Wearing Our Faith: How Thistles & Thorns Was Born to Fuel Ministry and Spread the Gospel

If you had told me years ago that my family and I would one day be preparing to move across the ocean to serve in Scotland, and that an apparel brand would help make it possible, I probably would have laughed and said you had the wrong guy. But as I have learned, God’s plans are always greater than our own, and His timing is perfect.

Thistles & Thorns began as more than a business idea. It began as a story of calling, obedience, and love -love for God, for people, and in a very special way, for Scotland.

My wife, Candice, has loved Scotland since she was a teenager. Her fascination started with reading and history of the castles, the landscape, and the people. It ran so deep that when she was given the opportunity to change her name, she changed her middle name to Mackenzie, just to carry a piece of Scotland with her. Long before we married, she made me promise that one day I would take her there.

Eighteen years later, God kept that promise in a way neither of us expected. After a couple of weeks where our whole family had been down with the flu, I woke up one Sunday morning feeling completely well. No aches, no cough, just clear-headed and grateful. Everyone else was still recovering, so I decided to go to church on my own. I had never gone by myself before, but that morning felt different, even if I didn’t yet know why.

That particular Sunday was the start of a new church-wide discipleship journey that would last for the next two years. The church had printed out these incredible booklets filled with everything we would need, including milestone dates, call-to-action steps, and a full list of upcoming mission trips.

As our pastor explained the program, he introduced a guest speaker from Scotland who was serving as a missionary. Mr. Bob Hill stepped up to the platform dressed in authentic Scottish attire, and, speaking with a Texas accent, began to share his story.

As he spoke, I flipped through my booklet and found the section on missions. When I turned the page and saw there was a trip to Scotland coming up in May, something stirred inside me. It was January at the time, and in that moment, I remembered the promise I had made to my wife years ago that I would one day take her to Scotland.

The second I got home, I headed straight for our bedroom, still holding that booklet. Without thinking, I tossed it like a Frisbee toward the bed and accidentally hit Candice in the head. Startled, she looked up as I said, “Turn to page 49! Turn to page 49!”

She opened the booklet to that page and began reading the details about the mission trip. Then she grabbed her phone. About a minute later, she looked up and said, “I got the last spot on the trip in May. There was one slot open, and I got it.”

I just smiled, knowing I had watched God fulfill a promise; not only the one I made to my wife but one He had written long before.

A week later, Candice got a call from the missions trip leader, Lacey. During their first conversation, Lacey asked, “How did you do that?”

Candice laughed. “How did I do what?”

Lacey went on to explain that someone had just dropped out and that the availability hadn’t even been posted for very long that afternoon before Candice signed up. When Candice told her about me accidentally hitting her in the head with the booklet after church, they both laughed and agreed it was simply God’s will that she be on that May mission trip to Scotland.

When she returned from that trip, she wasn’t the same. Scotland wasn’t just a dream anymore; it was a calling. She had been asked if she would consider coming back to serve in full-time ministry. When she asked what I thought, my answer was simple: “If this is something you feel God is calling us to do, who am I to say no?”

Months later, I went myself, and I understood why she fell in love with the people and the place. The beauty of the country is matched only by the need for the Gospel there. From that moment, our hearts were set on serving wherever God led.

Business as Ministry

As we prayed and planned for what lay ahead, we began to see that our journey wasn’t just about going. It was about building something sustainable that could send. Out of that vision came Thistles & Thorns.

The name represents both beauty and struggle. The thistle is the national flower of Scotland, and the thorn is a reminder of the crown placed on our Savior’s head. Together, they tell the story of grace through suffering and victory through Christ.

We wanted to create a brand that didn’t just sell shirts but shared truth — a brand where every design, every conversation, and every dollar had purpose. Our motto sums it up best:

“Wearing our Faith is Fueling our Mission at home and abroad.”

As believers, we’re called to live out the Great Commission:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” — Matthew 28:19

But that call doesn’t look the same for everyone. Not all are called to go overseas, but all are called to share the message of Jesus Christ. Thistles & Thorns was created as a bridge between those two realities.

Through our brand, we want Christians to feel empowered to express their faith boldly yet tastefully, to model Christian values through what they wear, and to use it as a tool to start conversations that matter.

When someone asks about the message or design on your shirt, that’s your moment. That’s the open door. Sometimes, all it takes is a few words, or even a single question, to plant a seed of faith.

Fueling the Mission

From day one, we made the decision that 100 percent of profits from Thistles & Thorns LLC would be donated to the Thistles & Thorns Foundation, a faith-based charitable organization dedicated to supporting missions both in Scotland and around the world.

Our goal is simple: to use business as a vehicle for ministry.

We believe in the model of faith-fueled entrepreneurship, where business and mission don’t compete but complement one another. It’s about stewardship — taking the gifts, talents, and opportunities God gives us and using them to glorify Him.

As the Bible reminds us:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”- Colossians 3:23

Every shirt, every hat, every piece of apparel we create is designed with intention. Every thread is a potential connection, a silent witness to the hope of Christ.

We want Christians to see our brand and immediately recognize that they have a brother or sister in Christ. And for those who don’t yet know Him, we hope it sparks curiosity - a question that opens the door to faith.

Looking Forward

We may be starting in Scotland, but our vision reaches far beyond. Our prayer is to see Thistles & Thorns become a globally recognized brand that reflects Jesus Christ -a light in a dark world and a resource for fueling missions across the globe.

We envision a future where the Foundation funds not just our work abroad but missionaries everywhere in small towns, large cities, and remote corners of the earth. Whether through apparel, partnerships, or community outreach, the mission remains the same: to bring the Good News to those who need it most.

A Call to the Church

If you’re reading this, I want to challenge and encourage you. You may not be called to pack up and move across the world. You may not feel equipped to stand on a stage or preach to a crowd. But you are called to share Jesus.

Sometimes, that starts with something as simple as a shirt; something that gives you the courage to begin the conversation.

Because let’s be honest, not sharing the Gospel with someone who’s lost is like watching them walk into the street while a car’s coming and saying nothing. Except in this case, it’s not just their life at stake. It’s their eternity. So let’s be bold together. Let’s use what we have, right where we are, to reach the world for Christ.

After all, we’re not just wearing faith. We’re living it.

Waiting in Faith

As of writing this article, we are still in a holding pattern, waiting for our sponsorship numbers to be issued by the UK government. We are using this time to get our local affairs in order before we go. We have found temporary homes for the pets we cannot take with us, and we have been taking care of various health and dental needs.

We originally imagined that we would already be in Scotland by now, but we have both submitted to God’s will and understand that everything will happen in His perfect timing. Until then, we continue to pray patiently and trust that He is working in every detail.

We don’t know exactly when our plane tickets will be booked or when our bags will finally be packed for Scotland, but we know that God’s plan is already in motion. Every delay, every door that opens and closes, is shaping us for what lies ahead.

Through it all, we have learned that obedience is not about timing; it’s about trust. Thistles & Thorns was never just about apparel. It was about creating something lasting — a way for faith to be seen, spoken, and shared.

Our prayer is that through this brand, others will find the courage to live out their calling wherever they are, and to remember that every act of obedience, no matter how small, can change eternity.

Thank You

Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for walking this journey of faith with us. If our story has encouraged or inspired you, we invite you to share it, pray with us, and join us in spreading the Gospel through Thistles & Thorns. Every prayer, every purchase, and every word shared helps carry the message of Christ a little farther into the world.

“Thistles & Thorns — Texas Faith. Scottish Soil.”
100% of profits fuel global missions through the Thistles & Thorns Foundation.
www.ThistlesandThorns.com

Topics: Obedience to God • Faith-Based Business • Christian Entrepreneurship • Missions and Ministry • Testimony