Photo of The Salt Company from 1980…
See video of history of Salt Company shown this week
From the Iowa State Daily…
In The Salt Company’s early days as a ministry called “Baptist Student Union,” it struggled to gather more than 70 students at a service. Now, hundreds of students make the drive out to Cornerstone Church to gather for worship each Thursday night.
While Jack Owens is considered the founder of The Salt Company, its origins can be traced further back to Max Barnett, the leader of the ministry Owens had joined while in college.
“He focused on three things: obedience to God, prayer, and to make disciples and help people become followers of God,” Owens said.
After 12 years, Owens stepped down and Troy Nesbitt became the director. It was in 1986 that the ministry officially changed its name to The Salt Company. It was around this time when the ministry really started to take off.
Cody Cline, current director of The Salt Company, said that not much has changed over the years.
“Every time I go out and spend time with alumni, they always ask the same three questions,” Cline said. “They ask if we still teach the Bible; still value getting people connected into authentic, life-giving connection groups; and still have a passion for challenging students to go overseas with their faith and share the gospel. The answer is yes.”
Read the whole article here.
Forty Years of Directors:
Cody Cline
Mark Arant
Jack Owens
Troy Nesbitt
Paul Sabino
Jeff Dodge
Finally, see introduction to The Salt Company Video here.
Salt Company’s website
While I am no longer a baptist and have some misgivings about evangelical worship, I am thankful for the work that The Salt Company has done for 40 years at ISU. The different directors have had a faithful gospel witness and have sought to apply the law of God in a practical way to the lives and concerns of college students. I hope they continue to do these things for many years to come.