Here comes Santa Claus: Arizona family spreads Christmas cheer

Luis and Teandra Knapp have always prayed for a unique business opportunity that could involve the entire family.

They never expected that dream to include Santa Claus and his elves.

“Last year, this thought just popped into my mind about having our family dress up as Santa, Mrs. Claus, and the elves, and about how awesome it would be to spread Christmas cheer and love to people who may not necessarily have it around this time of year,” Luis Knapp said.

The Arizona residents, who both take classes through Liberty University’s online programs, felt a strong call to become more involved in their community.

“We just wanted to get out there and bless some kids,” Luis Knapp said. “We weren’t looking at it as a business model.”

Completely reliant on God — and with a little help from social media — the family received an expensive Santa Claus costume as a donation from a woman they had never met beforehand. It was the first step in their exciting journey.

“When we received the suit, we were in disbelief really,” Luis Knapp said. “We were so happy and thankful.”

That same day, a local daycare center that serves underprivileged families asked the family to step in because their scheduled Santa could not attend.

While some may consider this a coincidence, the Knapp family saw it as a sign from God and a unique way to serve their community.

“We were just freaking out; we couldn’t believe it,” Luis Knapp said. “We all had the goosebumps.”

The Knapps sprang into action, piecing together elf costumes for their children, ages 12, 10, 8, and 6.

Teandra Knapp sewed buttons, pompoms, and bells on each costume, and she even assembled decorative hats.

“They love it,” she said of her children. “It gives them an opportunity to be crazy and silly.”

The daycare event brought lots of excitement. The family instantly fell in love with America’s popular Christmas characters.

“It was so powerful,” Teandra Knapp said. “It was amazing to see the love of Jesus in a suit. The suit shows the love of Jesus because it crosses all boundaries, cultures, and even politics just like Jesus did. That’s basically how this business was born.”

Touched by the chance to serve underprivileged kids, the family offered their services for free at random locations around their city.

“We literally plopped down on a bench in one spot and said: ‘Free pictures with Santa,’ and people started showing up,” Luis Knapp said.

At first, only several passersby took them up on the offer, but crowds soon assembled with their eager children. Tips slowly trickled in, too, and families started requesting separate bookings. Their earnings propelled the family to officially launch their Meet with Santa Claus business this winter.

Now, the Knapp family manages a collective household occupation that allows them to share the Christmas spirit by spending time with community members and listening to kids’ Christmas wishes.

The family’s local Safeway grocery store added Meet with Santa Claus as a vendor to provide free pictures for customers. This opportunity stretched their typical clientele of schools, families, and churches.

Those interested in having a Santa Claus experience can reserve Santa with an option to include Mrs. Claus and the elves for a small price increase.

The seasonal business took off when the Knapps launched a website and social media accounts, but their business has transformed into something much more than spreading Christmas cheer during the popular holiday.

“We are out there as Christian business owners, but also as ambassadors of Christ,” Luis Knapp said. “It’s not just putting on this suit. People young and old have come up and thanked me for being Santa. Many people have shared past memories of Santa and others have shared intimate wishes such as that their family would be brought back together. The suit offers a safe place for young and old to share their true feelings without any strings attached. ”

Luis and Teandra Knapp said their online education through Liberty has equipped them with the proper business knowledge to successfully launch and sustain their business and to approach their efforts with a biblical worldview.

“Liberty has taught me to look at things from a God-centric point of view,” said Luis Knapp, who has already earned a Master of Arts in Executive Leadership from Liberty. “Liberty has taught us confidence and understanding in what it means to be good stewards.”

Luis Knapp will pursue his doctorate after completing his MBA, and Teandra Knapp is completing her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies.

“We might be all the way across the country,” Luis Knapp said, “but we definitely consider Liberty a part of our family. … We’ve developed relationships with professors who have been encouraging. It’s been such a great experience. We’re proud of this legacy and hope that our kids, in turn, will attend Liberty University if they so choose.”