As a young child I remember my mom reading stories to me about missionaries such as Nate saint, Jim Elliott, Amy Carmichael, Hudson Taylor and many more. I remember having a desire to serve God on the mission field and tell people the good news of the Gospel. A decade later, I met my wife Aimee and she encouraged me to go on a missions trip to Mexico that her Uncle Joel was leading. That sparked a renewed desire for missions in my heart! Within 2 ½ years of that trip we had two young children ages 1 and 2 and our pastor approached us with an opportunity to serve in North Africa for a 3 month mission and we jumped on board. When we came back from that trip we decided to open a residential construction business and then spent the next 11 years working on best practices, efficiency and coordinating a team to get projects done with excellence and in a timely manner.

In 2021, God started moving in our hearts again that it might be time to pursue full-time missions & ministry work. And although it didn't make sense from a human standpoint, His voice was clear in 2023 that He was calling us to Kingdom Work and starting our ministry in Honduras! As missionaries to Honduras we feel absolutely blessed to be able to be a part of what God is doing in Honduras and to be a part of a ministry that has a vision to partner with His church across the globe. We are excited to see what God has instore for SALT and are extremely grateful for our board and all of the people that partner and support us to make this ministry possible!

Tom became a SALTeam Board Member in January 2024. He and his wife Sarah have been close friends with the Lofgrens since around 2014, when they met at church in Nashwauk, Minnesota. Nate and Tom enjoyed many outdoor adventures together while the Lofgrens were still living in Minnesota. Tom and Sarah have three kids, live in northern Minnesota, and while they miss the Lofgrens terribly, are happy to support them in their missionary endeavors.

Aimee has a servant's heart to help with the needs of others & to extend her arms of love to any child who needs a Mother's love whenever the opportunity arises. She is a natural encourager, speaking life into the hearts of those she crosses paths with.

She is a co-visionary to SALTeam Ministries and is serving & overseeing the daily operations of the ministry. Her attention to detail & organizational skills along with her life experiences in office management positions & bookkeeping is now playing a role on the mission field to unite with others & their skills to further God's kingdom! In her free time she enjoys being out in God's creation with her family (camping, hiking, fishing or hunting.) She also enjoys spending her time in worship through music.

Joel is an accomplished leader, advisor, and coach in several different organizational environments. Whether he is leading as CEO of an international missions organization, the Executive Pastor of a thriving church, or a Business Consultant and Coach Joel provides leadership development and spiritual resources to teams and employees.

In his free time, Joel is a volunteer School Board member for ISD 728, which is the 8th largest school district in Minnesota. He is an avid fisherman, hunter, and hunting guide. Additionally, he raises golden retrievers and has a couple of Goldens in his home most of the time! Joel is married with two daughters, one son-in-law, and a grandson.

Joel is highly influential and relational and is motivated by helping others. He brings positive change by inspiring others. Joel’s varied interests and skills have helped him to be able to relate to people in different circumstances and surroundings. Joel received a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Crown College and is ordained in the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

Joel has had a career in ministry. He was a youth pastor for 15 years, founded a Mission organization and spent a decade as an executive pastor.

Aaron Burquest is a husband to Leah and a proud father to 3 children, Matthew, Andrew, and Ella. He is an entrepreneur, a true visionary. He owns and operates businesses in his home state of Minnesota, where he was born and raised. He is an outdoor enthusiast so in his free time he likes to hunt, fish, hike, and ride bike.

Kristin is a long-time preschool teacher who lives in northern Minnesota with her husband, Eric. They have 4 adult children who are all out of the house! Along with teaching, she enjoys leading a local women’s Bible study and serving on her church’s worship team. 

She has a deep passion for mission work and serving others. Over the years, she has participated in many mission trips and has seen firsthand the impact that faithful ministry can have on communities around the world. Through attending church together, Kristin has had the privilege of getting to know the Lofgrens and their heart for serving others and reaching the lost. She is excited to be part of the SALT Ministries team and looks forward to finding new ways to support their service, outreach, and ministry efforts.

Karl Emerson has served as a pastor with the Christian and Missionary Alliance since 1999. He and his wife, Janet joined the Alliance largely because of their mutual interest in cross-cultural ministries and missions.

Prior to serving as a pastor, he was involved with Youth With A Mission, as well as with other churches as a leader and teacher. His first pastorate was in Nashwauk, MN, located in northern Minnesota. After 14 years there, he and Janet moved to Strasbourg, France, where he pastored an international church for five years. This experience deepened his desire to reach the nations with the Gospel. After returning to the United States in 2018, Karl began pastoring Word of Life Alliance Church in Coon Rapids, MN, a north metro suburb of Minneapolis.

Karl is dedicated to the expository preaching of the Bible and enjoys crafting sermons and teachings that challenge his listeners to grow in their relationship with Jesus. He has a fervent belief in the power of prayer and encourages believers to cultivate consistent practices of prayer and Bible study in their devotional lives. He dreams of one day developing an organization of intercessors dedicated to praying for missionaries and the advancement of the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

He has previous experience in the insurance industry and has served in various leadership and committee roles within the Christian & Missionary Alliance. As a SALTeams Board Member, he is thrilled to be able to help the ministry in any way that he can.

Karl and Janet have two adult sons who are both married, and six grandchildren. He enjoys hiking, reading, and cheering for the Green Bay Packers.