- USING SKINNY JEANS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL! Posted 9 hours ago Forever 21, an American chain of clothing retailers has locations in the United States, Europe, Asia and the middle east. DO WON CHANG, Founder and CEO grew up in S. Korea working in coffee shops. He moved to California in 1981 and thought that he’d continue in the coffee business, but quickly realized that all the people that drove fancy cars were in the garment business.
He started the business with his wife. They started with nothing! He made one garment and then another and then another. Pretty soon, sales took off and his clientele began to extend outside of the Korean American community in California where he lived. Then there was the first store, and another. Before long, he was not only opening stores in the USA but overseas as well. He even opened a store in the Seoul Korea neighborhood where he grew up!
Chang tells would be entrepreneurs that they “have to learn perseverance and they have to know their stuff, because this is like a marathon and not a 100 meter dash”. In his interview with the LA Times, he was asked, why does he do it, what is this all for? Well, he spends most of his free time on spiritual pursuits. He travels often to perform missionary work in 3rd world countries and runs the Chang 21 Foundation which donates money to churches and other faith groups. For him, stylish tops and skinny jeans are just tools to help him travel to Third World countries that desperately need aid.
Chang isn’t ashamed of the gospel either! On every Forever 21 shopping bag there is a citation with a Bible verse on it. His chain of stores received media attention about printing John 3:16 on their trademark yellow shopping bags, but a spokeswoman for the Forever 21 Los Angeles Headquarters says that the biblical quote is a "demonstration of the Christian owners’ faith". Do Won Chang says that the Bible is his favorite book! He never went to college but says about himself that Forever 21 was “started by a simple Korean immigrant with a dream.” Persistence and perseverance paid off!
What about your dreams? What have you done about them lately? It is never too late! This is the time to take them off the shelf, dust them off and present them before God. Let Him know that you’re ready to bring them to reality. Tell Him that you intend to persevere, work hard and utilize the gifts, talents, skills, abilities and anointing that He has placed within you. Yes, you are ready for the marathon, you’re fearless and full of faith. I promise you, it’ll bring a smile to God’s face to hear you say that, and all of heaven’s resources will be made available to you to help you bring that dream to reality!
Today, Forever 21 is still a "family business" with 30,000 employees and almost 500 stores. God will make your dreams come true as well, but He needs to know that you’re in! Let Him know that today.
John 3:16 MSG - This is how much God loved the world: He gave His Son, His one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life!
#elevateyourheart
Source: Los Angeles Times, July 31, 2010; Wikipedia.org
© 2013 Sherma Jacqueline Felix. All rights reserved
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