Sarah Palin apparently wears one and President George W. Bush was given five during his recent book-signing event at Waco’s Books-A-Million.

They are wristbands that say “God is Big Enough” and they have become a phenomenon, said Stephen Ramsdell, pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Waco.

First United Methodist is celebrating its 160th anniversary this year and thought the plastic, white bracelet with red-and-blue lettering would dovetail nicely with Ramsdell’s seven-week series on the nature of God.

Sarah Palin sports a “God is Big Enough” bracelet recently.
First United Methodist Church of Waco photo

“We ordered a thousand, then another thousand and another,” Ramsdell said. “Then we ordered 3,000 and the demand is so great we can’t keep them. We get requests every day.”

At last count this week, the church and others had given away more than 7,000 bracelets.

Ramsdell said he has seen several photographs of Palin wearing the bracelet on her right wrist at events around the country.

He said she received it in mid-September, when she spoke at a Waco event sponsored by the Care Net Pregnancy Center of Central Texas, which helps women through crisis pregnancies.

Acts of giving

“I know of at least two people who gave her bracelets,” he said.

Local real estate agent Trammell Kelly has four bracelets. He wears one nearly everywhere he goes.

“I will be playing in the Waco Symphony Christmas concert tonight and I will be wearing one then,” Kelly said Friday.

An accomplished bass player, he is a finalist to serve as a guest conductor for the symphony.

“Someone sent me a text with a photograph of Sarah Palin wearing the bracelet,” Kelly added. “I want to say she was on a TV show and she was waving to the crowd. You could literally read what the bracelet said.”

Attempts to reach Palin were not successful.

Mari Wilson, 18, a longtime member of First United Methodist, confirmed she gave Palin a wristband during a private book-signing session that followed her appearance for Care Net.

“I asked her if she would like to have one. She said she already had some, but she was glad to take more and she put it on right there,” said Wilson, who attends McLennan Community College.

Wilson said she did not feel intimidated by Palin, “who is a godly woman who talks about her Christianity.”

Offering a bracelet to Bush proved daunting, Wilson said with a laugh.

“There were Secret Service everywhere and I was a little worried they would think I was going to do something terrible to him,” Wilson said. “He also was very accepting of it. He didn’t put it on his arm, but he put it on the table where he was signing.

He said, ‘You’re the second person to give me one of these, but you can’t have too much God, can you?’ I said absolutely not.”

Wilson said the bracelets serve as conversation starters.

“People ask, ‘God is big enough for what?’ And I say: ‘Anything and everything.’ ”

Ramsdell said he knows people have sent the bracelets to those serving in the military overseas. A woman in a nursing home gave away 50 or 60 to her visitors. She calls it her ministry.

Shown is the bracelet that is attracting attention locally, nationally and even internationally.
First United Methodist Church of Waco photo

More than a reminder

“At first, some of our older people, very traditional, did not like the bracelet at all. But now they love them more than anyone,” Ramsdell said. “They started as a simple reminder to pray, but have gone way beyond that.”

The pastor said the church designed the bracelet. It includes the church website at www.FUMCWaco.org.

It contracted with a company to custom-make each bracelet for 50 cents each. They are not meant to make a poltical statement, though high-profile conservatives like Palin and Bush have been available to receive them.

“We would give one to (Democratic Speaker of the House) Nancy Pelosi if she wanted to wear one,” Ramsdell said.

mcopeland@wacotrib.com

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