LOVE Park mainstay "Philly Jesus" has had new opportunities come his way following his heavily publicised arrest earlier this month.
The popular Philadelphian, whose real name is Michael Grant, will soon appear in a BBC special about the motivations behind his chosen career, and said that more announcements are coming.
"Everything's happening for a reason and God's going to use this negative situation to push me into the destiny that he has for me so I can spread the word of God to an even larger audience in a global fashion," Grant told NBC10.
The 28-year-old was arrested on November 14 for disorderly conduct and failure to disperse after allegedly soliciting donations at LOVE Park.
Some of the city's police officers are familiar with Grant because of his lengthy criminal record, including over a dozen arrests for drug possession, assault, theft, and other charges between 2007 and 2013. Grant insisted that he has overcome his substance abuse problems, however.
"I considered myself completely healed and cured when I surrendered my heart to Jesus Christ," he said.
Grant is a fixture around Philadelphia, and can be spotted in the park on a daily basis reading Bible passages and performing "baptisms" in public fountains.
"I tell people I do not charge but tips and donations are always welcome," he explained.
After his arrest, the Twitter hashtag #FreePhillyJesus appeared online, with hundreds of people calling for Grant's release. News that Pope Francis will be visiting Philadelphia next year also spurred on "Philly Jesus" supporters.
Soon, Grant's buzz reached an international scale, leading to the BBC interview.
"They focused on why I do what I do," he recounted. "I told them that the same way they bring the story of Christ to the big screen or like to a play I bring it to the streets of Philadelphia. I use my passion for the performing arts to share Christ in a fun, likable manner."
Grant also has a message for detractors who criticise his nickname and costume, which consists of a long, white robe, long hair, and a beard.
He said: "To all my haters who tell me to stop what I'm doing – 'You're gonna to go to hell... you're being sacrilegious, or you're being blasphemous' – I just want to tell all my haters that I love you and be patient. I got more for you to hate on coming soon."
