Our Story

Salt Chapel was a Leap of Faith

I have dreamed of starting a ministry and owning my own business to share my faith, but not just any business, rather one that I could put my touch on and it could be benefit others spiritually. Several ideas came and went but one day around 6 or 7 years ago, my wife and I attended a wedding at a nice Christian chapel and she expressed how much she love everything about weddings. I told my self she is right, they bring families together, brings joy to many, and celebrates a biblical marriage. I instantly thought I could make a place like that and in a way that makes it unique but enhances ones faith.  So I told my wife the next place that pops up on the market near by, I was gonna snag it. She thought I was crazy but has always supported me. The next year, a sign popped up around the corner and I had a feeling it was it. Well, or so i thought. It was an abandoned house trailer sitting on 4 acres with over grown grass and trash. We looked at the carefully and found some unsavory discoveries making us doubt our gut feelings. SO we prayed and the next day I told myself that with a little hard work and faith this could work. So I negotiated the price with the mindset that if its meant to be it will be. After a little back and forth we worked out a deal into our budget, and in 2019 it was ours! The excitement didn't last too long as it took over a year to clean up the property. We demoed the house, removed dead cars, took down over 1000ft of bad fence and wire, and filled two 40 yard dumpsters full of trash. For the next 2 1/2 years we allowed some friends to stay on the property as we removed trees, cleared brush, and did dirt work. All the while, I was drawing designs, organizing our ministry  mission, and finalizing a overall plan. In 2023, I was ready but wanted to know I was doing the right thing. My wife and I live by a saying, "If its meant to be, then its meant to be." So I enquired about some key elements to see if it was meant to be. I designed a timber frame building I wanted to build myself. For this to happen, I would need a sawmill and a lot of trees. Timber is expensive but its what I wanted to do. So by pure chance, I found a budget friendly sawmill and said, Ok maybe this is one sign. The very next day, I ran into a friend from work who happens to run a tree service and I thought maybe he could help and boy could he. He offered to supply all the logs I wanted after he heard what I wanted to do. I told myself that this is lining up and lets see what vendors in Mississippi can do the rest of the building. A amazing salesman from Reeds Metals in Tupelo sent me plans almost over night of what I envisioned with my design and what it would cost. I was blown away as in a matter of days, I had all the elements to get started to make this dream a reality. So we took a leap of faith. I got a friend from the bank to help me with financing, another friend guided me through process of approvals, and another friend signed off on permits. With all of this, we were off to races, well a very slow race. Over the next year we cut timber, refined the land, dug footers, and started the shell of the chapel. Then came the process of county approval as this was a business out in the county. The inspectors office and building department as a whole were great! We sat down and discussed my vision, to which they assisted me in getting on the agenda for approval with the board of adjustment. A month later, I stood in front of the board and expressed my vision, mission, goals, design, and beneficial impact my place would do for the area. I did my best and they loved it! I was granted to build and they even asked for updates as they were so impressed with my overall plan. I felt over the moon and it motivated me even more! For the next year, myself, my family, and friends have poured into the ministry, chapel and dress house. During this time, I made contacts with people from other states that would help me out with donations. A pastor in Springfield, Missouri donated the oak pews we have in the chapel. A farmer in Cash, Arkansas sold me a grain bin for almost nothing to help me with the dress house. As well several local folks donated things and sold materials well below cost to help with the construction. I worked late nights and long hours each weekend to handle as much as I could. Luckily with the help of some contractor friends, brothers from other mothers, and my family pitching in, Salt Ministries and Salt Chapel became real! 

Meet the people that helped us on our journey next!