Bishop Mick received a warning from a police officer that the words on the back of his motorhome could get him into trouble if someone filed a complaint
Pastor Mick Fleming, who in September 2025 left his home to live full-time in a motorhome and is known for his “Camper Van Life” ministry, travels the country sharing a message of faith. On the back of his van is one of the most familiar passages of Christian scripture: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (Jn 3:16).
Recently, while stopped at a petrol station, a police officer approached Pastor Mick and offered advice: the writing on his van “could be seen as hate speech in the wrong context.” If someone were to report it, the officer warned, the police would have to investigate - and Pastor Mick “could end up in trouble.”
The incident left the pastor wondering how the United Kingdom, a country built on a long tradition of free religious expression, has reached a point where quoting scripture about God's love could be viewed as hateful or “spiteful.” His reflection touches on a wider concern over Christian voices being driven out of the public sphere.