Today I am sharing my interview with Christie. Christie is a dear friend and we both went through the same Discipleship Training School a few years ago. We also had the opportunity to be on the same missions trip team to India. Christie is one of the most joyful people I have ever known. She also has one of the greatest and most contagious laughs on the planet. Its hard to be grumpy when Christie is around!
I am honoring Christie as an Everyday Hero today because of her efforts to end human trafficking one cupcake at a time!
Charity: Hi Christie!
Christie: Hi Charity, its so fun to hear your voice.
Charity: Great to hear your voice, I miss you! Thanks for agreeing to be interviewed for the blog today.
Christie: Thanks for having me.
Charity: Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Christie: I am originally from Dallas, TX. I went to grad school at Baylor University in Waco, TX. God rocked my world there and He said to move to College Station, TX to be a part of a church that had been newly planted there. College Station is where I currently live and work. I am a Speech Language Pathologist. I provide speech therapy for children and I really love getting to work with them. I make cupcakes on the side because in Texas you can sell baked goods out of your house.
Charity: I am so glad for that law, it would be a sad place without your delicious cupcakes! What are some things you like to do for fun besides baking cupcakes?
Christie: Anything outside, playing on the river, looking at stars, playing the guitar, painting, hosting friends over and playing with kids.
Charity: I think there’s something else you may be “forgetting” to tell our readers you enjoy – like maybe pulling pranks??? I seem to remember a few times I found some pink flamingos and other paraphernalia in my yard and on my car!
Christie: Well… unofficially, off the record, I might enjoy that.
Charity: Ha, ha…well, unofficially… off the record… I enjoyed your pranking, there was never a dull moment at our house with you living one street away! Can you tell me a little more about how your business Cupcakes by Christie got started?
Christie: Well, I didn’t really plan on starting a side business, but I needed to raise money for a missions trip and that is how the idea came about. I made a few flyers and sent them out to friends and asked them to pass it along. The fundraiser did very well which really surprised me! I realized this could be a side business.
Charity: What made you officially decide to start a business?
Christie: I needed to pay off my college loans, and I realized this was a way to help punch away at that. Now I am set at having those paid off next July.
Charity: Girl that is exciting!!!! Congratulations! Can you share with us why you have decided to donate a portion of your profits to help end human trafficking?
Christie: I wasn’t aware of human trafficking when I started the business. At the time I was being discipled (mentored) by a woman who was really involved in ending human trafficking and I learned about it from her. I was able to attend some prayer meetings about human trafficking. I also watched a documentary called Nefarious: Merchant of Souls and my eyes were really opened to what was going on. My heart broke for what was happening! One reason I feel so stirred by this is because it is related to my own story. I have always felt passionate about justice for children.
When I heard these statistics, I knew I had to do something:
– There are over 27 million slaves.
– 99% never get found.
– 11-13 years old is the average age of girls who get trafficked.
– Human trafficking is the largest growing criminal industry.
– The average life span of a child is 7 years once they are trafficked, because of the abuse, malnutrition, neglect and lack of medical care.
– 32 billion dollars is made yearly through the human trafficking industry.
Charity: Those statistics are sobering. Can you share what part you have felt led to play in ending human trafficking?
Christie: I decided to give 10% of my profits to an organization, Traffic 911 that is fighting human trafficking. I also include this information on my business emails and my website to make people more aware of human trafficking because there are so many people who are simply unaware of what is going on. Tragically, human trafficking is happening everywhere across the U.S. and around the world. Pornography is also directly related to sex trafficking and is a huge driver for the sex trafficking industry.
What I’m doing is small, but I wanted to do something to help. Raising awareness and giving a portion of my profits seems so small compared to a huge problem. However, it is something that I can do to help that aligns with my giftings and with where I live and work right now.
Charity: That is one of the reasons I wanted to interview you, because you simply asked the question: Jesus, how can I help? And you were obedient to what He said to do. I know on the surface it looks like a small thing, but I know that the impact of the money and awareness you have raised is making a difference beyond what we can imagine!
I think it can be so easy to feel overwhelmed by huge problems like human trafficking . The enormity of the issue seems so defeating that we just assume “ I can’t do anything about it.” We never ask the question “Jesus what can I do?” because we are either afraid of the answer or we don’t see how it fits into our current vocation or lifestyle.
How does running “Cupcakes by Christie” fit into the calling on your life?
Christie: There was no “aaahh haaa I am doing this for the rest of my life” moment – but it was something that relates to things I enjoy like cooking and hosting people. My gifting, talents, and passions are all things God has put inside me. I have realized that God’s heart doesn’t change regardless of your vocation, location and season of life.
Charity: That is so true! What are some of the challenges you have faced starting a small business?
Christie: I am not really administrative, which can be a problem when you are figuring out how much your cost and profit are and finding all the details of the laws.
Charity: Has there been anything that has helped you navigate learning how to manage the administrative aspects of your business?
Christie: When I started my business my roommate at the time was a math major. She helped me break up recipes and calculate my costs. My sister would help edit my cupcake update emails.
Charity: I loved how you utilized the community around you to help. What is your favorite part about running “Cupcakes by Christie?”
Christie: I would say the creative side of it, changing the flavors and decorating the cupcakes. Also seeing people getting really excited about them, hearing feedback and surprising people with cupcakes brings me a lot of joy.
Charity: I have been the recipient of some of those surprise cupcakes! Ohhhhhh they are so good. I wish you could mail them, I would definitely be ordering the pumpkin spice latte flavor you have right now. Speaking of flavors, what are your best selling flavors?
Christie: Anything with Chocolate, Berry Chantilly, and seasonal flavors like ginger spice latte and pumpkin spice latte.
Charity: How do you come up with your cupcake recipes?
Christie: I will take recipes that others have used and tweak and combine them. I always double the amount of suggested vanilla extract.
Charity: Ohhh! That’s a great trick! Any other cupcake secrets you can share with us?
Christie: To make your cake moist you can either add ½ cup extra of vegetable oil, sour cream or a box of pudding mix (dry). I also brush the pumpkin spice and chocolate cupcakes with coffee.
Charity: Ahhh haaa! That’s why I like your cupcakes so much…the coffee!!!!!! If people would like to learn more about your business and how to become involved with helping to end human trafficking how can they do that?
How YOU Can HELP!
Sign the Petition: Your No is Her Hope
Send Postcards to help: STOP CHILD PORN on FACEBOOK 
Additonal Human Trafficking Information:
Contact Christie:
Website: www.cupcakesbychristie.com
Email: showmethecupcakes@gmail.com
That’s so awesome!! So encouraging to see The Lord using this awesome woman of God in such unique ways!!!
I agree Catha, Christie’s life is a huge encouragement!
Fantastic!!