Why "Sinner" Cornhole

I’ve never really shared this part publicly—but with my marriage around the corner and my walk with God growing stronger, I’ve felt more at peace, more confident. So here it is.

Sinner Cornhole wasn’t my original plan.

It started as a different name. I had a logo ready and sent everything to a well-known designer up north. A week later, he called me and said another company had already contacted him with the same brand idea. Something about that just didn’t sit right, so I pivoted. Looking back, it felt like a redirect.

At the time, I had just lost my job at TCL. I’d already been told by ACL that I couldn’t be a pro anymore because I worked for TCL, and not long after, I was let go. I was 23, renting a house with my friend, and spiraling a bit—overeating, gambling, staying up all night playing video games… and grinding cornhole.

That’s when I started watching Seven Deadly Sins, an anime that really hit home.

Each character is named after a sin—Wrath, Greed, Envy, etc.—and each one has a flawed past. But what moved me was that these characters still fought to protect others. They carried their sins, but didn’t let those sins define them.

That’s when the idea clicked.

Sinner Cornhole was born.

I knew the name might turn heads. But it was me. I didn’t come from a perfect place. I’ve struggled. I’ve fallen. But I’ve always tried to get back up—and help others do the same.

The original lineup was based on the 7 Deadly Sins: Greed, Lust, Wrath, Sloth, Envy, Pride, and Gluttony.

Then things began to shift—because I began to change.

Haley came into my life and helped me heal in ways I didn’t even know I needed. Over the last few years, she helped me rediscover parts of myself I had pushed away. Most importantly, she helped guide me back to God.

I used to wear a cross necklace. I got it after my grandfather passed (I later learned he had been a youth pastor). I took it off around age 20. I didn’t feel worthy of wearing it. I carried too much guilt and shame.

Life hasn’t been easy. My older sister passed away before I was born, in a traumatic way—right in front of my parents. I grew up wanting to do something so great that maybe it could fill that hole in their hearts. But when my parents divorced during my sophomore year of high school, my world fell apart. I stopped believing in myself. I made decisions I regret.

Now, at 28, I truly believe God let me walk through those things for a reason. He’s building something greater through me—and it’s not just for me. It’s for the people who came before me, and the ones who will come after.

That’s why I created the Faith Series:

• Commandment – learning the rules of God.

• Believer – when I truly started to trust again.

• Prayer – a season when I felt like God was answering me… even to prayers I didn’t know I had spoken out loud.

For a long time, I avoided faith-based designs. I didn’t want to profit off something sacred if I wasn’t living it. I didn’t want to carry the cross unless I was truly ready to carry it.

But I’ve grown. I’ve found peace. And I’ve poured everything I have into this brand—not just financially, but spiritually. I haven’t taken a dime in personal profit since 2022. Every dollar has gone back into supporting players, running charity events, and building something that actually matters.

Sinner Cornhole is more than a brand.

It’s a reminder that your past doesn’t disqualify you.

Faith, redemption, and purpose are real.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

We’re just getting started.

— Grant Upchurch