“Live for me. I died for you,” proclaims a striking, giant, illuminated billboard depicting Jesus on the cross to hundreds of thousands of people daily on Durban’s busy M4 Southern Freeway.
An Easter project of The Worship Tabernacle (TWT) church in Shallcross, Durban, the 18m x 5m billboard was erected with the aim to evangelise day and night, said Julian Tharmiha who handles the church’s media and social media and is part of the worship team.
He said TWT leader Pastor Silas Lutchman came up with the idea of the alternative evangelism project which was embraced enthusiastically by the congregation.
He said that in addition to creating the billboard artwork they had to get “Jesus’s legs” made and attached to the structure. They also installed lights as the original billboard was not illuminated.
He said more than 100 excited church members attended the launch [see video clip below] of the billboard on the night of Thursday March 31.
He said that the Jesus billboard project has been getting a lot of positive attention on social media all over SA and was featured by a radio station in Cape Town.
“We wanted to get the message out. But we honestly didn’t think it would go national. That’s all to the glory of God,” he said.
Julian said that among the many positive comments people have expressed the desire to have something similar in their town. He said if their project inspires others to do likewise they will be delighted.
He said 140 000 cars use the stretch of the M4 between the Bluff and Clairwood offramps where the billboard stands. They expect that holiday traffic will swell that number over the Easter weekend.
He said that as well as evangelising over Easter, the billboard will remind people “the reason for the season”.
“Easter is all about the death and resurrection of Christ,” he said.
He said they hope to display the billboard for three months.
“And thereafter — we haven’t decided yet but are looking to something else after that. It may become an ongoing thing,” he said.
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The billboard brought tears to my eyes and joy to my heart reminding me of the death and then resurrection of Jesus Christ my Lord and Saviour.All praise and glory to God Who through the Holy Spirit sent His servants to help remind us Who He is and what His done for us.
I think the bill board is amazing. Will there be a bill board showing that Christ has risen after all the most important part of the gospel is that our Lord died for our sins and Rosse again. He is ALIVE
All i can say is that Jesus did not look like that after He was beaten. He was almost unrecognisable as human.
I like the message, but it’s impact will be reduced by comments about the lack of evidence of injury and His skin colour.
Good day Andre I just received a whats app about your Billboard .All I can say is Thankyou. What an amazing billboard to share with SA people. All Glory to God .It brought tears to my eyes that you did this for all Christians and for those who will be saved just seeing this Billboard and knowing he died for all of us so we may live a abundant life.
Regards Bernice Wagener KIMBERLEY Northern Cape
Thanks for your comment Bernice. Kudos for the billboard goes to The Worship Tabernacle in Durban. It was my pleasure to report this good news.
For me, although the absence of the signs of suffering in His appearance makes it difficult to reflect on the extent of His pain; perhaps it should be understood as a symbol of His victory – a victory in which we are called to live in the midst of hardship. May God bless this billboard to God’s honour and glory, and the extension of God’s Kingdom.
Well done to the Worship Tabernacle. What a beautiful creative idea that will I believe make many stop and think. They may love it, they may criticise, they may not fully understand but it will be seen and a seed is planted. Whatever the reaction, it will provoke thought. May the Lord use it to His glory for it was erected to share His priceless message.
Love it‼️
Hallelujah!
I love it, knowing there are believers who are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. May those who travel that route be encouraged knowing that Christ died for all, is risen and is coming back. Praise honour and glory to the most high God.