CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Dozens of musicians, actors, and professional athletes call North Carolina home, each making their own contribution to the state.

But not all of the state’s celebrities are in movies or on the basketball courts; they’re also in our communities every day. With an orange safety vest, peddle bike, and booming voice, Sam Bethea makes his rounds through uptown Charlotte.

For many, he’s somewhat of a local celebrity. People stop to take pictures. Others pull their cars over for a quick chat. But Bethea says he’s just a man with a message.

“I was in and out of this county jail 29 times from the age of 16 to 26,” he said.

Bethea’s Charlotte street ministry started 6 years ago.

“When I open my mouth about the gospel of God, it comes out of my mouth. It goes in your ear gate and now it’s in your soul,” Bethea said.

He has traveled across the country spreading the same simple message. Most recently Bethea says he’s been in D.C. He is originally from the DMV area, but calls Charlotte home.

Regardless of age, gender, or race if he sees you on the streets of Uptown, he won’t hesitate to tell you, “Jesus loves you!”  

He says that’s his mission and the more ears to hear his message the better. But having a crowd is a challenge COVID-19 has brought on.  

“I just want to be a ministry of presence so they see me rain, sleet, or shine they know that crazy street preacher is going to be uptown sharing the gospel," Bethea said.

Some would say he is the most popular person in uptown Charlotte because you see or hear him just about every day, but he’d quickly reply, “I know Jesus is popular.”

He says his goal isn’t to be popular or deemed a celebrity, but to spread a two word message one person at a time, hoping they share the message too.

“What I would love to see is other Christians, other believers coming out and loving on our city and loving on our neighbors as we do ourselves,” he said.

He plans to spend some more time back in D.C. He’s hoping to spread his message to the crowds that will be attending the inauguration in January.