Walk on Water, Part I

Roxane is my spinning instructor at the Longwood/Lake Mary YMCA. Each Tuesday morning, she leads our Christian spin class into the Presence of God with Christian music, prayer, and carefully chosen Scripture passages. But, Roxane is also a godly wife, doting mother, and owner of Walk on Water, an upscale clothing boutique, offering fashionable clothing, handbags, shoes, and jewelry. Roxane carries a selection of Brighton, Vera Bradley, Pandora & Yellow Box Shoes at her lovely store. She generously gives to charity and proclaims Christ throughout her life, including her business.

I wish you could meet Roxane in person. You would love her! I'd like to introduce you to her right now. Let's learn from our dear sister in Christ. Roxane has wisdom for those wishing to start their own business and carefully balance the demands of family, home, and business.

Meredith: Roxane, why did you start Walk on Water?

Roxane: Through a long journey God directed us to this amazing opportunity to open a store that would glorify Him and help those in need. After seventeen years working with a family retail business, we were able to agree to sell that business to a national chain. I realized I was working for a paycheck and not for God's purposes. When Jesus came into my heart, I understood the priority of putting Him first, my husband second.

Through God's blessing, we were able to have our precious son after twelve years of marriage. I was able to take many Bible studies and grow in God's Word through this time. When my son entered the first grade, God started moving my heart to take a business affinity course that would teach me how to run a business using godly principles.

The location at Lake Mary Colonial Town Park was just undergoing construction and my husband and I prayed about the possibility of opening a business that would make a difference in our community and follow biblical principles. I knew I would not follow the world's principles of working all the time and would need a great assistant who would share my responsibilities. My previous assistant was available and interested in helping me. She had two children as well. We decided we could work and open a store without missing out on being there for our families. My husband made the final decision as I was concerned about the business being a success, starting a new concept, being able to keep my priorities in order, and how it would affect our family. We sought God's counsel through our pastors, a Christian counselor, and friends who were mentors to us. God clearly opened every door to open Walk on Water.

Meredith: Why did you choose the name, Walk on Water?

  Roxane: I knew when God first put the thought of Walk on Water on my heart that this was the name for the store. I also knew that we would be challenged because of the bathing suit store, Everything But Water and the thought in the consumer's mind that this was a bathing suit store. However, God directed me, so there was no doubt this was the name. 

"During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them walking on the water...'Lord, if it's you,' Peter replied, 'Tell me to come to you on the water,'" (Matthew 14:25,28 NIV).

When we take our eyes off Jesus, like Peter did, and focus on the difficult circumstances, it causes us to get under our problems. But when we cry out to Jesus, He catches by the hand and raises us above the seemingly impossible surroundings.

Peter started out with good intentions, but his faith faltered. When Peter, in fear, cried out to the Lord, the only one who could help him, the Lord pulled Peter out. It is such a lesson for all of us in every circumstance.

Meredith: What things are you careful to do in your business to honor the Lord?

Roxane: Walk on Water is dedicated to the Lord. There are Scriptures under the tile and carpet, a compass representing the Bible over the center of the store, and a dove on the East marker representing Christ's return. We have John 3:16 on the bottom of our receipt.

Our mission statement is "We are a Christian business focused on glorifying God through the store and helping those in need."

When someone asks me who owns the store, I always respond, "God owns the store, but He lets me run it."

We pray over the store and ask God's guidance with our outreach projects for the community and those in need.

Meredith: Tell me about your employees?

Roxane: My associates are amazing. They are blessings. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful team. My average associate works 20 hours and is hired because she has a kind heart, loves the Lord, love serving, and are working much more than a paycheck.

I have twenty-five of the most amazing ladies who work with me. I am so blessed as they represent what the store is about and serve our customers and build relationships. They understand the mission of the store and are focused on making a difference in the lives of those in our community.

Meredith: Thank you, Roxane. We'll finish up next time talking more about your associates, donating to charities, and challenges you face in running a business. Thank you so much.