Flip-flops made for Christian walk

Shannon Hayes is no prude, but when she saw the young teens at the beach acting out, one thought went through her head:

"If they had a few Scriptures to help lead them, maybe they wouldn't act that way."

On that day, a seed was planted in Hayes' mind, something she couldn't shake.

Beach flip-flops imprinted with Scriptures!

"We hear so much about Christians walking the walk," she says. "So if you had a little reminder on your shoes, that could be a gentle nudge to stay in the word."

Launching such an enterprise takes time and money. Hayes, a veteran teacher of 23 years, didn't have much of either. Keeping up with her gifted classes at Ballast Point Elementary School is a full-time commitment. And dipping into savings would be a sacrifice.

But her husband, Butch, an account executive for Southern Wine and Spirits, supported her entrepreneurial spirit. Go for it, he encouraged her. The investment would eventually cost the couple nearly $50,000.

"I know what a divine calling is now," Shannon Hayes. "I know that sounds kinda weird, but I really do feel that God told me to do this. And I see that every time I'm worried or stressed out about something, he points me in a new direction and it all works out. So I know it was the right thing to do."

In October, Hayes introduced her line of Walk the Walk flip-flops. She chose five Scriptures relating to the Christian walk and five colors. She sells them for $20 (shipping extra) on her website - www.walkthewalkflipflops .com - and recently got her first retail location at Inspired Christian Gifts, 4017 Henderson Blvd. in South Tampa.

Though she spends her days teaching others, Hayes learned a few lessons of her own from the experience.

"Nothing goes as fast as you want it to go," she says. "I really was clueless about the business end of things. It's been a real work in progress. Just getting the word out can be a challenge."

Getting the flip-flops into a local store was the first breakthrough. Gail Lykes, who opened the boutique in the spring, specializes in unusual religious-themed gifts and jewelry crafted by local or national artists.

"Shannon's flip-flops fit what we're trying to do here," Lykes says. "They're cute, fun and different - something you won't find in a chain store. And since we live in Florida, this is a real natural for us to stock."

The flip-flops come in their own reusable burlap bag. "It's our contribution to going green," Hayes says. Eventually, she may design fancier footwear with decorations such as beads; but for now, she's keeping them simple with a design of the iconic Christian fish and the Scripture passage divided between the left and right sandals.

Hayes knows that a pair of flip-flips, no matter how faith-inspired they may be, can't change a person's life. But she does believe the symbolism of her product can get the wearers to think more about their Christian walk.

"As Christians, my belief is that the word (the Bible) is our road map for life," she says. "It's supposed to put us in the right direction. The flip-flips come with a subtle message to keep on track and keep God first. In this day and age, anything helps."

FOR INFORMATION

For information about Walk the Walk flip-flops, go to the website or call (813) 777-2622. Inspired Christian Gifts is on summer break and will reopen in August.