Carl James Joseph
{{Short description|American itinerant preacher}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Carl James Joseph
| other_names = {{ubl|The Jesus Guy|The Appalachian Apostle}}
| image = Holy Land 2022 (1) P457 Jerusalem Holy Sepulchre parvis Jesus guy Carl James Joseph (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| caption = Joseph outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in 2022
| birth_name = Carl James Joseph
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = Itinerant preacher
| years_active = 1991–present
| known_for = Dressing and living similarly to Jesus
| notable_works =
}}
Carl James Joseph{{efn|Joseph prefers to go by his middle and last name.}} (born {{circa|1961}}{{efn|name=fn1|His year of birth is unclear. He has been reported as 64 in 2025 and 46 in 2007, and graduated from high school in 1978. However, he was also said to be 51 in 2015.}}), nicknamed the "Jesus Guy", is an American itinerant preacher. After leaving his corporate job in 1991, Joseph began wandering by foot throughout the United States and internationally. Since 2010, he has lived in the Holy Land and since around 2015 lives at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
Early years
Carl James Joseph was born around 1961{{efn|name=fn1}} to Louis and Bette Joseph in Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Toledo as a child. Although he grew up in an irreligious family, he attended the Catholic Gesu Elementary School. At age twelve, he and his older brother were baptized as Catholics. After attending St. John's Jesuit High School for three years, Joseph graduated from Bowsher High School in 1978. He was confirmed a year later.{{cite news |title=Evangelist from Toledo on barefoot path for 16 years |last1=Yonke |first1=David |url=https://www.toledoblade.com/news/religion/2007/05/06/Evangelist-from-Toledo-on-barefoot-path-for-16-years/stories/200705060031 |work=The Blade |language=en}}
Itinerant life
After finding an office job working at a Christian organization in New York City stifling, Joseph began a wandering lifestyle in May 1991. Wearing no shoes and a white robe, he began wandering throughout the United States, Mexico, and other countries.{{cite news |last1=McCoy |first1=Terrence |title=The incredible story of the Jesus Guy in Philadelphia |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/09/27/the-incredible-story-of-the-jesus-guy-in-philadelphia/ |access-date=February 28, 2025 |newspaper=Washington Post |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151014094059/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/09/27/the-incredible-story-of-the-jesus-guy-in-philadelphia/ |archive-date=October 14, 2015 |language=en}}{{cite news |title='What's Your Name' is back in Northeastern Pennsylvania |url=https://www.timesleader.com/archive/233271/news-news-1483717-whats-your-name-is-back-in-northeastern-pennsylvania-2 |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=Times Leader |date=June 18, 2015}} In 1999, he was deported from Mexico after officials became concerned by the large crowds following him. He was arrested on August 29, 1999, in Greenfield, Ohio, for disorderly conduct.{{cite news |title=Report: Ohio Warrant Out For 'what's Your Name' The Preacher, Whose Real Name Is Carl Joseph, Was Accused Of Sneaking Into An Adult Movie Theater In 1991. |url=https://www.timesleader.com/archive/975870/report-ohio-warrant-out-for-whats-your-name-the-preacher-whose-real-name-is-carl-joseph-was-accused-of-sneaking-into-anadult-movie-theater-in-1991 |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=Times Leader |date=February 19, 2000}} While he was preaching on a sidewalk, the crowd spilled into the street; when police asked him to move, he refused.{{cite AV media|title= Jesus Christ Gets Arrested In Greenfield, Ohio (Carl Joseph)|url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzN7_p28JGM|trans-title = |format= YouTube Video|work = |type = News report|language = |location = |publisher = Channel 10|access-date = }} In October 1999, he arrived in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania, where Time magazine reported on him, calling Joseph the "Appalachian Apostle".{{cite magazine |last1=Mogul |first1=Fred |title=Appalachian Apostle |url=https://time.com/archive/6740337/appalachian-apostle/ |access-date=February 28, 2025 |magazine=TIME |date=February 14, 2000 |language=en}} Joseph moved to Jerusalem in 2010, and, {{as of|2025|lc=y}}, had lived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem for most of the preceding decade.{{cite news |title=Meet Jerusalem's 'Jesus Guy' |url=https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/meet-jerusalems-jesus-guy |work=The Pillar |date=February 28, 2025 |language=en |last1=d'Avillez |first1=Filipe}}{{cite news |last1=Light |first1=Mia |title=Christian traveler returns to Hazleton |url=https://www.standardspeaker.com/2014/06/18/christian-traveler-returns-to-hazleton/ |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=Hazleton Standard Speaker |date=June 18, 2014}} He traveled to Philadelphia for Pope Francis's 2015 visit to the United States.
Considering himself both an evangelist and pilgrim, Joseph only carries a Bible, rosary, and toothbrush. He attempts to live entirely by providence. With a full beard, flowing hair, and long robe, his appearance has been called "Jesus-like"; however, Joseph states that he is not trying to portray Jesus, nor does he claim to be Jesus.{{cite news |last1=Kalinowski |first1=Bob |title='Appalachian Apostle' again on roads |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-tribune-appalachian-apostle/166913264/ |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=The Scranton Times-Tribune |date=February 21, 2009 |page=A6 |via=Newspapers.com}}{{cite news |last1= Bray |first1=Jack |title=A barefoot journey of faith |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tampa-bay-times-a-barefoot-journey-of-fa/166913986/ |access-date=February 28, 2025 |work=Pasco Times |date=March 21, 2008 |page=2 |via=Newspapers.com}}
A documentary entitled The Jesus Guy about Joseph was released in 2007.{{IMDb title|id=1208605|title=The Jesus Guy}}
See also
{{Portal|Biography|Christianity}}
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Joseph, Carl James}}
Category:Catholics from Michigan
Category:People from Toledo, Ohio