Courageous decisions, surrender, and service to others.
These are what drive Adrie Groeneweg, Founder and President of Pizza Ranch, as he leads a brand that positively impacts people while staying true to Christ-centered values. For faith-driven business leaders seeking inspiration and practical advice, Adrie’s story is an incredible testament to the power and impact of integrating faith into a business.
Grove9 Founder + Chief Brand Strategist Justin Eklund shares from his book, Brand for Impact, highlighting part of the conversation with Adrie.
Justin: What events in your life inspired you to be a purpose-driven leader?
Adrie: Two primary events. Although I grew up in a Christian home, I didn’t really surrender my life to Christ until age thirty-two at a Promise Keepers event. Before that time, I was living a life that didn’t really have any meaning or direction. It was all about money for me, personally and professionally.
Second, around that same time, I had a partner that got into trouble and went to jail for ten years. At Pizza Ranch, we had one hundred stores at that time. I knew something had to change. I went on a retreat and came up with our vision statement: “To glorify God by positively impacting the world.” I didn’t know how it was going to work, but I knew [we] had no other choice but to give this business to God and depend on Him completely.
Justin: How does your purpose and/or faith show up in your company’s brand, marketing, and/or messaging?
Adrie: When we are interviewing potential team members, we have a process called Discovery Days. We let people know we’re a Christian company, but you don’t have to be a Christian to be a part of our company. You don’t have to believe what we believe, but we want them to understand what we believe. Our mission and vision are prominent on our website, on the wall in many of our restaurants, and many [locations] play Christian music.
Justin: Why do you think more business leaders choose not to incorporate their faith into their brand?
Adrie: Fear is number one. Many people believe faith and business don’t mix. They don’t want to offend people. In my experience, people want to know that a company believes in something and that they can trust them.
Justin: Is there anything else you would like to share regarding how a business can make the greatest impact?
Adrie: Follow God’s leading and be rooted in prayer. We think about the Joshua 17 passage in the Bible. How can we keep our arms up like Aaron and Moses? It happens behind the scenes.
Every Friday, we have a leadership prayer and accountability meeting. We see this as our way of holding up our hands for the organization, seeking God’s direction and provision as we work to “Glorify God by positively impacting the whole world.”
Justin: What is the book you’ve given most as a gift, and why? Or, what is a book that has greatly influenced your professional life?
Adrie: A Light Shines Bright in Babylon by Buck Jacobs and From Good to Great by Jim Collins.
Leadership rooted in faith is not always easy, but it is always worth it. Like Adrie’s story, living and leading by your Christian values can bring clarity, purpose, and profound impact to your life and those around you. It takes courage to step forward and lead boldly with faith, especially in environments where it may feel uncommon. But as Adrie described, when you surrender your work and your leadership to God and trust His guidance, the results can be rewarding and impactful.
