Flat Jesus is showing up in boats and at the market in Arthur, North Dakota. Photos from Arthur UMC's Facebook page.

Jesus came near and spoke to them, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I’ve commanded you. Look, I myself will be with you every day until the end of this present age.”  Matthew 28:19-20, CEB

Rev. Veronica Fleming wants people to remember this summer that Jesus is everyone. Jesus is showing up throughout the Arthur, North Dakota community as a sign and laminated flat Jesus.

“Everybody needs to remember that Jesus is with them always,” said Pastor Veronica.

Throughout the summer, 12 signs will be posted around the town of Arthur, population 325, for people to see. When someone sees the sign, they can text Pastor Veronica. She enters their name into a drawing for a prize. Three prizes will be awarded: one on June 30, one on July 31, and one on August 31.

“It is just a little summer fun.  When they see the sign, they can text me. ‘I saw Jesus at the ballpark or the store.’  I add their name to the drawing for a prize,” explained Pastor Veronica. “Everybody is keeping their eyes open because Jesus is everywhere. It is a way to keep Jesus in people’s minds and hearts.”

She explained that the idea started last summer when the children at Arthur United Methodist Church played hide-and-seek when they came to church on Sunday. Pastor Veronica had a laminated flat Jesus. She would hide the flat Jesus somewhere in the church. Each Sunday, children could look for the flat Jesus. The person who found the flat Jesus got their name on the bulletin board and entered it into a drawing for a prize at the end of the summer.

This past year, a TikTok video of a little Jesus inspired Pastor Veronica to keep the idea that Jesus is everywhere alive. She set up a little Jesus in the church and even mailed one to the pastor. When she was mailing the little Jesus to the pastor in the TikTok video, she told the postmaster in Arthur about it. The postmaster said, “Well, everybody needs a little Jesus around them!”

That comment inspired Pastor Veronica to launch the idea of flat Jesus. “People can take a flat Jesus with them this summer. A lot of people head to the lake on weekends so they can take flat Jesus with them. Throughout the summer, wherever they go, or whatever they are doing, Jesus is with them and is everywhere,” she said.

Flat Jesus on the golf cart in Arthur, N.D.

The congregation’s Facebook page shows lots of pictures of Jesus showing up in boats, tractors, the community market, brunch, and the café. Children are looking for Jesus everywhere.

“I was having lunch with someone, and they reported that a little girl, age seven, makes a request each morning to go to town and look for Jesus,” said Pastor Veronica. “That is the first thing out of her mouth in the morning. It is exciting to hear that. If people see this excitement in this little girl and others, they might start asking what this church is about and look for Jesus.”

The signs and the flat Jesus are created from paper and cardstock from images Pastor Veronica found online. One side is Jesus, and the other has Matthew 28:19-20 scripture. The signs are attached to a stake or pole to be placed in the ground. Both the flat Jesus and signs are laminated.

“It is just something that I discovered. I think I saw the idea from a church in Illinois,” shared Pastor Veronica.

During the summer, Arthur UMC and the Northern Cass Lutheran Parish take turns hosting worship and Jesus. During the children's message, Pastor Veronica shared one Sunday in June that Jesus is with us always and is everywhere. All the children and anyone in attendance received a flat Jesus to take with them on a summer adventure.

“We have ecumenical worship services in the summer. We have had an average of 38 in worship. If we worshipped separately, we would see about 15. It is a good use of our resources, and the flat Jesus idea provides fun and excitement for everyone,” said Pastor Veronica.