Lisa Wilcox walks through her welcoming kitchen and opens her stainless steel refrigerator to shelves packed with bricks of butter, gleaming in their golden wrappers, stacked four and five high. Dozens of egg cartons squeeze into any available nook, and there are more cartons of milk than you would imagine she and her husband, Brian, would drink in a week. This fridge belongs to someone who is constantly baking, turning these raw ingredients into something that goes far beyond just yummy cookies. This refrigerator belongs to the founder of Faithful Cookie Co.
When Lisa first rolled up her sleeves andstarted baking cookies, she wasn’t looking to start a business and had no idea she would be selling her cookies in farmers markets across Lebanon and surrounding areas. It was a small, heartfelt gesture — a way to give back to her own doctors and nurses who cared for her following her breast cancer diagnosis in February of 2021.
At the time, she felt called by God to bake for her medical team while also taking the time to share the gospel and give them Bibles.
But as it often does, love grew into something bigger. The cookie baking that began as a labor of kindness soon blossomed into Faithful Cookie Co., a unique business on a mission to bring comfort and hope to those who need it most. Lisa recalled the early days of her journey when she felt a strong desire to uplift the spirits of both cancer patients and the medical teams supporting them.
“The goal was never to have a business,” she said with a warm smile. “It was always to show love to these doctors and nurses. It was a natural progression. One step, one prayer, one cookie at a time.”
What might seem like a humble beginning — a batch of cookies, carefully made and wrapped with love and a Bible verse on the packaging — would soon become the foundation of a much larger purpose. Faithful Cookie Co. may sell cookies, but Lisa’s vision goes far beyond simple treats.
“God gave me an idea to have a small business,” Lisa said, “but it was to impress on people’s hearts how much He loves them.”
And impress she did — starting with a warm batch of cookies, and now, a growing legacy. From day one, Lisa saw each batch of cookies as a small but powerful way to spread joy and faith. Her deep religious convictions inspired her to create a business grounded in her beliefs, even before she realized she was building one.
“We just kept baking,” Lisa shared. “For every batch, we prayed that God would use this simple thing — a cookie — to reach people in ways we couldn’t on our own.”
Lisa started experimenting with recipes, carefully crafting each one to bring something unique.
“Each cookie had to feel special,” she explained. “Like it was meant just for that person.”
Whether it was the creamy richness of the lemon pie cookie or the sweet and tart taste of the caramel apple cookie, she poured her love and faith into every detail. The cookies were a hit, and soon, her small act of kindness started to catch on. Friends and family encouraged Lisa to think bigger, and with a gentle push, she decided to step out of her comfort zone.
“It wasn’t easy,” Lisa admitted. “I thought, ‘Who am I to start a business?’ But I felt God saying, ‘Now, take this to the public.’”
With the name “Faithful Cookie Co.” clear in her heart, Lisa set out to create a business that could serve her community while honoring her faith. Faithful, she explained, represents three things: “Faithful first to the Lord, faithful to the first responders and the medical community, and faithful to others.”
Her cookies soon became available for order online, as well as at local markets and select stores in the area. Farmers markets, community fairs, and even church events opened doors to share her mission more widely. Today, Faithful Cookie Co. is growing, and proceeds from every sale go back into serving cancer patients, providing them with small comforts like gas and grocery cards to help ease the burden.
Earlier this year, Lisa entered her lemon pie cookie — a personal favorite of hers and many — into the Taste of Donelson competition, a local culinary event featuring dozens of restaurants and food artisans. It was a leap of faith, but one that paid off.
“I couldn’t believe it when they announced we’d won,” Lisa says. “It was a judge’s favorite. She said it had the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.”
Lisa remembers the moment vividly.
“The judge was a professional pastry chef, so to have her say that my cookie was outstanding — it was just surreal,” she recalled. “I said, ‘This lemon cookie has always been my favorite, and to have someone else feel the same way? That felt like validation for all the love we put into this.’”
Winning the competition was a high point for Faithful Cookie Co., but Lisa remained humble, seeing it as another chance to shine a light on her true mission.
“This is the Lord’s award, really,” she said. “We’re just executing through some of this stuff for Him, and every little bit of recognition is a way to share our faith and our purpose.”
As Faithful Cookie Co. officially took off last fall, Lisa found herself juggling more responsibilities. She knew she would be baking for more than her own hospital staff. That’s when Debbie, a friend from Bible study, offered to help.
“I love to bake, and I felt like the Lord was telling me, ‘You could help Lisa,’” Debbie shared with a smile.
She quickly became Lisa’s right hand, and the two developed a rhythm, baking together several days a week.
Debbie laughed as she described her introduction to Faithful Cookie Co.: “I told Lisa, ‘If you ever need help baking, I’d love to help,’ and she took me up on it right away!”
Since then, Debbie has been an integral part of the business, sharing in both the baking and the mission. Lisa is grateful for Debbie’s support, acknowledging that Faithful Cookie Co. has become a shared journey of faith and friendship.
“We’ve become closer than friends,” Lisa said, smiling. “We’re a team — working together, praying together, baking together. It’s humbling to have someone by your side who believes in the mission as much as you do.”
True to its mission, Faithful Cookie Co. gives back every chance it gets. For Lisa and Debbie, the business isn’t just about making sales — it’s about supporting cancer patients in tangible ways.
“We’re not in this for the money,” Lisa explained. “If we could make a small profit for our future, that would be wonderful. But for now, our focus is on giving back, and that’s what keeps us going.”
The work is demanding, but Lisa and Debbie find energy in their purpose. Every week, they bake, package, and pray over hundreds of cookies, trusting that each one will find its way to someone who needs a reminder of love and faith. Each cookie comes packaged with a Bible verse chosen each week by Lisa.
Looking ahead, Lisa envisions expanding Faithful Cookie Co. to reach even more people while staying grounded in its mission.
“We’re constantly praying, daily, ‘God, this is your business. Show us what you want us to do,’” she said. “We believe every cookie is an opportunity to show God’s love.”
For Lisa and Debbie, Faithful Cookie Co. is far more than a bakery — it’s a ministry.
“This business isn’t about us,” Lisa said. “It’s about faith. Faithful to the Lord, faithful to each other, and faithful to everyone we meet.”
As Faithful Cookie Co. continues to grow, Lisa remains dedicated to spreading hope, one cookie at a time. And in every bite, you’ll taste the ingredients that matter most: love, faith, and a sprinkle of something divine. GN
