It started with a whisper from God.

One day in 2016 or 2017, I was sitting in a church service and i noticed a young women who had a horrible rash around her neck. I reflected back on the days when my daughter was little and had what looked like the same rash. I thought about how miserable it would make my baby girl with all the itching, scratching and open sores, and I really felt for this woman. Thankfully, my daughter outgrew this condition.

A few days later I was thinking of this woman, wondering how I could help her. I know--that I know--that I know, that I felt a clear, unmistakable prompt. The question: "What do you have in your house?" I truly believe that this was a divine and lifechanging moment in my life. It made me think about the story in the Bible where the prophet went to the widow woman...(So Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”) 2 Kings 4:2.

Just then I remembered that someone had given me a jar of what they called, Shea butter. I had heard of it, but knew nothing about it. This is remarkable, somehow I knew to pull it out, slowly melt it down, to add extra virgin olive oil and some coconut oil. I then poured it into a mason jar. "A jar of oil". It just came natural to me, like I had done it before--I had created something natural, healing, and made with love. I knew this was of a divine nature and not my own.

I had no formal business training. No chemistry degree. Just a mother's heart and a compelling sense to move forward with whatever this was...whatever it could be. Little did I know that my quest to promote healing in someone else would spark healing in ME. Not long after we decided to find our forever home and we moved to Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Over time I would come to learn that God doesn't call the equipped—He equips The Called. This little business, Balm of Gilead Skincare Products LLC, was born through faith and love. And what began as one little jar of a Shea butter blend would became something bigger. It would become a calling to serve and comfort others through natural, handcrafted products.

Please stay with us as our journey unfolds. We will tell the story here, the Balm of Gilead Skincare story. It has truly been an adventure.

Best Regards,
Renate' Cole
Founder and CEO
Balm of Gilead Skincare Products LLC
Cape Girardeau, Missouri