We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tajae Jones. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tajae below.

Tajae, appreciate you joining us today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Our mission’s story is deeply personal and closely tied to my own journey. I’ve always had a passion for people and a calling to share my faith. Creating apparel with encouraging messages has become the intersection where I do both. However, when it came to sharing my “WHY,” I often found myself at a loss for words.

Then it hit me—that’s the problem. So many people become paralyzed when it’s time to share their own story. They want to open up about their lives, but fear being misunderstood, judged, or rejected. I too struggled in this way, believing my own story had no power or relevance.

It was only when I discovered my identity in Christ that I found my purpose: to share stories of faith. I realized the transformative power of being open and vulnerable. This started a ripple effect, a transaction of faith through stories – real people sharing real faith, what I call “The Faith Effect.”

Sharing my story of faith led to collecting countless stories, making me the faith-filled friend and a bearer of light and love for others. Faith isn’t limited to sharing one story; it allows us to share the stories of the countless people we encounter. Once you hear the message, you become the messenger, tasked with sharing it with the next person.

In January of 2022, I decided to really trust God.. I blindly sold my car. I guess I took the scripture ‘walk by faith, and not by sight’ literally because there I was walking! With no car, I relied on Uber’s, Lyft’s, friends, family, and my own two feet to navigate Houston, sharing stories of faith along the way. I exchanged laughter, tears, and light with people who were once strangers but are now faith-filled friends. Trusting him with my little mustard seed inspired me to take more steps of faith, including putting all of my belongings in storage, trading my luxury apartment for a friend’s couch, moving into an Airbnb, and leaving the comfortability of my 9-5 for the splendid adventure of entrepreneurship. Some may have seen me as foolish, but God saw me as faith-filled.

I became a pioneer and trailblazer of faith in my family, amongst friends, and in my community. Now, I’m fully walking in what God has called me to do. I never imagined that the freedom I heard about in other peoples stories could become my own. Now I have accepted the call of urgency to share the good news!

Our mission is to share stories of faith because these stories transformed my life, and I aim to inspire others to find their path to faith, transformation and freedom in Christ.

Tajae, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hey y’all, hey! My name is Tajae Denise. I am the founder and Creative Director of The Faith Effect Co. I am a digital storyteller, your faith-filled friend, and most importantly, a child of God! A Florida native who moved to Houston in 2019, I began a career as a 3rd-grade teacher for 4 years. Now, I am pursuing content creation and entrepreneurship full-time and on Sunday’s I still teach within the children’s ministry.

My clothing brand, The Faith Effect Co, is Christian apparel designed with one mission – to create a ripple effect of faith through shared stories. This concept of “the faith effect” started with a seed. After hearing stories of people having great faith and trusting God, I took a look at my own faith journey to see where I too could trust God. This led me to sell my car. That’s right, in January 2022, I sold my car, literally taking the scripture “Walk By Faith, Not by Sight” to heart. With this seed of faith, God revealed to me areas of my life that I hadn’t trusted Him before, but He also showed me that He could be trusted. Selling my car was such a pivotal moment because I had to rely on others for transportation to work, church, and even the grocery store. You don’t realize how much control you like to have, until you put your control in the hands of someone else. My transportation methods may have been in human hands, but my life was ultimately in God’s hands. And what a great place that is!

On this journey, God also grew my faith in other areas of my life, like when I put all my items in storage for a year, and traded my luxury apartment for friend’s couches and air mattresses. Even in the midst of the trials, I actively kept my faith. I led Bible studies, started a connect group, and grew my business despite having business experience or finances! Not only did my story create a ripple effect of faith in my own life, it also sparked conversations of faith in the lives of everyone I shared with.

I talked to people any and everywhere: Ubers, Lyfts, sidewalks, and rides from friends. I learned that most people wanted to share their story but felt shy and ashamed about their life. Our company is dedicated to breaking the cycle by creating a safe and inviting platform for people to freely share. Our hope is that people will hear someone else’s message of hope and faith and believe it’s possible in their own lives.

This is a personal struggle I had to overcome myself. I was so embarrassed to tell people what I’ve been through. I would get stuck because I would want to control the narrative, control what people got from it so they didn’t ridicule or judge me! However, when I let go of my control, I learned that there is so much power in your testimony. It’s almost impossible for people to see the goodness of God working in your life if you don’t share it with them!

There’s a scripture in the Bible that says faith comes by hearing the word of God! People simply can’t hear if we are silent!

So, the hoodies, T-shirts, and sweatshirts we sell are more than a nice garment with your favorite Bible verse. They are a reminder that your story is worth sharing. When someone stops and says, “hey, I like your shirt,” that’s your opportunity to open up and share your story with them. I honestly wear my own merch with the expectation that someone will stop me so they can be inspired, not by anything I’ve done but by everything God has done for me. And that’s what sets me apart. My individual story. That’s the one thing that sets us all apart, but also brings us all closer together. Whether you have 15,000 followers or no phone at all, you’re alive and you matter! Your story is still being written.

When the outside noise gets too loud and I forget who I am, I open my Bible and remember whose I am. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God cares for me so much He made me one of a kind; there is no one like me because there is no one like Him. I was created, fashioned, and formed way before time began to do good works. For me, my good works are to spread the goodness of God through faith and fashion, to help others see the importance of their story and the power of sharing it with others. I believe life is so much better with people around you who will lift you up and cheer you on. AKA the “The faith-filled friend.” We are all friends in faith, you are the friend we can go to for love, light, and hope. I see it, I hope you believe it!

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The Bible has been the most influential resource when it comes to my business! It may sound cliché because I run a faith-based business, but when you consider it, God is the OG entrepreneur. The first line of the bible says “ In the beginning God created heaven and the earth.” As an entrepreneur that’s what we do. Create.

Turning to the Bible has provided me with valuable guidance and principles that extend to various aspects of business, including finances, people skills, money management, marketing, and scaling my business. I like how it’s accessible to everyone and there’s no hidden agenda or ploy attached!

Initially, I tried listening to popular figures and business gurus, but I found that it left me feeling more stressed, tired, and confused. I lacked a sense of peace and balance, feeling guilty for taking much-needed rest and overspending in an attempt to follow someone else’s plan. However, when I picked up the Bible and invited God into my business, I discovered a wealth of wisdom within its verses and principles that applied directly to my business journey. There’s a verse in Proverbs that says The blessing of the Lord makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it! (Proverbs 10:22) This gave me great joy to know that whatever the Lord provides won’t come with heartache.

To complement my understanding, I also started reading books, plans, and watching videos from authors and artists who are rooted in Christ. Honestly, once I let go of the idea of what I thought I was supposed to look like and delve into my actual gifts and callings, the uniqueness of my brand began to shine through! Now when I encounter videos or books online, I evaluate their insights, compare them to what I know, pray about them, and filter out what aligns with my values and vision. The Bible’s clear and non-misleading motives have provided a solid foundation for making informed decisions in my business and entrepreneurial endeavors. Below are a few helpful resources I’ve come across in my journey!
The Bible: NIV, AMP, ESV, The message (different versions)
Finances: Hebrews 13:5, Proverbs 13:11, Luke 16:10, Matthew 6:24
Strategy: 2 Corinthians 9:8, Proverbs 3:5-6, Jeremiah 29:11
Morale and character: Proverbs 4:25-27, Psalm 112:5, 1 Corinthians 16:14
Podcast: Dave Ramsey, Anthony Oneal
Books: The Blessed Life by Robert Morris, The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren, and E-Myth by Michael E. Gerber
Sermon series “ Secure The Bag” by Michael Todd
Bible plans on the bible app: “God Owns My Business” by Faith Driven Entrepreneurs, Purpose Driven Marketing by Tech Church

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

When I first started The Faith Effect Co, I recognized that social media was a crucial tool for reaching a broader audience. I began by sharing my personal journey of faith and how it led to the creation of my brand. I utilized platforms like Instagram and TikTok, allowing me to convey my story through videos and images. I posted content such as behind-the-scenes glimpses of my business and days in the life of an entrepreneur.

I distinctly remember sharing the primary story of how I built my faith by selling my car and trusting that God would provide. Many online found this intriguing, as it’s uncommon to willingly put oneself in a position to go without and actively show people what life is like without a car. The primary goal of my social media presence isn’t just to sell a product; it’s to provide hope and love to others through shared stories. Another practice I adopted was incorporating other individuals. Conducting interviews with people about their personal stories of faith and sharing client testimonials has contributed to people sharing my page. I was able to organically grow my page and now have over 300 Instagram followers and 500 TikTok followers. Someone once told me to imagine 50 people standing in front of you, viewing your art. That’s how you should perceive social media. Don’t be disheartened by the numbers or influence; get excited about the names and the way you create impact. You are more than a brand; you are a person. Don’t fall victim to get-rich-quick schemes; take the time to get to know your audience and your purpose.

I consistently post content that resonates with my faith-filled community. I share Bible verses, inspirational quotes, and personal anecdotes that reflect the values of The Faith Effect Co. I ensure to engage with my audience by responding to comments and messages, fostering a sense of connection and community because that’s what’s important to me. My social media is based on what both I, the creator, and the viewer can gain value from.

Some advice I would offer to someone just starting out is to be your authentic self. Post videos and content that you genuinely enjoy. When you wear too many hats, it becomes challenging for your audience to understand why they are following you. People appreciate clarity about why they are following someone. If someone were to share your profile with another person, what might be the reason? For me, people share my profile when they see everyday individuals like them sharing their stories of faith.

I would also stress the importance of remaining consistent. You don’t have to post every second of the day, but maintaining a schedule is crucial. It holds you accountable and lets people know you exist. Not every post needs to be an attempt to go viral, but I view social media as a digital resume. Consider that if you told someone you run a baking shop, and they visited your social media page to find no baking-related content or no content at all, they might doubt your claims. Consistent posting ensures your audience stays engaged. When I post videos consistently, my audience engages. When I don’t post for weeks, people literally ask me if I’m okay and if I still have my business (true story).

My last piece of advice would be to fall in love with the process. Business has taught me that it’s a process, especially if you’re building from the ground up and learning everything yourself. You won’t learn everything overnight, and new technology, apps, or social media methods are developed every day. Don’t feel discouraged if it takes time to master a specific platform or technique. Concentrate on the task at hand. If you want to increase sales and brand awareness, dedicate 3-6 months to learning how to achieve this. Research your topic on search engines like Google, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Find business, communities, and people willing to mentor you through the process. Often, the gap between where we are and where we want to be is bridged by taking the first step of faith.

Remember, building a social media presence takes time and dedication. Stay true to your brand’s values, engage with your audience, and be patient as your community grows. Your brand has a unique story to tell, and there are people out there who will resonate with it. I’m one of them! Keep going!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thefaitheffectco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefaitheffectco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089823651462
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@THEFAITHEFFECTCO.?feature=shared
• Other: link tree: https://linktr.ee/tajaedenise

Image Credits
Destinee, Lillie, Dom, Erica, Tez,