Dear neighbor,
From AJ, founder of GraceScout
My name's AJ, and I come from a very Christian upbringing. My dad is a pastor. Both of my uncles on my dad's side are pastors, and my grandpa on my dad's side was a pastor too. Ironically, I also have an uncle on my mom's side who was a pastor.
Growing up around that kind of faith gave me a front-row seat to a lot of different church experiences. My family members have led churches ranging from megachurches to small local community churches. I think it's awesome that both kinds of churches can give people a personal way to experience their faith. Churches come in all different sizes because no two people experience faith in exactly the same way.
I was a youth group leader growing up, and I went on several mission trips around the United States, plus one in Canada. Those experiences showed me how faith can shape the way people live, work, serve, and care for their communities.
The idea for GraceScout started because I wanted a clear, modern, straightforward place for people to find Christian-owned businesses. I wanted GraceScout shaped from the beginning by someone who actually comes from the faith.
I talked with a few friends about the idea, and they told me to go for it, even when I was unsure. Some would even ask jokingly, “So, have you started yet?” Others would say, “Come on! You need to do it!” I needed that push. Their encouragement helped move GraceScout from an idea I was talking about to something I actually started.
I hope GraceScout becomes a useful way for people to find good businesses, support the people behind them, and connect with work that reflects the values they care about. Thanks for being here.
With gratitude,
AJ