THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, August 5, 1994 TAG: 9408040202
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Business
SOURCE: BY LORI A. DENNEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 96 lines
According to Anthony Brown, if it weren't for divine intervention, he wouldn't have a wife, a job or a future.
The words on a plaque propped on a window ledge behind Brown's desk are the words he tries to live by: ``I'm nothing without Jesus.''
He has incorporated his faith in the Lord into every facet of his life, including his 3-month-old business - Elohim Designs. Elohim is a transliteration of a word used for God in parts of Hebrew scripture.
Elohim Designs, in the Aragona Village Shoppes, is a company that designs and sells Christian sportswear.
``This is the purpose (of the business): First, to ministry. Second, people will ask questions about the faith of the person who is wearing these items and they will be able to answer. And last, the ones who are really walking with him understand. We must lift up the name of Jesus in any way, including advertisement.''
Brown, with the help of two artists, has designed and sells nine different T-shirts, 10 designs for hats, four to five jacket designs, running suits, walking shorts, and polo and rugby shirts.
The distinguishing marks on all of Brown's designs are the logos and ``meaningful messages of conscious awareness,'' as Brown calls them.
There's ``Jesus Saves,'' ``Divine Trinity,'' ``I can do all things through Christ'' and ``No need to guess, my heart belongs to Jesus,'' to name a few.
Prices range from $14.95 for T-shirts to $69.95 for running suits. Rugby shirts cost $36.95 and polo shirts, $26.95. Wholesale prices, for two dozen or more items, are from 30 to 40 percent cheaper, Brown said.
Brown also takes his creations to gospel music concerts, conventions and even has been commissioned to create designs for churches, other businesses and family reunions.
``I saw the opportunity. People are really craving for something different. Christians like quality, too,'' said Brown, a Norfolk native and 1990 Hampton University graduate.
``I started with nothing but my faith. Faith and money are synonymous,'' continued Brown, who lives with his wife, Valerie, in the Georgetown area of Chesapeake. ``Faith is the value of exchange in heaven like money is the value of exchange on earth. Faith can get you money but money can never get you faith.''
The day that changed his life, the day he said he was born again, was June 7, 1987. He was a rising senior and mixed up with the wrong group of people at college.
He called home and his mother told him, ``You know what you have to do.'' He began to pray.
``I knew the way of the Lord, but I chose to do my own thing,'' admitted Brown, who said that although his family practiced their religion he and his siblings were never forced to go to church. ``From that day on, though, my life hasn't been the same. My whole outlook on life is totally different.''
Brown originally had ambitions to work at a major company such as IBM or Xerox as a salesperson. His background was in marketing and computers, so he never thought he'd end up selling T-shirts.
Once Brown was born again, he decided to try a fresh approach to T-shirts. He took a load of his clothing to a New Generation convention in North Carolina.
``We knew at that point that the gear was in demand,'' said Brown, 29. ``It made me start thinking about opening my own shop.''
Brown decided to quit his job as an assistant manager at a local religious supply store and go into business for himself.
Anthony and Valerie Brown, newly married, didn't want to approach a bank for financing. Instead, they drew on money from their paychecks and called in friends for favors.
They said they spent about $5,000 to open Elohim Designs. They were fortunate, they say, because they had so many friends and family donating their time and items to the store.
For example, carpeting was installed by family friends who also built the front counter that holds a used register and computer.
``It pays to know the Lord who can guide you to friends,'' said Valerie Brown, a manager with Blockbuster Video, as well as the mother of a 9-month-old daughter, Seriah.
Family helped with the store decorations. Several display racks and equipment were purchased from businesses that were closing.
Brown met Valerie through a mutual friend. They had known each other casually for nine years before they were once again introduced by Valerie's cousin at her church.
``Turned out we were basically soul mates,'' Anthony Brown said. ``It was really a shock to a lot of friends and our parents. Even to us.''
The Browns are expecting their second daughter in November and are members of the Agape World Outreach Center in Virginia Beach. MEMO: The phone number for Elohim Designs is 557-0512.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by CHARLIE MEADS
Anthony Brown runs his Christian sportswear store, Elohim Designs,
with the help of his wife Valerie, who is holding 9-month-old
Seriah.
by CNB