Doesn’t it always start with a testimony? I am one person. I have been a believer my whole life, but it has definitely grown from one beautiful glory to the next. When I was young and “knew everything” I had a specific taste in music…country okay? It was country! I also listened to the local Christian Radio Station WAY FM... shoutout to my S. FL peeps. This really opened my eyes to the possibility of listening to Rock...with RED and Skillet. I really liked it when their music came on. However, my younger brother was getting into this music called metal. I feared for his soul. I laugh writing this now - I really felt this way! 

So, I did what I always do and that is to go and research what I don't know. I was going to find something that my little brother could listen to that wasn't what I had in my head that it was. Metal to me was hell and demons and everything to do with all the evils in the world. 

I stumbled upon a band that every metal seeking Christian finds, and that was Demon Hunter – Specifically their newest album at the time, “Storm the Gates of Hell.” I was taken so aback by the lyrics that I was reading. I thought to myself they couldn't be the only ones doing something like this. August Burns Red (still love), As I Lay Dying (oh my), Red (sad face), Underoath (sigh)...a mostly sad list...but it was the beginning of this journey of mine.  

In meaning well, I discovered how shallow my outlook was. I found a world of music I fell in love with - lyrics that were deep and impactful, purposeful, and created through real life experiences. Worship music that could reach anyone in the dark and bring hope to those that other Christians, like my previous self, would have judged on the spot. Let’s just say I started to really have a shift in my musical tastes.  

I’ve had 1God Apparel in my head since roughly 2018, but never a means or ability or know how to get it done. With all the tools available to us in today’s world, I realized it was time. I also realized that I wanted this to be inspired by the style of this amazing genre of music I love so much. There is a lot of Christian apparel out there, but what about for those of us that like a harder look, something a bit edgier, something I could wear and thrash my hair around in circles?  

You guys remember Not of This World? What happened there? I look them up and it looks like they maybe sold out...but I remember feeling good wearing that shirt...and not feel like it was cheesy. 

I don’t want to wear a cheesy mockery of Christ – like taking the BK logo and somehow working it around “Christ is KING”. I decided I was going to make a brand that I could feel confident in. I wanted to create apparel that was serious, committed, strong, powerful and had real visuals that would honor Yahweh. I want it to strike conversations for the wearer. I want the wearer to have boldness in Christ. Do you need shirts to do this? Absolutely not – By our fruits we would be a light to the world. But hey...we can’t walk around naked...and I don’t think Yahweh is making any more fig leaf loin cloths any time soon.  

I do have plans on how any money made through this will be divided. Once up and running and I have run some numbers, I will update this. I am a tither, so there is 10% there. But I would love to donate a % of proceeds to organizations like St. Jude, and the Tim Tebow Foundation. I also have plans for specific shirts to be fully for this or that. I may even get my youth kids involved at church and give them their royalties. There are a lot of possibilities here - I don’t want it to just bless my family, but others as well.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to read a small part of my story. I hope you enjoy the brand, and that you feel confident in Yahweh’s love for you.  

Much Love,  

AB