There’s a deep irony in my creating a branded athletic apparel company: at the age of 10, hot on my heels, my mother used to run behind me, telling me to pick my feet up as they shuffled along the streetlight lit asphalt. With snot running down my nose, I hyperventilated as tears streamed down my face. Years later, a freshman in college, my life trajectory would forever change on summer in Des Moines, Iowa.

The summer of 2015, visiting my MIT Post-Doc best friend Ben in his hometown of Des Moines, I watched men and women do just about everything imaginable. At the time, ESPN broadcasted a still relatively unknown fitness competition that has since seen its rise, fall, and replacement. The summer of 2015, I was introduced to CrossFit.

The following winter break, preparing to return to Omaha, Nebraska for my second semester of sophomore year, I decided to google CrossFit gyms in the area–serendipity. The local gym, CrossFit Omaha, was owned and operated by a CrossFit Games athlete, Stacie Tovar: I immediately signed up. Going as far to asking my philosophy professor to allow me to attend a different section of her class to take the necessary on ramp courses, CrossFit, fitness, and the lifestyle consumed me. Over the next 5 years, I would travel to Madrid, Boston, Kansas City, and Houston: in each place I trained and set my life around this space, injuring myself many times in the process. Que another summer intervention.

Sitting in the mountains of Sedalia, CO, on a silent retreat, with knees unable to bear the weight of my body, low back reeling from a front squat months ago, and a nagging wrist injury from a clean caught way to early, I prayed for clarity: was I supposed to press on in the endeavor I started years ago and now found my identity wrapped up in? The simple response, keep going, I’ve got you–J.I.M.S. was born in Colorado, July 2022.

It would not be until November 15, 2023, however, after sketching a logo design earlier in May, that I would be sitting across from a graphic designer, taking the next step in J.I.M.S. story. With the knowledge that my Procreate sketch could not be used on any materials, I spent time reaching out to national designers to, serendipitously, be connected to a mutual friend who would become an influential player in making J.I.M.S. a reality.

​​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, Who Are We?

​

We are J.I.M.S. Apparel CO.–Jesus Is My Spotter Apparel CO.

Based in the gospel, we take inspiration from John 1:29: John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Our logo is simple: Christ, recognized in the Angus Dei Lamb, supporting the weight of a barbell to remind us of the shared sacrifice, victory, and communion we share in his life.

“Since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven… who has been tempted in every way, just as we are… Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:14 -16).

Christ knows the peril we face in our lives. How even in our valiant attempts to quell our desires or live in his Grace, the Devil “prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

With this in mind, our vision is to inspire a world where individuals embrace Christ's love in every aspect of life. From the gym to the workplace, we want to embody the “Little Way” of St. Therese of Lixieux–to foster a community united in faith and humility. Guided by St. Therese, we at J.I.M.S. Apparel CO. believe in relying on Christ with the trust and humility of a small child.

Core Tenets

* Hebrews 4:14 -16
  * Acknowledging Jesus as our constant support, our spotter in the gym of life
* 1 Corinthians 9: 24-27
  * Embracing humility and fighting against pride in all its forms
* Matthew 18:20
  * Fostering a community of faith that uplifts and encourages one another

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20).

Being a disciple is not easy. Living for the Greater Glory of God is not easy. Crossing the thresholds presented to us each day in order to seek our Jesus in our world is not easy. Our mission is to create minimalist, Catholic-inspired apparel that serves as a gentle reminder of Christs constant support.

Far too many brands seek to draw attention to us and away from the larger goal. We aim to spark meaningful conversations about faith, promote Catholic creators, and build the Christian community through the curiosity stoked in the logo and name. We aim to make being a disciple and spreading the gospel in spaces we already exist, just a bit easier. We strive to evangelize, inviting others to discover the strength found in complete dependence on Christ white combating pride and emphasizing service to others.
 
We acknowledge, and hold close, the truth that we as humans are both Sacred, made in God’s image, and Social, made for community.

Who is J.I.M.S. for?

​

* 1 Peter 3:3-4
  * Someone who wants the focus on the efforts to be on Christ, not their Looks.
* Matthew 5:15-16
  * Someone who wants to bridge the gap between Sunday and leg Day, bible study and run club.
* 1 Peter 5: 8
  * Someone who wants to sharpen themselves for the daily battles with pride and vanity.
* Matthew 18:20;28-19-20
  * Someone who loves the gym, physical fitness, their faith, and wants to build community.
 

What If I am Not Into Fitness or In That Space?
 

The call to being a disciple is not limited to any one space in particular. Though our journey was born from wanting a reminder that Christ was present in spaces where the music or conversation made him feel absent, discipleship is found wherever we decide to Cross the Threshold God provides.

Each day, we are called to live our lives with a reckless abandonment far too many forget–our lives are not our own.

As disciples, we are challenged. From the moment we wake up until we sleep, each step brings us closer to the edge of the next step we take in Fatih. It is only in trusting in God, knowing that he is our spotter outside of the gym as well, that we can begin to Cross the Threshold presented. This is not a one time decision.

Like the potter on the wheel, God continues to work with us, shaping us into the person He calls us to be–He continues to present situations and opportunities for us to exceed our limits and go beyond what we know and feel confident in, begging us to be confident in him.

Thus, Cross the Threshold is for our friends looking to be a disciple beyond the walls of the gym, pilates studio, or run club. Cross the Threshold is for us all. To remind us that when our fears, doubts, and anxieties plague us, God is there, spotting us, as we take the leap of faith to Cross the Threshold presented.