At Shoe Leather Gospel, we believe that symbols matter. Not as empty icons or branding tools, but as living signposts pointing to deeper truths. That’s why our logo isn’t just decorative—it’s theological. We use the Jerusalem Cross as a visual summary of our mission, message, and marching orders.
Like the worn soles of a disciple’s sandals, the Jerusalem Cross tells a story: of crucified grace, gospel-driven mission, and Christ-centered endurance. It reminds us who we follow, where we’re going, and why we must walk.
A Cross at the Center
At the heart of the Jerusalem Cross is the larger central cross—a bold declaration of Christ crucified (1 Cor. 2:2). Theologically, this represents the centrality of the Gospel in everything we teach, proclaim, and live. We are not first a movement of values or vision, but of victory through the cross. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is our foundation (Rom. 1:16; Gal. 6:14).
As Paul reminds us, “Far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…” (Gal. 6:14, LSB). Everything begins and ends there.
The Four Smaller Crosses: Sending and Suffering
Surrounding the central cross are four smaller ones—symbols historically interpreted in multiple ways. For us, they point to two great realities:
- The Global Mission of God: We take seriously the Great Commission to go to all nations (Matt. 28:19–20). These four crosses point outward, like compass points from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). They represent gospel movement—north, south, east, west.
- The Wounds of Christ: They also echo the five wounds of Christ (hands, feet, and side). The cross is not only our message; it is our method. We carry the gospel not as tourists but as wounded witnesses (2 Cor. 4:10). True gospel ministry always costs something.
Our name—Shoe Leather Gospel—means we walk it out with blistered feet and a burdened heart. These smaller crosses remind us that gospel advancement requires gospel endurance.
The Arrow: The Gospel Goes Out
Underneath our name is a gold arrow, deliberately designed to point outward. It is not an aesthetic flourish; it is a missional exclamation mark.
The arrow reminds us of Jesus’ final command:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…” (Matt. 28:19–20, LSB)
“You shall be My witnesses… even to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, LSB)
This is not a static Gospel. It moves. It marches. It is a Gospel with feet. The arrow shows the direction: from the cross to the nations.
As the Jerusalem Cross anchors us in Christ, the arrow launches us in His commission. It represents:
- The outward push of disciple-making
- The forward urgency of mission
- The Spirit-empowered movement of witness
We don’t just wear the cross. We walk it out.
From Jerusalem to the Nations
The original Jerusalem Cross was the emblem of the Crusaders’ Kingdom of Jerusalem, but we reclaim it not as a symbol of conquest, but of commission.
Jesus Christ is the risen King, and His kingdom spreads not by sword or strategy, but by the Word of God and the witness of His people (Rev. 12:11). Our cross doesn’t declare dominance. It declares dependence. On the Spirit. On the Scriptures. On the Savior.
We are not pilgrims with swords, but disciples with sandals.
Embodied Theology: Walking as We Witness
We chose this symbol because it mirrors our theological heartbeat:
- Christ at the center
- Global mission as the mandate
- Suffering as the pathway
- Victory as the hope
- Movement as the method
The Jerusalem Cross is not just a nod to church history. It’s a call to biblical fidelity, prophetic clarity, and courageous obedience. It’s a logo that bleeds theology.
A Cross for the Faithful Forager
For those we call the “Faithful Forager”—the listener, reader, and learner who hungers for truth, walks with conviction, and seeks to live what they believe—the Jerusalem Cross is your banner.
Not flashy. Not fashionable. But unmistakably faithful.
It’s the shape of the gospel going forth.
It’s the footprint of a disciple on mission.
It’s the story of a Savior who died for the world.
And it’s the reminder that we must put shoe leather on the Gospel until He comes again.
“To this end we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.” —1 Timothy 4:10 (LSB)
So why do we use the Jerusalem Cross?
Because it speaks what we preach. It walks where we walk. And it points to the One we follow.
Christ before us. Christ within us. Christ proclaimed to the nations. Amen.