The Heavenly Pizza™ Story

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan. In January 1981, when I was 19 years old, I gave my life to the Lord. I had worked in several pizza places during my teen years, and the atmosphere in those kitchens was very worldly. So, I dreamed of opening my own shop where I could provide a positive and uplifting work environment for my employees.

Later the same year, my best friend and I decided to realize my dream. We set off for Ohio to find a place where we could open shop. We had already purchased some equipment, but still needed more. When we took a wrong turn and ended up in Tiffin, Ohio, we drove past a closed pizza shop that had a for rent sign in the window. We called right away and arranged to look at it. It happened that the equipment that we still needed was already there. We knew God was working on our behalf, and an agreement to rent the building was reached immediately. We were ready to get started!

While working on getting the location ready to open, we met some kids playing outside our doors. We asked them their names, and the first one to answer told us his name was AJ. We had already decided that our business was going to be called AJ's Heavenly Pizza, and we again knew that God was very much in this endeavor. There are many, many more times when I knew God was showing Himself, and I knew this would become my ministry.

We opened for business on September 1, 1981, and it has been quite a journey. We have been greatly blessed with a thriving business. We have also been able to be a blessing to others, which was the plan all along. Giving back to the community is a big part of what we do, and we have made a difference in the lives of many employees we've had over the years. This has indeed been the ministry I intended it to be, and then some. As in all businesses, there were ups and downs, but I have put my faith in the Lord and let Him lead me through it all.

Our company, now known as Heavenly Pizza, continues with Josh and Keisha Elchert, my daughter, and son-in-law. They opened the Findlay Heavenly Pizza™ store in 2010 and are continuing to create a successful, faith-filled restaurant. They hope to continue to build and grow our ministry and legacy in years to come.

Blessings,
John