Today we’d like to introduce you to Erik And Ronda Bauer.
Hi Erik and Ronda, 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?
In 2021, Erik and I founded Heavenly Crust Pizza with a simple but powerful mission: to give back. From the very beginning, we committed to donating 50% of our profits to Christian charities and ministries. That vision started after a mission trip where Erik and I saw how businesses were being used as vehicles to raise money for ministry. He came home inspired to build something similar in our community. He focused over a year on testing out ideas before he sold his real estate business to get started on building Heavenly Crust Pizza. Together we stepped out in faith to start something that would serve others in a meaningful way.
When people ask me if I see myself as an entrepreneur, I usually laugh and say, “I do now.” That wasn’t always the case. My background was in accounting and recruiting—careers where my role was clear, my tasks were defined, and my focus was simply to do my part well. But running Heavenly Crust is different. We are responsible for everything: accounting, taxes, procurement, HR, payroll, training, ordering, and even all of our social media marketing. It has been such a shift from what I did before, but it’s also been a season of growth—learning to wear many hats and see the business from every angle.
Our mission has always been rooted in giving back. We operate to support Christian ministries both locally and abroad, giving over half of our profits away. The ministries we support are vetted through our church or through people we know personally. For example, one international ministry we give to—where my brother-in-law serves on the board—provides micro-loans to families so they don’t feel forced to give up their children for adoption. Keeping families intact is powerful kingdom work, and we’re grateful to play even a small part in it.
But our giving doesn’t stop at formal ministries. Serving our local community has become one of my favorite parts of this journey. We’ve handed out about 600 “Family Dinner on Us” cards through local churches, food banks, and even title companies. Those cards go to families who are struggling, families who are new to the neighborhood, or simply anyone who could use the gift of a meal. To me, it’s about dignity. It’s one thing to take home a can of food from a pantry—it’s another to sit down in a restaurant with your family and be served a hot meal. That experience matters, and we want to provide it.
In December 2022, we launched something called Pizza Santa, a program where anyone in the community could nominate someone to receive a free pizza. Throughout the month, we surprised people with these deliveries. It was such a joy to be part of those moments, seeing firsthand how something as simple as a pizza could lift someone’s spirits and remind them they’re not forgotten.
We’ve also been creative with outreach and marketing. One fun idea we do is the Name Game—we pick a random name for the day, and anyone with that name gets a free pizza. It sounds simple, but it brings so much joy to people. We also host Spirit Nights where we donate 20% of sales back to schools, hand out good behavior cards to kids through schools and dentists, and support local sports teams with coupons in their programs. These things aren’t just “marketing tactics”—they’re ways we can weave giving back into every part of our business.
Of course, being entrepreneurs hasn’t been without its struggles. Labor is one of the biggest challenges and cost we face.
Another challenge has been working side by side with Erik. We’re both type A, both used to leading, both with strong backgrounds in running projects and businesses. That can make for conflict when you’re co-owners who are also husband and wife. And when we started Heavenly Crust, our daughter was still in high school. She sometimes felt like the restaurant was our “other child”. Balancing family and business hasn’t always been easy, but we’re learning.
Over time, our mission has expanded beyond what we originally imagined. At first, it was just about giving 50% of profits to eight different ministries. But now, it’s more than that. We’ve started giving away books like The Treasure Principle by Randy Alcorn—we’ve handed out over 300 copies to customers who were curious about why we do what we do. We hope that those little seeds encourage people to think differently about generosity. And we’ve placed a strong emphasis on the individual experience in our store. When someone comes in, we want them to feel seen and welcomed. I’ve told our employees from day one: every guest should feel like they’re walking into a friend’s home. That means greeting them warmly, engaging in conversation, and even telling them goodbye when they leave.
We dreamed at one point of opening multiple stores. Right now, we’re at two. We actually have partial equipment for a third, but it’s sitting in storage until the economy stabilizes—or until God makes it clear that we’re supposed to move forward. When we started, Erik and I thought we’d be more hands-off by now—focusing on big-picture leadership while managers ran the day-to-day. We’re still in the kitchen making pizzas ourselves most days. It’s not the picture we first imagined, but it’s the reality we’re living, and we’re trusting God with the outcome.
Heavenly Crust Pizza is more than a restaurant to me. It’s our way of living out our faith in action. It’s our way of using the gifts God has given us to love others well. And while this journey has looked very different from what we expected, it has been more rewarding than we could have ever imagined.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
If I could give advice to a student or young professional considering social entrepreneurship, I’d say this: make sure you’re prepared. Have enough cash flow to get through the early days without a paycheck, and plan multiple revenue streams to keep things going long term. If you’re working for a social enterprise, know that you might not make the highest salary, but the impact you’ll have will be worth it. The benefit isn’t just in your paycheck—it’s in the good you’re doing for the world.
At the end of the day, success for us isn’t about wealth or fame. It’s about obedience. It’s about serving others in the way Jesus calls us to—feeding the hungry, supporting ministries, and showing generosity in everything we do. Some days are hard. Some days we wonder if we were really prepared for all of this. But every time I see a family share a meal, every time I hand someone a “Family Dinner on Us” card, every time I hear how a book we gave away touched someone’s heart—I know we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
We’re known for our Heavenly Crust — the best thin-crust pizza in all of DFW. We’ve also adapted our menu to meet the needs of our customers. For example, we added crustless “pizza bowls” for low-carb eaters, vegan cheese for those with dairy sensitivities, and cauliflower crust for gluten-free customers. We want everyone to feel like there’s something for them at Heavenly Crust.
What are your plans for the future?
Go where God leads. We are open and pray that we are, most of all, obedient.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.heavenlycrust.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heavenlycrustpizza?igsh=OTRkOWppZmJzNWNp
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HeavenlyCrustPizzaFM/
