(First time here? Please read this.)

Let me say this first:

This is long.

But it matters.

Because if we’re gonna build a brand that’s truly different — one rooted in truth, conviction, and Christ — then I have to lay it all on the table.

No curated bio. No filtered version.

This is the truth — of how Thorn & Grace began, what we’re doing, and where we’re going.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’”

— 2 Corinthians 12:8–9

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…”

— Romans 12:2

“But now, this is what the Lord says:

‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by name; you are Mine.’”

— Isaiah 43:1

“Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”

— Psalm 127:1

“Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.”

— James 5:16

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”

— Matthew 6:33

I didn’t grow up with biblical truth.

I didn’t have a man of God teaching me how to lead or what surrender looked like.

I came from a quiet kind of broken family. There was love — but there were also wounds.

Pain got ignored. Emotions got buried.

I learned how to survive, but I never learned how to heal.

Later the world gave it names: trauma, inner child, anxiety.

And I believe those are real.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

You can chase all the healing in the world — but if Jesus isn’t at the center, it’ll never be enough.

I say that because I lived it.

From the outside, I looked like I was doing fine.

Wife. Kids. Job. A life that looked built.

But inside, I was collapsing.

Restless. Angry. Bitter.

Trying to control everything. Trying to be enough. And still coming up empty.

I didn’t get the whole “Jesus is Lord” thing.

I thought biblical marriage roles were outdated. Controlling. Dumb.

Submission? Headship? No thanks.

But then I hit the wall — the end of myself — and finally surrendered.

And that’s when I realized:

God’s order isn’t a trap. It’s freedom.

My wife submits to me not because I’m above her — but because I’m submitted to Christ.

And when Christ is truly Lord over your life, you don’t carry the weight anymore.

You just obey.

And everything — marriage, family, career, identity — starts bearing fruit.

I didn’t launch a clothing brand.

I surrendered to a calling.

The thorns are what broke me, and Jesus bore. Our sin.

The grace is what rebuilt me.

And that’s what we wear now — not just on fabric, but as identity.

Thorn & Grace isn’t about hype.

It’s not church merch.

It’s not a trend.

This is spiritual warfare disguised as streetwear.

We use premium materials — because the Gospel deserves excellence.

We design with conviction — because silence never saved anyone.

We put bold truth on garments — because we’re tired of compromise being cool.

Let’s be real. There’s backlash.

People say Christian brands are slapping crosses on shirts to make money.

That putting a verse on a hoodie is just a gimmick.

Here’s my response:

We’re not “selling Jesus.”

We’re saying He doesn’t belong in the corner anymore.

Why is Christ missing from every area of culture?

Fashion. Film. Music. Sports. Design.

We consume the world every day —

yet the world says it’s “too much” when we bring Christ to the center?

Meanwhile, people are selling trauma, sexuality, ego, and sin with no shame —

and that’s considered “authentic”?

I’m done with that.

This isn’t a cross-for-clout brand.

It’s a Christ-first movement.

We’re not monetizing Jesus.

We’re magnifying Him.

The production still costs money.

The labor is real.

The quality is high.

But the center of all of it?

Is Christ.

If that makes us unpopular — so be it.

I will not build a brand where Jesus is boxed out.

This is not a fanbase.

It’s a family.

We call it The Collective because that’s what saved me — a group of people who let me show up real.

I confessed things I’d never said out loud.

Laid my junk on the table.

And they didn’t flinch.

They reminded me:

Every part of my past —

every skeleton, every shameful thought, every sin —

had already been paid for by Jesus.

That’s why this community exists.

To be a place where you can stop pretending.

Where grace isn’t a buzzword — it’s the lifeline.

Where true growth comes when nothing is hidden anymore.

If you’re tired of fake Christian culture…

If you’re scared your past disqualifies you…

If you’ve been hurt by religion or church…

Let me say this clearly:

I’ve been there.

And you belong here.

We’re not just building a clothing brand.

We’re building a Kingdom media house and a digital discipleship ecosystem:

🎙️ Podcasts — for men, for women, for parents, for new believers

🎥 YouTube — chapter-by-chapter Bible shows, raw conversations, creative storytelling

🧒 Safe kids’ content — so your children can watch YouTube with confidence, knowing every video reflects biblical truth

And even more than that…

We’re building The Collective into a church outside the walls.

A judgment-free space for the spiritually serious.

A home base for those who want real discipleship, not performance.

A place to submit prayer requests, walk through devotionals, join virtual Bible study…

…and maybe one day soon?

Small groups.

In cities across the country.

So you never have to walk this out alone.

We want your input.

We want your voice.

We want to build this with you.

I’m not a pastor.

I’m not famous.

I’m not perfect.

I’m just a man who hit rock bottom…

and found that grace was already there waiting.

Now my entire life — my marriage, my family, my company — belongs to Jesus.

That’s what this brand is.

That’s what The Collective is.

That’s what you’re now a part of.

Let’s build something holy.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness,

and all these things will be added to you.”

— Matthew 6:33

—

Zac Pierce

Founder, Thorn & Grace

We’re building a Kingdom community for people who are set apart.

You’re invited.

• Join the email list
• Submit prayer requests
• Help us build media & small groups
• Walk this out with us

And if you feel led — comment and interact with us on socials.

Tell us if you love our stuff.

Tell us if you hate it.

Tell us what you’d do differently.

Anything on the site that inspires you? Tell us.

Something feels off? Let us know.

This isn’t just a brand. It’s an ecosystem — built for us, by us.

We’re open.

We’re listening.

And we’re building it together.