|   Posted: April 28, 2022

“We started the business with bigger intentions — so we could do more good than we could do on our own,” says Katie. Check out these beautiful necklaces (just in time for Mother’s Day) and learn the powerful meaning behind them.

Passion with a Purpose

“We started the business with bigger intentions — so we could do more good than we could do on our own,” says Katie. Check out these beautiful necklaces (just in time for Mother’s Day) and learn the powerful meaning behind them.

some jewelry made by Katie and Miki

Sometimes inspiration surprises us during the most mundane moments of life. Last fall, Katie and Miki experienced this firsthand when they met for a study session. A cup of coffee and a few conversations later, a seed of an idea had taken root, blossoming into a small business in a matter of weeks.

Friends since high school, Katie and Miki share a lot in common. Freshmen in college and on pre-med tracks, both want their educations to better the lives of others. Katie, minoring in disability services, is considering a future in physical therapy. Miki dreams of traveling the world, helping establish sustainable medical facilities in communities that need them most.

But their others-focused mindsets were fostered long before they even knew each other. Katie grew up sponsoring a child through Compassion International with her family. She recalls the impact she felt seeing her family’s donations help a child desperately in need. “It was a really meaningful connection in my life,” said Katie.

Miki had a similar connection thanks to her generous youth group that sponsored a child. Every week, Miki and her friends would bring donations to provide their child, Jesús, with clean water, medical care and proper nutrition.

This shared connection to Compassion inspired the girls to consider helping those in need through a small business. “We started the business with bigger intentions — so we could do more good than we could do on our own,” said Katie. “We never thought of making a profit. We just wanted to make a difference.” Nodding in agreement, Miki said, “We wanted to do something that was glorifying to the Lord!”

Katie and Miki
jewelry made by Katie and Miki

So, one afternoon in a tiny shop over a cup of coffee, Faithful Garden was born. Miki and Katie would use their passion for making jewelry to sell beautiful products, and a portion of the proceeds would fuel their even bigger passion: helping children in poverty around the world. Each tiny pendant would showcase pressed flowers encased in resin — a simple reminder of Jesus’ words from Matthew 6:28-30 (NIV):

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you — you of little faith?

Katie and Miki started by selling just a few circular pendants to friends and family. When they shared their work and mission on Instagram, they were shocked at the number of orders they received. “It definitely caught on a bit quicker than we expected,” laughed Katie. They launched a website and are expanding their brand to include tote bags and T-shirts. Miki and Katie donate $2 of every purchase directly to Compassion International.

Miki wants to inspire others to use their passions for helping those in need. “Don’t be afraid to start something ... If you are faithful and if you trust the Lord, he can take anything and make it big for his kingdom!” Katie added, “Nothing is insignificant. Anything can make a change.”