Written by Although I’m not a huge fan of the monstrous pretzels that you can find in most shopping malls, I am a sucker for a compelling human interest story. It is even better if the story involves tragedy, betrayal, healing, redemption, and wild commercial success.
Buckle up, dear readers, because today’s post has something for everyone.
Auntie Anne’s Pretzels is arguably one of the world’s largest international food chains, with nearly 2,000 locations in more than 25 countries. Although the company’s success is admirable, what’s even more impressive is the story behind it.
It was birthed out of one couple’s personal grief and their commitment to help others heal from their trauma. Their story is less about pretzels and more about healing and redemption.
Their story has God’s fingerprints all over it.
The pretzel story begins with tragedy and trauma.
An Amish-Mennonite couple, Jonas and Anne Beiler, lost their 19-month-old daughter in an accident in 1975. Because neither one had a vocabulary for grief, they suffered in silence and eventually drifted apart.
When Anne’s pastor invited her to his office one day, she experienced a short reprieve from her pain as she poured out her heart to him. Unfortunately, the pastor took advantage of Anne’s vulnerability by psychologically and sexually abusing her. The ongoing torment of the abuse continued for years, causing her physical and emotional health to hit rock bottom: At ninety pounds, she was a shell of her former self.
Finally, Anne’s despair overrode her fear that Jonas would divorce her: She confessed what was happening to her husband, and they began the long and arduous journey of rebuilding their marriage.
The Power of Confession
Anne learned a priceless lesson about the power of confession in that process.
“When you begin to talk, you start to set yourself free. I believe that the principle of confession is really about being freed. My advice to anyone who is grieving or despairing is to find someone you can trust completely and talk until you’re done.”
Although the Beiler’s story could have finished here—a compound tragedy ending in a restored marriage—there is much more. As it happens so often in God’s economy, our battles and victories are used to benefit others.
This is precisely what happened with the Beilers.
Although Jonas was a mechanic by trade, he was determined to help other couples who were also struggling. In his spare time, he began to study psychology to understand what happened in his relationship with Anne.
Jonas then began offering free counseling services in his home and church so anyone could be helped, regardless of their ability to pay. Unfortunately, his passion for helping others didn’t pay the bills.
This is when Anne stepped in.
In 1988, she bought a stand at a local farmers market to help fund Jonas’ vision and pay the bills. As a teen, Anne became an experienced baker, making 60-70 pies from scratch each week for her parents to sell at the market. She used her expertise and skill to develop a winning pretzel recipe that sold itself.
People just lined up and bought pretzels.
That pattern continued: They never advertised during all their years of running the company.
Supernatural Success
Within their first year in business, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels opened two stores. By year two, they had grown to twelve stores; the following year, they grew to forty. Today, the franchise has almost 2,000 locations in more than twenty-five countries.
That’s not bad for a couple with no plan, formal education, or money.
Both left school after the eighth grade.
“For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” (Eph 5:8)
Although Anne and Jonas had no idea how to grow a business, they believed that God would use them as they learned.
“We believed that God had called us to be light and we brought our faith into the workplace.”
Oh, what a light, indeed!
Their success didn’t stop at business.
Funding A Dream
Anne recounts: “We were ecstatic to be able to give because we’d never been able to give much before.”
Freedom in Telling Your Story
Anne knew firsthand the power and freedom that result from shining light on the guilt and shame that thrives in darkness.
I love that she found a way to share that freedom with others.
…confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. (James 5:16)
I believe Jonas and Anne Beiler’s story has something for us all. God is speaking through it. What is He saying to you?
I encourage you, dear reader, to quiet yourself for a few minutes and ask God to speak to you personally.
- What part of this story stood out to you?
- What does He want you to hear in that story for yourself?
- Is there any aspect of the story that inspires you? What are you yearning for?
- Is there any part of the story that brings pain to the surface? Is He highlighting any aspect of your story that needs healing?
- What does God want you to do right now?
In conclusion, God is doing something in each of our stories, whether they are big like Anne and Jonas’ or seemingly more ordinary like mine. As we share our stories with others, we can impact someone else’s life, as the Beilers have affected us.
Who will you share your story with?
*Please reach out if you are inspired by the opportunity to be in a story group or need a safe person to unload a private burden. Mention this article to receive a 10% discount on a counseling package.