Women Who Inspire: Doretta Ellsworth, Owner & Founder of Wear the Promise

So many women have a dream or an idea for a business that could fulfill a need and answer a call, but not all are brave enough to put their dreams into action. Doretta Ellsworth wanted to share the gospel, but her introverted personality often limited her ability to connect with people to discuss her faith. The Lord literally gave Doretta a design for a t-shirt in a dream that would help her to witness to others. And this was the beginning of a journey into business that is founded in faith and led by the Lord.

Stephanie Kelley: Please introduce yourself to our readers.

Doretta Ellsworth: Hi, I’m Doretta (pronounced Dorita), born & raised in sunny Los Angeles, CA. I have over 20 years of Customer Service experience having served in roles as Customer Service Associate, District Coordinator of Sales, Operations Manager and National Account Manager. After “retiring” from the world of Corporate, I am currently a Customer Service Rep for a chemical manufacturing company. I found my passion and calling when I started my business, Wear the Promise which is founded on and guided by the word of God!

I was practically raised in a Baptist church. Bible study on Wednesday nights, senior choir rehearsal with my mother on Thurs. nights, youth usher and choir rehearsal for me on Saturdays, and church nearly all day on Sunday’s; starting with Sunday School, followed by morning service. Go home, eat, go back for afternoon service. Sometimes even night service if there was a revival going on (and there was nearly always a revival going on somewhere at someone’s church…lol). Once I became of age and had the freedom to choose, I chose not to go to church anymore. I figured I had had enough of church for a life time. I’ve always believed in God, but I stopped serving Him and thought I could live life my way. I had been away from God for many years, when one day, I just had the feeling that I needed him. I needed a church home. In either 2013 or 2014, Joel Osteen hosted a Night of Hope at the Staples Center here in LA and I knew I had to be there. It was an amazing night and I truly believe God used that night to call me back to him. It was my intent to visit the local churches of all the sponsoring Pastors of that night until I found the home for me. When Sunday rolled around, I set off on my first mission, Operation Find a Church. I went to the Sanctuary in the OC and fell in love! I never made it to any other church, I found God there and fell in love with Him and his word. When I transitioned to the LA campus, I began to serve and dive deeper in the word, getting to know him more and more and it just became this life changing transformation. I could look back over my life and see God’s hand at work. Even though I left him, I could see that he never left me.

People talk about the storms of life; I’ve literally been in a storm so bad, it resulted in the flooding of my vehicle. At some point, I realized I no longer had control of my car and I was just floating, moving where ever the water wanted to take me. Even in the midst of that chaos and uncertainty, seeing lightning flash before me, I was definitely afraid, BUT, I had this overwhelming peace about the whole situation. A peace that could only come from the Father himself. As his word says, my peace I give to you (John 14:27), and somehow, I knew I would be OK. I knew, my story would not end that night. This was around Oct. or Nov. 2003. Los Angeles, had not experience such a storm in nearly or more than 50yrs and we haven’t seen one like that since. That night, I saw the hand of God at work and he had never been more real to me.

SK: When did you first become interested in creating a line of Christian merch?

DE: I have always excelled in every position I’ve held in my career which made me want to own and operate my own business. My husband (who wasn’t my husband at the time) and I started a party rental business in the late 90’s, my cousins and I were independent consultants/contractors for a business that specialized in at home adult pleasure parties and sold the products that came with that business (this was totally before I was born again in Christ!). Also, for a short time, a long-term friend and I started a drop shipping business. None of those things worked out and when I asked God why, he very clearly said, because I called you, not them. My business is founded on 2 scriptures that I believe God gave me as operating principles. One, Luke 1:45: Blessed is she who believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her and two, Matthew 28:19: Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit; the Great Commission. I’m pretty introverted so it’s not always easy for me to talk to and engage with people. So, when I asked God, how can I obey the word to go and spread the news of Jesus Christ, he literally showed me my first design in a dream. I didn’t have to speak the word; I could wear the word and allow my faith-inspired tees to start the conversation for me! I had that dream in 2019 and officially launched my business in 2020.

SK: How did the Lord prepare you for going into this type of business?

DE: Excellent question. I no longer believe in coincidences. I believe everything I’ve done and encountered has prepared me to run my business. God uses everything for his glory. Again, I’ve started a few businesses prior to this one, but I knew in order for this one to work and in order to build a foundation for longevity, I had to connect with professionals that could help guide me. I have an amazing business coach and I am a part of a network of like-minded women entrepreneurs who inspire, motivate, encourage and speak the truth in love when needed. We share resources, best practices and any information that will help us grow and develop personally and professionally; all is encouraged and shared in our group. God has blessed us all with different gifts and talents and has allowed us to work together in cohesion. No crabs in a barrel mentality. We believe when one of us wins, we all win! It is very important to me to work with people who are also on assignment and walking in their God given purpose. Spiritually, I literally have to take every decision I make in my business to the throne. I’m constantly reminded that I cannot do any of this without the grace and wisdom of God.

SK: How do you come-up with the ideas for your designs? Can you describe your creative process?

DE: My business coach always tells us, there is nothing new under the sun. However, we have to take what has already been done and put our spin on it because the world is waiting for what we have to offer. My first design God literally gave me in a dream. When I woke up, I sketched it out. It was a cross, with slips of paper nailed to it. A word on each slip. Anxiety, depression, fear, doubt, addiction, disease. I saw it all on the cross. As Jesus got up, that stuff stayed there. He suffered, so I wouldn’t have to! In 2020, when the pandemic shut the world down, this was the first design I released. A vision that God gave me in a dream in 2019. So, I sketch what I see in my dreams. I sketch what I see when I’m in Bible study, listening to worship music or in casual conversation. I’ll get the thought that, oh, that would probably make a good shirt and I go from there. I sketch it out and my graphics guy & I go back & forth until what I saw in my head becomes real. Lately, I’ve been learning to design my own graphics as well. Just a way to maintain creativity from beginning to end.

SK: How have you seen the Lord use your graphic statement t-shirts in others’ lives and for His glory?

DE: I have people who don’t attend any church services (online or in-person) regularly but do believe in God. They don’t necessarily want to go out and talk about their faith, but by wearing one of my designs, they are able to express and acknowledge their faith in a manner that is comfortable for them. I’ve had someone tell me that when she’s unable talk about her faith and God in certain settings, just wearing her t-shirts so others know and can see that she is a Christ follower means a lot to her. That’s pretty much how I developed the tagline, when you can’t speak the word, wear the word!

SK: What was the biggest challenge you faced when deciding to start your own business?

DE: Getting over the fear of how I would be perceived. Again, I’ve always known God, but I haven’t always walked with Him. And although I’ve never just been out in the world wild and crazy and carefree (I’ve never been a real party animal; the club wasn’t my scene and I’ve never done drugs). Drinking was my thing. I loved a good martini and a cocktail or two. So, it was scary and challenging for me to actually step out in faith as this new creation in Christ and say, OK Lord, I trust you. I’ve asked how I can do my part and share you with others, you’ve answered and now it’s on me to walk it out. In addition, I no longer have business partners to bounce ideas off. Everything I do and think needs to be ran by God and I have to wait for the Spirit to move and lead. If it doesn’t feel right, I don’t do it.

SK: What has surprised you the most about the graphic t-shirt industry?

DE: Literally, how large it is! I had no idea that more than 2 billion t-shirts are sold each year! I had no idea that manufacturers charge different prices based on the color of a shirt or the size of the shirt! Also, just the different techniques used to create the final product, it’s all so mind-blowing. At home craft and cutting machines has made it easy for crafters to start small businesses and that’s just the tip of things. Right now, I’m learning to screen print some designs which is applying special ink to the fabric to make the design last longer than if it were pressed with vinyl. I am still very new to this and in the learning stages and just soaking up as much knowledge as possible to find ways to work smarter and not harder.

SK: How do you see your business expanding in the next few years?

DE: Right now, all of my shirts are for adults. But I do take custom requests and will create for a child if asked. I do have plans to expand to a children’s line in the near future, which for now I’m calling the Legacy Line and also want to put out “faithletics.” An active wear line with scripture printed on the pieces. In addition, I want to expand to scripture cards, sort of like a regular deck of playing cards, but with scripture printed instead, and of course journals and notebooks. Being able to write the word and be creative in my journals as I go through Bible study has really helped me retain so much more of the word.

SK: How can our readers get in touch with you?

DE: I can be reached through contact forms on my website, www.wearthepromise.com, as well as via email at support@wearthepromise.com and across social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest at @wearthepromise. I’m typically able to read and respond to all messages if not the same day, the next day from receipt.

I have really enjoyed getting to know Doretta Ellsworth and am excited to see where the Lord leads this woman of God next. If you’re looking for a way to share your faith and start conversations about the Lord, consider purchasing some of these high quality products from Doretta!