Lisa Cockrel is an Associate Editor with Today's Christian Woman.  She drove from Chicago to Bloomington in the fall of  '04 and spent the day with Stephany, myself, and the Occupational Development staff.  We got to know each other;  she observed our workplace;  and met several of the ODC workers who make our bracelets.  The article text below was the content of the article 'Fashion Statement' featured in the Jan/Feb issue of TCW magazine written by Lisa after her visit.  Lisa and I continue to connect and she has become a supportive friend.  God blessed us with sending this wonderful woman!  Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea, and if you'd like to take a few minutes, enjoy the story below.  In Christ,  Jan

Fashion Statement

In 2002, Jan Godbey and Stephany Bina were on opposite paths. After 22 years at insurance giant State Farm, Stephany was leaving to be at home with her then four-year-old daughter. And Jan was resuming her career with the company after taking a few years off to spend more time with her family.

“Jan and I knew each other casually from our years at State Farm, but about three years ago, a mutual friend suggested we touch base with each other,” explains Stephany. “She thought Jan could offer me some support and advice as I transitioned from work to home.”

So the women started meeting for coffee at 6 a.m. every Saturday---before the rest of their families stirred---to chat about workplace and home issues. Then one Saturday, Stephany noticed the bracelet Jan was wearing.

“I’d always had an interest in making jewelry,” says Jan. “At a bead show in Chicago, I found this gemstone globe and immediately thought of John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ At the same show I found a heart and a cross, and when I got home I strung the three together on a simple silver chain. When I wore it that morning, I explained the story behind the bracelet to Stephany, and it completely opened up our dialogue about our faith.”

Unbeknownst to each other, Jan and Stephany were both trying to strengthen their spiritual walks. The women spent the next several weeks discussing ways to pursue spiritual growth and fellowship with other Christians at their churches.

“Sometimes we’d sit there for hours, having to drag ourselves away to go back home to our families. We shared lots of tears and joy with each other,” says Stephany.

Eventually their conversation returned to the bracelet. “We recognized how the symbolism of John 3:16 on the bracelet had been the catalyst for us to start talking about faith,” says Jan. “I thought, What a wonderful tool this could be for other women!”

That desire—to help others start meaningful conversations about faith---led Jan and Stephany to launch Share His Story, Inc. in November 2003. They started with nine bracelet designs based on Scripture dealing with everything from marriage to the Fruits of the Spirit to Christmas. “We had a private launch party that we invited friends and family to,” remembers Stephany. “Some folks from my church sang and we had hors d’oeuvres. People were able to wander around and look at the different bracelets. It was a beautiful evening.”

It was also an affirming one. In the year of talking and preparation for that night, Jan and Stephany made several decisions about how they wanted to develop their product. One was to differentiate their bracelets from others on the market by using high-quality materials. Their designs feature real pearls, semi-precious stones, Austrian crystals, and handmade sterling-silver beads and clasps. As a result, the bracelets retail for between $75 and $90. That night they sold 100.

Two weeks later, with the full support of her husband, Jan quit her job at State Farm to work with Share His Story, Inc. full-time.

“I did a lot of mingling at the launch party, and I saw people were captivated by the bracelets,” says Jan. “They connected with the message behind each one.”

“Every bracelet comes with a story card that explains the Scripture that inspired it and offers a personal challenge to share God’s story with others,” adds Stephany. “And almost everyone who bought a bracelet that night said, ‘Please don’t forget my story card!’ That was what really grabbed them.”

Today the duo has sold almost 1,000 bracelets through their website and Christian retailers across Illinois and New York. Of their 12 bracelet designs, two are geared specifically for teen girls, with themes of developing godly friends and resisting peer pressure. These bracelets feature high-quality glass rather than crystals to make the bracelets more affordable on a teenager’s budget. There’s even a less-expensive version of the Fruit of the Spirit bracelet just for tweens. 

And since they’re using “God’s story” in their business, they pay what they refer to as a “royalty” to him. “We decided we’d set aside one dollar, pre-profit, from the sale of each bracelet and put it in a fund to donate to a Christian organization,” explains Jan. This year Share His Story is giving their royalty fund to the Nevell House, a local ministry that advocates for victims of domestic violence.

It’s the ministry potential of their products that gets Stephany and Jan really excited. They enthusiastically share what their customers have said about how the bracelets are a beacon of faith in everyday life.

For example when the husband of a teacher at Stephany’s daughter’s Christian elementary school recently passed away, the teacher’s class took up a collection and purchased the “Faith Brings Comfort” bracelet based on Matthew 5:4 that features praying hands, a teardrop, and a cross with a heart strung among crystals and pearls. “The students presented the gift and recited the verse on which it’s based. She was very touched by it and wears the bracelet all the time,” says Stephany.

And the bracelets continue to minister to the women who create them. Jan’s personal favorite is the “Give Up Your Worries” bracelet based upon Matthew 6:26-27. Its charms include a bird, a barn, and a clock. “The story puts me at ease,” says Jan, the mother of two teens. “When I wake up at 3 a.m., it reminds me I’m not going to spend my time worrying because, as the bracelet depicts, worry isn’t going to add a single hour to my life. God is in charge, and wants to take the worries off my shoulders.”

It’s been a tremendous year for these mothers, businesswomen, and friends. “When I put my foot on the floor in the morning, I can’t wait to get moving,” says Jan. “So many things have happened over the past ten months neither Steph nor I ever thought would happen.”

An unexpected aspect of the Share His Story ministry developed when Jan and Stephany began exploring options for outsourcing the production of their bracelets. They learned about Bloomington’s Occupational Development Center (ODC), which provides training opportunities for people who are handicapped or have other difficulties finding employment. After spending time observing their work and getting to know the people involved, Jan and Stephany not only set up their bracelet production line at ODC, they also opened their business office in the ODC facility.

“Our relationship with ODC has enabled us to provide adults with disabilities or vocational barriers additional employment opportunities in the areas of jewelry assembly and packaging,” says Jan. “We love the people here---their spirit, dedication, and focus on quality. Without a doubt, working with ODC has become part of our mission.”

From casual coworkers to close friends and business partners, Jan and Stephany have gone from being on separate paths to being on the same journey. Together they’re on a mission to find contemporary, compelling ways to connect people to God’s story. Right now the medium is the bracelet. But they hope to expand the reach of their ministry by offering a line of watches soon.

The issue that brought them together---creating a balanced life---remains a frequent topic of conversation between these friends. They’ve both found they must continue to be proactive about making time for their families and life outside work even though they’re no longer in the corporate world.

“Since I left State Farm, I’ve learned that balance is unique to each individual person. The balance between work and family for me with a young child is different than the balance for Jan. And it changes---daily, weekly, monthly,” says Stephany. “What we’ve found to be most important is prayer and trusting God will guide us to make the right decisions along the way.”

Along with helping them achieve balance in their personal lives, Share His Story also gives these businesswomen an outlet for the abilities they developed after two decades in big-league business.

“I’m so excited about this opportunity to take the business skills that were refined over 22 years in the corporate world and use my gifts to provide products that benefit people spiritually,” says Jan. “I feel blessed to have a career that enables me to absorb God’s Word, live out its values, and take that home every day for my family to see.”

“I think what’s so exciting about this business is that it’s not a just a business,” says Stephany. “It’s about life, and it just connects everything---faith, family, friends, and business---for us.”/eb/