Our Story

A question that stayed with me

In 2023, we were at a youth conference when I heard something that moved me deeply. I remember the pastor saying, “The number one reason people called into missions don’t go is because of money.”

In a culture of $7 coffees and half-million-dollar homes, how could money be the barrier between people called to ministry and pursuing that calling? That didn’t sit well with my soul. I prayed, and I waited for God to speak.

One day, while hiking, I was thinking about how wonderful creation is. I love the mountains, the rivers, the trees, all of it. I see God revealed through His creation, and that day I was talking to Him about the question I was still carrying.

I told Him I knew there was a way. If He would use me, I would be a voice for the people who needed one.

That was the moment the idea for Chase the Calling was born. I had a name, but I didn’t yet have a direction.

A name before a plan

I knew I wanted to help make money less of a barrier. Fundraising is hard, and asking people for money can be hard. I wanted to find a way to come alongside the people saying yes to God’s call.

Through prayer, I began to understand money differently. It could be a tool without becoming the thing we pursued. The goal wasn’t more money for its own sake. It was a way to help our brothers and sisters in Christ and support the work of bringing the gospel to the world.

But knowing why we wanted to do something wasn’t the same as knowing how. It took three years, a move across the country, and a lot of patience before we could begin bringing that dream to life.

Learning to trust, even when life was good

We loved our life in Washington. We were working, deeply involved in our church, and very happy. We weren’t looking for a way out of a life we disliked.

In 2024, my husband, Keith, traveled to San Diego for six months for work. Being apart was really tough. But that season taught both of us how to rely on God instead of each other, and our faith grew stronger through it.

Keith was born and raised in Washington. I was raised in Louisiana, so I was used to sunshine and warmth, while he was used to Seattle rain and cooler temperatures. During those months in San Diego, he developed an appreciation for warm sunshine, too.

When he came home, he told me, “We need something different. It’s time for change.” There was more behind those words than the weather. We felt God calling us beyond our comfort zone and into something new.

After 22 years together in one community, we had a lot of commitments. We had people we loved, social obligations, and so many things pulling us in different directions. We began to feel that we needed to step outside what we knew to have room to grow into what God had for us.

“Who thinks about South Carolina?”

Keith applied for a job we thought was almost a sure thing. He seemed like an ideal fit, knew people on the hiring team, and the job was only a couple of hours from home. But he didn’t get it.

We trusted God through that disappointment, and Keith kept looking for work in all kinds of places. Eventually, he grew frustrated with the search. In prayer, he told God, “I know You’ll bring me the right thing, so I’m going to stop looking and just keep my eyes open to what You have to show me.”

An hour later, a job in South Carolina came to his attention on social media. He applied, then texted me, “What are your thoughts about South Carolina?” My reply was, “Who thinks about South Carolina?”

Moving across the country was the last thing I had been considering for us. Yet every step along the way felt easier than we expected. We saw God working on our behalf and leading us toward a place we hadn’t thought to choose.

That place is Summerville, South Carolina. Here, our days aren’t filled with the same commitments and obligations. We have room to focus on God’s call, and room to pursue it.

An idea from our son

The practical direction came through a conversation with our kids. We asked what they would do if they were starting their own business. One of our sons said, “I would do a Shopify store with drop shipping.” He had been looking into ways to earn money as a young man, and his research introduced us to something we hadn’t explored.

The more we looked into it, the more we felt we could use that model to start with low financial risk. Apparel became a way to begin putting the vision into practice. The business model was a tool, just as money was a tool, not the purpose behind it all.

We want what we make to remind people of their God-given calling in everyday life. More than that, we want it to keep their attention on the One who calls.

More than a brand

Chase the Calling is a brand, but what we are building is about much more than clothing. We want to help bring people together across communities and across the world. We want to be part of a movement of the capital-C Church.

We are the body of Christ. Church isn’t a building; it is God’s people pursuing Jesus and His mission together. We pray together, listen to one another’s stories, and help one another take the next step.

We want to partner with people in a meaningful way. Not simply sell them an idea or ask them to wear a name, but come alongside them as brothers and sisters in Christ.

For us, that means Christ at the center, church on the move, and people helping people. It means community, and remembering that we are in this together.

We began by asking how we could help other people pursue their calling. Along the way, God made room in our own lives to pursue ours. That is what we are doing now, and that is the heart behind Chase the Calling.

We want to hear your story

What is God placing on your heart? We would love to hear your story, and we will talk and pray with you.

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