench2@aol.com, through the Operation Orange Ribbon Facebook page, or by phone at 864-982-6111. A one-minute video explaining the ministry can be viewed online.

“My niche is to help people become aware of persecuted Christians and to pray,” he said. “We want to inspire our leaders to speak out and take bold action to relieve the suffering and persecution.”