Testimony & Mission Statement
Thanks for being here and reading my testimony. Every day is an opportunity to grow - For this is the day that the LORD (YHWH) has made. Let's rejoice and be glad in it!
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” (having that teknon energy) I had a specific taste in music…country okay? It was country! I apparently told my mom listening to 80's rock bands that she listened to "the devils music"...so I guess I've just been like this my whole life.
God bless my
mom...
When I got a little older it was my Linkin Park phase. I feel like we all go through this phase? 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 some Good wholesome 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. I thought to myself, "They couldn't be the only ones doing something like this!" I then went on to discover August Burns Red (still love),
As I Lay Dying (oh my), Red (Retired but forever remembered), Underoath (though not "Christian" anymore I still love the first album I bought Define the Great Line) This was the beginning of this journey of my story and my love for this and many other genres of music.
Metal and all its subgenres will always have a special place in my heart.
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 and matured in understanding righteous judgment verses straight up judging without knowledge or context.
I’ve had 1 God 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 have grown to love so much. There are a lot of Christian apparel brands 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?
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. I am a tither, so there is 10% there. But I would love to have a giving corner. These shirts would be solely dedicated to supporting organizations ions like St. Jude, and the Tim Tebow Foundation. I also have dreams of getting bands to allow me to design a shirt on their behalf and donate to their charity of choice. I would love for bands to be able to have shirts on here that can be in support of them, or any foundations they would love to donate proceeds too. I may even get my youth kids involved at church and give them their royalties for school or whatever.
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. Be blessed and know that Yahweh’s kingdom is at hand, and he promised us a King through David…He’s coming back! Be prepared!
Much Love,
AB