Hey Y'all!
We are JL and Rachelle Dunahee, founders of Salty Farm Ministries. We were born and raised in southern Illinois. Just a small town couple that built our dream home on our dream land in the woods. We honestly thought we would spend the rest of our days there. But God...had other plans for our lives. A calling we never saw coming. JL owned and operated a construction company and has been a builder with his dad since he was a young boy. Rachelle developed and ran a trauma-informed group home for kiddos with severe special needs. We had no idea what God was really preparing us for!
the story of sfm beginnings
In October 2021, God put a huge calling on our hearts to sacrifice the material and excess to serve those with little to none. He was calling us into a three part mission: mobile food ministry, mobile shower ministry, and a tiny home community. We had no idea how we were going to do it, but we gave Him our YES and stepped out in faith in a big way! We spent another year in Illinois, selling everything we owned (including our dream home) and bought a motorhome to live in. We relocated with two of our kids to Panama City Beach, FL from Southern Illinois to serve the veterans and brothers & sisters living on the streets...what we refer to as "our friends on the street". Believe us when we say that we prayed hard for God to lead us to the right place. I mean, the beach is amazing, but we didn't want it to be where we wanted to go, we wanted it to be where God wanted us to go! He kept confirming this is where He needed us.
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Upon arriving in Panama City Beach, we quickly learned why. The number of displaced people in this area just keeps rising with the aftermath of Hurricane Michael and the rising housing costs. Furthermore, the homeless shelter got wiped out by the hurricane and, frankly, there aren't many resources for them in this area.
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Salty Farm Ministries hit the streets with 100 sandwiches on Christmas Day of 2022. We didn't have a clue what we were doing. We just headed out looking for people in need. We met our first friend, Doc, on the side of the road heading to buy a pack of cigarettes. We sat on the side of the road with him, listened to his story, bought him a pack of cigarettes, and he shared where more friends could be found. That day we served 12 people. Twelve. If we are honest, we were a little disappointed! "God, we sold everything for twelve?" But God in all His goodness, gave us exactly what we could manage at that time. Those twelve became the foundation of relationships and trust in the streets with many others. ​
Check out "The Salty Talk" podcast for the full story of the beginning of sfm plus our testimonies.
Taking you back to the very beginning of Salty Farm Ministries – October 2021 – when the Lord called us. In this episode we share how it all started from receiving the vision to the steps we had to take in the very beginning.
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Join us as the journey continues
as we move from Salem, land in PCB, and start the ministry. We share how God brought people into our lives that could guide us along the way and keep us moving forward.
JL shares his testimony of how
God brought him through the chaos and mess of addiction and into the streets to minister to so many struggling with those same battles. Hear who and what saved him from that lifestyle.
Ever felt unworthy, unwanted, unloved, unlovable, unseen, or used? Ever been a spouse to an addict and had to make the hard decision to walk away? Ever carried a sickness around for years and been too afraid to trust Jesus for healing? Then this episode might be for you! Join us as Rachelle shares her testimony of progressive and transformational healing the Lord has walked her through physically, emotionally, and mentally.
From those humble beginnings, we have grown to serving thousands of meals, built an army of volunteers and partners, expanded serving locations, launched our second mission (the mobile shower trailer), and so much more! All because of GOD!! We say all the time...we have no idea what we are doing...and we want to keep it that way so we can fully rely on HIM! He has brought the right people to this ministry at the perfect time to grow, expand, and serve within our new "dream" community. Check out more "God Stories" from the streets to see all that God has done in and through Salty Farm Ministries.
current missions & future visions
