My Story

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I would like to share with you how the idea of ChristianStix Witness Apparel was given to me. I realize this story is a bit lengthy, but please read to the end. Hopefully you will find this story to be inspirational and uplifting as it is meant to be. 

I gave my heart and life to Jesus Christ on April 17, 2004 at Victory Chapel in Akron, Ohio. I was at a gospel singing and Brother Conrad Cook was entertaining a packed house with his gift of singing and piano playing. I had been attending church every time the door was open for the past 4 months, seeking something to fill the void that was in my heart. I searched everywhere and found no peace. I had an emptiness inside me that could not be filled, no matter what I did or where I looked. As the old song goes, I found that peace when I found Jesus. That day, my heart, mind, and soul changed forever and I finally found the peace I had been searching for.

I was on fire! I had a burning desire to witness to people about how God changed my life and gave me a new outlook on life. I did not want to aggravate anyone, but I wanted people to know what I found and how it felt to finally have peace and inner-comfort. I wanted to tell everyone about the change inside me and share with them how they could have the same thing if they were willing to hear and accept the message.

I was raised in a country home and my parents took me to church when I was young and taught me about Jesus. When I got saved in 2004, I told God that witnessing to people about the change that happened in me was a desire of my heart. I remembered from attending church when I was young, that God would give you the desires of your heart, if you put Him first. Psalm 37:4-5 (King James Version) says, Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

A few months after I accepted Jesus into my heart and turned my life over to Him, I was gifted with the idea of ChristianStix Witness Apparel. I will never forget this…. I was on my way home from work one day and I was exiting the interstate when the idea of ChristianStix Witness Apparel was instilled into me. I didn’t have to think about it, I didn’t have wonder what the next step was going to be, and I didn’t have to figure out how to manufacture product – I already knew what God wanted me to do and how He wanted it done. God gave me the idea of how to supply a desire of my heart and exactly how He wanted me to do it. It was amazing! I still get chill bumps when I think or talk about it.

I fell on difficult times and life kicked me in the face a few times, as most of us find ourselves at one point in our lives or another. As shameful as it is to admit, the idea of ChristianStix was placed in a near dormant area of my mind and there it remained for many years. I would think about it from time to time, but it seemed like a mountain in front of me while I was standing at the bottom looking up at the task before me. 

Nearly 10 years passed since I was gifted with this idea and I was sitting at my Sister’s dining room table on Christmas Eve when God spoke to me. He let me know that there was no more time for procrastination and He wanted to know what I was going to do with the idea He gave me…. I was devastated. The thought that I let God down and did not do what He asked of me was overwhelming. The feeling of complete disappointment filled my mind and consumed my thoughts. With a fervent effort to redeem myself, I started working right away!

God wanted the messages that ChristianStix Witness Apparel displays to be simple, easy to read, and easy to understand. He wanted me to use common Bible verses in conjunction with stick figures; hence the name ChristianStix. The reason to use stick figures is because everyone knows what they are and they can identify when they see them. There is comfort in familiarity, so the more familiar you are with something, the more comfortable you are with it.  All people can draw stick figures and relate to them when they see them, even little children. The Bible references in many places that you will not be able to enter  the Kingdom of Heaven unless you have the heart of a child, humble and pure. 

Sometimes it’s difficult to find the words to say to a stranger or even someone you know very well. With this in mind, He let me know that the designs were to be on the back of the t shirts so they would have a better chance of being read while standing in a line, walking in a crowd, or generally standing in public places. More often than not, people are likely to read someone’s shirt if they are standing behind them in a line. This gives greater opportunity for the Bible verse to be read and ultimately, plant the seed of salvation, and all without saying a word. This may initiate a conversation or it may just give someone food for thought, either way, God said His word would not return void. Isaiah 55:11 (King James Version) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

For the life of me, God gave me this idea and I have made every effort to carry out the task that He trusted me with to the best of my ability. Thank you for taking time to read my story and allowing me to explain how ChristianStix Witness Apparel was born and what it is about. I trust this story has been inspirational as it is meant to be. If my works and efforts help lead one soul to Christ, then it has been worth it. God bless.