The Salt Company, the largest student ministry on campus, looks to extend its ministry to the incoming freshman class.

The Salt Company is a Christian student ministry based out of Cornerstone Church in Ames. Every Thursday an average of 1,100 students attend their worship. 

“First and foremost Salt Company is about knowing and worshiping Jesus. Specifically doing that through what we believe the scriptures teaches,” said Jordan Adams, the leader of the freshmen ministry for Salt. “Salt Company is a place where we open the Bible and teach what we think it says and we try to follow that.”

Adams said that there is a unique angle to the Salt Company.

“If you’re involved in Salt Company you don’t need to put on a religious face. You don’t have to pretend like you have it all together or like you are a perfect person,” Adams said. “It’s okay to talk about things that are not going well in your life or sins that you are struggling with.”

This year at orientation, Salt will be at the Religious Leaders Association table, which is comprised of multiple ministries on campus.

“At the booth we’re not recruiting students. We’re providing information for anyone who has a previous interest in the ministry and then refereeing students that are interested in other ministries to those ministries,” Adams said.

The recruitment process starts off with the freshman group kickoff hosted the Sunday before classes start. The event includes icebreakers, food, worship songs, and a talk to inform attendees about Salt.

The freshman group is specifically designed for freshman transitioning into college life. Freshmen are also divided into small groups lead by student leaders.

There is also a student kickoff for everyone to come that is interested in learning more about Salt.

“The Target audience for the Salt Company kickoff is any and every college student that is interested in coming,” Adams said.

Salt encourages students to also attend Cornerstone church on Sunday, but they do not require members to do so.

“We encourage students to attend Cornerstone Church. We think that’s a valuable part of being involved in Salt Company,” Adams said. “It’s not a requirement, however. So we do have numerous people that are involved in Salt Company that don’t attend Cornerstone Church on Sunday,” Adams said.

Many members of the Salt Company expressed what the ministry means to them.

“My experience at Salt has been amazing. The people within Salt are hands down some of the greatest people I have ever met. I have made lifelong friends during my time at Salt. I have found hope and satisfaction in Christ,” said Jacob Banks, a sophomore in communication studies. “I would encourage anyone at Iowa State to come to Salt on Thursday and experience it for themselves.”

Last year 500 people attended the freshman group kickoff. The Salt Company hopes to expand their ministry through incoming freshman that are interested in joining.

“If we continue to grow, by God’s grace, we want to try and continue to maintain a small ministry for people. We never want people to feel that they’re just one of the numbers,” Adams said.

As the Salt Company grows they will continue to add more staff members and student leaders.

“We want to know as many names as possible and we want to be in as many lives as possible as a staff. We want to continue being able to have small groups so that people can be vitally contacted in small groups of people,” Adams said.