PRESIDENT & Co-Chair ~ Benny Green

Growing up in a Christian home in DeRidder Louisiana, Benny was saved and baptized when he was eight and surrendered his life to ministry in college. He is a graduate of Baptist Christian College in Shreveport Louisiana with a BA in education, and a BAM from Oklahoma Baptist Seminary. Benny currently lives in Oklahoma, where he worked and retired from General Motors after 30 years. He has five daughters, 13 grandchildren and a special wife, Pam. Together they teach Sunday School and are very active in mission work. Benny’s service to the Lord is diverse, he has served as music director, assistant pastor, and both the children and youth director.

Benny’s involvement with Salt has been ever increasing over the years. His commitment to worship of the Lord through visible and tangible servanthood is ever apparent in his life. He is an encourager, hard worker and trusted friend to all who know him. We are blessed to have him as a part of this leadership team.

SECRETARY ~ Brenda Barker

Originally from California, Brenda now lives on a large ranch in Chinook, Montana. She wears two main hats here at Salt, Sous Chef and Secretary. We are not sure which roll we hold more dear, but the joy in this girl’s heart is what blesses us the most. Brenda is a hard working, Christ loving, faithful servant to the kingdom. She frequently raises her hand and says “yes” when no one else is willing, often setting her own priorities aside to meet our need. A kind and gentle spirit who embraces the opportunity to serve her Lord is a worthy description of Miss Brenda. We are grateful to have her sensibility and dedication at work here on the mountain at Salt.

TREASURER ~ Donald Whitacre

Donald  or “Skip” as he is better known, was born in Port Townsend, WA in 1944. He was raised in a Christian family and committed his life to the Lord at age five, being baptized at 17. Through all his life experiences, Skip has faithfully continued in his Christian walk.

Skip and his wife, Pat, were married in 1964 and together have raised one son and three daughters. His interests have centered around music, which has led him to serve as Sound Technician for several local churches. Skip’s servant heart is ever faithful to meet the need for another pair of willing hands. Skip retired after 30 years of employment as a Supervisor and is now able to follow the strong leading he feels to support Salt and its work wherever he is needed and able.

DIRECTOR & Co-Chair ~ Brian Vance

Brian has skilled hands and a servant’s heart. As a single dad some years ago, Brian recognized the need for God in his life. As soon as he turned to Jesus, Jesus set him free and the focus of Brian’s life became following his Savior and Lord.

Brian married his wife, Marissa, in 2010 and they have four children. Brian is a faithful volunteer at his church and active in a small group near his home in Elkhorn, Wisconsin. Brian is a journeyman plumber, stays very involved in his children’s lives and raises dairy goats as a hobby. He also leads a Bible study with others who work with him at major league baseball’s Miller Park in Milwaukee Wisconsin.

DIRECTOR ~ LaNette Harper

LaNette currently resides in eastern Washington, but will quickly tell you that she’ll hang her hat wherever God tells her to. Perhaps one of her greatest gifts is the focus she puts on waiting for clear direction from the Lord. We are honored that among the many other ways she serves, both at her home church and within her community, she feels called to bless us too! Her long-standing walk with God and close relationship with Christ have grown her to be a woman of compassion, self control and perseverance. Qualities this leadership team knows to appreciate!

DIRECTOR ~ Tim Benedict

Born and raised in Boise, Idaho, Tim brings a big world picture view with him to Salt Mountain. The oldest of four children in a pastor/missionary family he has been either in, or around ministry most of his life. Tim brings a variety of solid career skills with him to the Salt Mountain table: certified mechanic, Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and IT Administrator, electrician, author, school teacher, historian, youth pastor, worship pastor, scientist, firefighter, mechanical engineer, manager, civil servant, and more. Tim is husband to his delightful wife, Karen, and father to nine kids who have all flown the coop but one.

With all that experience, in so many areas, we are quite sure God was just grooming Tim in preparation for our many needs at Salt. He is such a welcome member on our Board and we are grateful for his service.

DIRECTOR ~ Robert E Wilkins

“Bob” has an intimate understanding of the struggles of this project through time spent with his boots on the ground here at Salt. His steadfastness is a driving force of encouragement to many who serve here.

Bob and his family were local to Salmon Idaho for many years and only recently relocated to the Twin Falls area of southern Idaho. He and his lovely wife, Kelly, have three children, a daughter Karley, who is also a school teacher and two that are still in college, Jake and Samantha. Bob is also a school teacher and wife, Kelly, a school principal. Both have served as Sunday School Teachers, are very active within and are highly regarded by their church family. Bob can often be found serving as an elected Deacon and Kelly is well experienced at heading up Vacation Bible School. What a delight and an honor to have a leader like Bob serving in our midst.

DIRECTOR ~ Matthew Dietz

Matt is a dynamic young man who is blessed with a supportive young wife, Jeanne, and two children, Javahn and Kaira. The Dietz family is quite active with the youth in their home town in northwest Washington. Considering their neighborhood their field for ministry, they create interesting ways to serve Christ like “Flapjack Friday”, hosting weekly breakfasts in their home as they “walk out” their witness to the neighboring kids.

At his core Matt has an unyielding dedication to serve whether it be within his church, community or on mission. Matt’s career is in health care which affords him the time to pursue his passions. He loves any outdoor activity i.e. hiking, rock climbing, camping and going on adventures with his family. He makes his time at Salt a family event where each day spent with him we witness the wisdom he and his wife demonstrate in the patient upbringing of their children. Such a gift!

Matt is the newest member of the Board and we are glad to have him. His easy demeanor and level headed thinking are of the utmost value to this leadership team.

FOUNDING CHAIRMAN Emeritus ~ Jim Bakke

Jim and his wife Teresa have two children and now reside in Chicago, Illinois. Besides being a pastor’s son, dedicated father and attorney, during his time of service at Salt, Jim was the National Director of Planned Giving for World Vision. World Vision is a non-profit Christian charity which supports people groups and families in crisis all over the world through child sponsorship programming. He led the gift planning staff and oversaw all planned giving functions for World Vision.

Admitted to the Illinois State Bar, and a long-time member of the National Committee on Planned Giving, Jim has a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Trinity Bible College and a J.D. from Regent University School of Law. Jim has many years of leadership, fundraising and technical expertise. Earlier in his career, Jim served as Director of Planned Giving Services for the Barnabas Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides estate planning and planned giving expertise to supporters of over 190 Christian organizations across the U.S. Jim has now returned to his employment with the Barnabas Foundation as their Executive Director.

We are thankful and forever blessed by Salt’s strong foundation that Jim was instrumental in building. We are humbled that the Lord saw fit to add Salt to Jim’s lengthy resumé of servanthood.

FOUNDING MEMBER ~ Paul Vaughn (1945-2017)

Paul was a businessman all his life and a born again child of God for 57 years. Residing in Beaverton, Oregon with his first and only wife Mary, together they raised two wonderful daughters to maturity in Christ. When the IRS asked Paul what he thought qualified him to serve on Salt’s Board of Directors, his response was “…being led by the Holy Spirit is qualification beyond enough.” We think that about sums Paul up!

Paul blessed this ministry with his service as a Founding Member of the Board of Directors and was in part responsible for this ministry’s start. Paul’s sense of humor, humility and real life attitude always kept the rest of the team light hearted and grounded. We are truly blessed to reap the rewards of his excellent contributions to Salt during its foundational years.

FOUNDING MEMBER ~ Donald Wade

Raised in a Christian family, Don came to know Christ in seventh grade. His relationship with the Lord is one that has obviously guided and directed his life. Married for over 30 years and a successful business owner since 1994, Don’s greatest asset is his desire to live life with integrity and an unwavering faith in his Lord. Taking the time to wait upon God for guidance, his patience tempers his passion to help and serve those who serve others. The ministry of Salt is truly blessed and considers Don one of its greatest assets.