After finishing grad school and earning a degree in business management, Ryan Welch was eager to start a business that would make him rich. Some of his fellow business grads had the same idea, so they decided to form an entrepreneur group. The group met for a few months and Ryan was excited to be a part of an ambitious team, until one day his wife questioned him about his intentions with the group and the kind of life Ryan was pursuing for their family. She didn’t want their lives to revolve around making money, and wondered if they had missed a bigger purpose for their lives.
Shortly after, the family took a trip out west and visited an old gold mine. While there, they noticed many old photographs of the mine workers. They all seemed distressed and unsatisfied. Even though they were a part of one of the most profitable discoveries of US history, and likely got rich themselves, they seemed unhappy. They also realized that the mine workers and the people who profited greatly from the discovery and accumulation of gold were not remembered. No one knows their names or remembers their significance. It was in that moment that Ryan began to understand that pursuing wealth could not satisfy him and would not add purpose to his life. He and his wife discussed their experience and felt convicted to live differently and with purpose. They realized that pursuing money and earthly success would leave them empty and that the only thing worth doing with their lives was to love God and love others. This lead to the creation of Hope Outfitters.
Ryan decided to leave the entrepreneur group and, instead of investing in himself, he invested in others and in God’s kingdom by starting a t-shirt company that gives back 100% of its profits. The company is called Hope Outfitters, which is a fitting name, because the t-shirts’ designs reflect the hope and love that God gives through inspiring images, quotes, and Bible verses. All of the company’s profits are donated to organizations that help meet people’s physical and spiritual needs. Their current campaign goes to support organizations fighting human trafficking, and some of their past campaigns have helped provide water and supported adoption and pro-life initiatives. In addition, all of their apparel is manufactured ethically to ensure the wellbeing of the people involved in the production of their clothing!
Ryan is a great example of an entrepreneur with a heart for God and his people. His story shows how God does great redemptive work through people who start out headed in the opposite direction, but obey when they hear God calling them to something more. His story has inspired me in my entrepreneurial journey to always keep my eyes on God and the work He is doing in this world, despite all the opportunities to be distracted by lesser things.
https://www.hopeoutfitters.com/
Very cool story! I think it was interesting how he came upon that realization, with the photograph of the dirty miners. In a world where profit and numbers have a bigger focus than that of family, faith and spirit, it is nice to see a company demonstrating God’s love by helping others.