Today we’d like to introduce you to Lynde Griggs.
Hi Lynde, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m Lynde Griggs—wife to Shane, mom to two grown daughters, Haley and Shannon, dog mom to Brisket, follower of Jesus, and Executive Director of Belle & Sparrows. My passion for missions started years ago when I had the chance to serve alongside my daughters on trips during their middle and high school years. Being in those communities, meeting both physical and spiritual needs, lit a fire in me that I couldn’t ignore and was the spark God used for Belle and Sparrows. Honestly, if you had asked me when I was younger if this would be my life, I would’ve said no. But saying yes to where God was working has led me on a faith-stretching, beautiful journey I never could have imagined.
Belle & Sparrows grew out of a simple desire—to bring women together to serve and support other women, especially those who are often overlooked. It all started with two friends, Tiffany and me. We both came from ministry backgrounds, and we wanted to create a space where women could be encouraged, learn income-earning skills, and experience the love of Christ—while inviting others to join us in that mission.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Running a nonprofit is never without challenges. Economic shifts, fewer volunteers, staff transitions, and the pandemic all forced me to rethink how we serve women. Instead of trying to do everything, I focused on what has the greatest impact: growing the candle program locally and continuing our work in Guatemala. What felt like obstacles ended up being opportunities—strengthening our mission and allowing us to serve women in a more consistent, meaningful way.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Launching a candle line wasn’t part of the original plan. But during the pandemic, Belle & Sparrows Candles was born. What started as a pilot program has turned into something so meaningful—providing employment to women right here in McKinney who are rebuilding their lives. Each candle represents more than just a product—it’s dignity restored, confidence built, and hope renewed.
At Belle & Sparrows, we call what we do the “ministry of presence.” It’s about sitting shoulder to shoulder with women, listening, encouraging, and walking with them through life’s challenges. At the heart of our work is showing up consistently, investing deeply, and building relationships that last.
Day to day, that looks like making and selling candles, fundraising, raising awareness about the needs of women in our community, and preparing for our annual trip to Guatemala. Each year we bring teams, provide medical care, teach income-earning skills, and most importantly, simply show up to love and support the women there. Whether it’s through the candle program in McKinney or serving women abroad, being intentional with each woman and truly seeing her is central to everything we do. Our hope is not only to provide skills and resources but to help every woman recognize her worth, see her potential, and believe she is capable of building a better future for herself and her family.
What does success mean to you?
Success isn’t about numbers. Yes, Belle & Sparrows has taken hundreds of women on trips, served thousands of women in four countries, with 18 ministry partnerships. And yes, our candle program has grown from just four scents to eight core scents, a seasonal line, a men’s collection, and now a vintage line. Over the past 5½ years, those candles have provided supplemental employment for seven women, with a new team member joining this month, and more than 12,000 candles have been sold through our website, pop-ups, retail shops, and company collaborations. Those numbers tell part of the story—but they’re not the whole story.
For me, real success is about presence. It’s about sitting shoulder to shoulder with another woman, listening, encouraging, and helping her see that she is capable and worthy of creating a better future. Whether that’s a woman here in McKinney pouring candles, or a woman in Guatemala learning a new skill, the true measure of success is in the relationships built and the lives transformed.
Readers can continue the mission and be part of this impact at belleandsparrows.org
Contact Info:
- Website: www.belleandsparrows.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belleandsparrows/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/belleandsparrows
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/belle-and-sparrows
