Let me start by saying that Faith Junkie is a total God thing! I’m just the vessel, and here’s my story!
It all started at the gym in 2009. A faith-filled friend was on a treadmill wearing a t-shirt that read ‘go to church.’ It sparked a conversation about Jesus with my workout partner who was not a believer at the time. If a slogan on a t-shirt made it this easy to talk about Christ, I wanted one of my own!
I visited several stores, wanting something cool and simple with a fresh approach to traditional Christian symbolism, something that would appeal to believers but pique the interest of the secular crowd as well. I wanted something really comfy too, like a relationship with Jesus. I soon found that my idea of the perfect line of Christian apparel didn’t exist.
Over the next year, I would randomly think of short slogans or truths about faith in Christ that could be put on clothing. One morning as I sat down for prayer, God flooded my mind. I filled a sheet with all sorts of ideas about how to reach people, humbly and gently, with His truths, through apparel and a website. A few strong Christian celebrity names came to mind as well, Carrie Underwood being the first.
When the thoughts and writing subsided, I knew something significant had just begun. I took note of the date, 8-9-10, and knew at that moment that God was going to use me to accomplish greater things for Him. During this time I had also been praying that God would open up a job or career that would incorporate my faith and the flexibility to work from anywhere. I finally felt like I was on my way, and coming up with a catchy name was going to be the next order of business.
I would rack my brain for months, coming up with names that were already taken in the dot com world. But on CHRISTmas morning 2010, in complete silence and freedom from thought, the Lord gave me the name Faith Junkie! I loved it and was overwhelmed at how perfectly fitting it was! Within minutes, FaithJunkie.com was a registered domain on the internet.
It was becoming very clear that God was directing my path. A friend set up a meeting for me with the man who handled Disney World’s apparel for 25+ years. Low and behold, he would be traveling near my home and agreed to stop and talk with me. Although he had come fully prepared to shoot down my ideas, he was completely supportive. He said he could see God’s hand in the whole thing, including the arrangement of his visit with me. He asked me to pick up my notepad; directly in front of my seat was a small cross etched in the newly remodeled restaurant table top! “What were the chances?” he asked. “This is no coincidence, but rather one more of God’s markers along your very guided path.”
Over the next couple of months, I worked on many of the items he suggested to get things started while continuing to run the family construction business. I didn’t believe God wanted to add any more pressure to my life at that time, so I prayed about Faith Junkie on an evening walk and felt peace as I heard He would bring all the right people at the right time to help move things forward. And, He did.
A couple months later, I met a beautiful girl in a new church group whose family business and contacts would become an integral part of helping Faith Junkie come to fruition. The next thing I know, I am on a small plane flying over Iowa and meeting with people who would help me create the logo and mark identity for FJ. I remember looking up through the canopy of the plane at the BIG beautiful blue sky and thanking God for His awesome power!
Finally, it was off to a printing company to start the process of artwork design and garment selections. Later, there would be website developers, three to be exact. Each would play an integral role in the design, layout and e-commerce functions of the website, social media, and marketing materials.
On December 14, 2012, just a couple hours after the first Faith Junkie apparel items were completed, I got to present an FJ thermal and scarf to my favorite American Idol and country singer, Carrie Underwood, before a concert in Iowa. How amazing to meet the young woman I had watched grow into a superstar on TV and who was a part of my prayer-storming session over 2 years ago!
And now, as everything has come to a crescendo for the website launch, I sit in amazement realizing that it’s going to happen on my birthday, Feb. 7th, 2013. How appropriate that the day God brought me into this world, the website would come alive for this/His new movement to be born! Now, that’s something to celebrate!
Faith Junkie is moving steadily forward, working on more designs, and ready to accomplish great things for Him. I’m looking forward to hearing all the great stories of how the message of God’s love is being spread by those wearing Faith Junkie clothing and sharing their personal stories of faith!
Faith in Him is truly a reality that blows your mind. His power is real, and faith in Him leads to an unsurpassed knowing and love that makes the world a better place. We serve and are loved by an AWESOME God, our CREATOR! Don’t let anything block your path to personal growth and telling others about Him! If you are a follower of Christ, you are on the one, true and only right path! Be confident in that… live, love and own your faith!
If you’re not a believer, now’s the time to become one! Ask Jesus to come into your heart. Tell Him you want to have a personal relationship with Him too! Then believe, and have faith, as you look for His leading. He will evidence himself. Just be open to it, and let Him in; you will be so thankful you did!
It is most important to note and give thanks for the fact that Faith Junkie wouldn’t exist without Him and all the encouragement and support from the faithful people He has placed along my path!
Love to you all, and thank you for listening… I look forward to growing our community!
Faith Junkie… be one!