Up until the last handful of years, my entire life has been a war zone, standing back-to-back with death many times. A life that was dark, chaotic and reckless by my own actions. Having multiple mental diagnosis as a child and as an adult was like trying to manage the wind. It was the Lord who delivered me from some and taught me how to rule over the rest.
Deeply bruised as a child due to divorcing parents, I began acting out at about 8 1/2 to 9 years of age, especially when my stepfather came into our picture. Driven by grief and sorrow, I grew angry and destructive. It was just too heavy and too much to carry at this age and my little processor could not keep up. The Lord had also blessed me with a wildly creative imagination, and I loved to draw. I found myself in handcuffs at age 9 and 11 for destructive behavior.
Joseph
As I grew into my teens, anger and destruction became coupled with defiance and rebellion. My creativity skyrocketed, and I had also discovered a passion for writing. My creativity also became demonic in nature. I became involved with inhalants, drugs and alcohol. I had suicidal tendencies and ended up cutting (self-harm) later in my life. I had found a twisted outlet of release from the trenches of depression, finding a temporary reprieve ‘within the pain’.
I have a true understanding of why some people self-inflict and of the sick spirit behind it. I played with witchcraft which ultimately led to satanism. My spirit was constantly drunk on death metal music; music was a severe stronghold in my life. I had been in a band. Totally reckless, I lived without fear or regard for repercussion. My choice of company was fast, unruly, and most of them were into everything illegal.
At 18 years of age, I had serious trouble with the law. I was put into a sanction facility then on probation with an ankle monitor. My biological father had also led me to Jesus Christ at this age. I made the most critical decision of my entire life, to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. When saying the sinner’s prayer, I experienced the Holy Spirit physically and audibly (a warm rushing wind). However, my walk did not last long as my flesh had an obnoxious appetite and was powerful. I was at Grace Christian Center during my short walk with Christ.
At 22 years old, I forsook satanism and kicked out our premature coven. I got back on the narrow path and was praying, “Lord, what can I do for you in your Kingdom?” It was at that moment the Holy Spirit said, “Turn your creative gifts over to me”. I chose to make Christian apparel to advance the Lord’s Kingdom. I named the apparel line ‘Cross Gear’ and drew my first piece in 1995. After this, I ended up in Teen Challenge in California. Cross Gear seemed to be flourishing as I could not stop drawing. My mind and spirit were flooded with designs and concepts. Five months into the program, satan began to vigorously harass me. I dropped out and went back to Texas, diving headfirst into drugs and fast living once again.
I ended up in Salem, Oregon as I had run from and evaded Texas authorities. At 26 years old, I returned and gave myself over to the State of Texas. I did this to get this mess behind me and to become a father to my now oldest daughter Melissa. I began to want a life. It was within the walls of the penitentiary that the Holy Spirit assigned me Holy Edge Ministries. I wanted to help reach the rest of the world for God. To share the truth of the Gospel and make a positive impact. To help those held captive by sin. I fine-tuned my art skills, attained copyrights and studied The Word diligently.
At almost 29 years old, I was granted parole. I involved myself in youth leadership at Destiny World Outreach. I continued with designs and concepts. My Pastor showed little to no interest with what I shared about my purpose with Holy Edge Ministries. I completed my parole at age 31 or 32 years of age. From ages 31 – 40 the war for my soul continued. I was married and had two more precious daughters, Lydia and Jaelynn. I began to lose traction and footing in my walk, as I had grown complacent letting down my guard. Once again, I found myself in another metal band and the drug life that typically goes with it.
At 40 years old, I had found my way back to Christ and the narrow path. I was once again at Grace Christian Center and was serving as a youth leader. Since the last time I had lost my footing, I had not drawn or designed. I was afraid to fail again with this mission of Holy Edge Ministries. Tragically, we lost three of our pastors in an accident. The head pastor, his wife and the associate pastor, their armor bearer. Again, I began to struggle and felt like a rag doll that light and darkness were fighting and arguing over.
I did manage to write and publish a book during these years about God and marijuana. Of all the drugs I did, this little green plant was a barbed thorn, deeply seated within my flesh. Smoking pot was second nature. After almost a year of having this new pastor at Grace Christian, I felt released to leave Grace. This Pastor had also shown little to no interest in what I shared with him about Holy Edge and my calling.
At 44 years old, I became very grounded at Vintage Church for the next three years. Once again serving with the youth (my heart was always drawn to the youth). I attended nearly every class that Vintage Church offered and got certificates from so many classes. My two youngest daughters also went to church with me a lot. I refrained from sharing Holy Edge with this Pastor and I had done no drawing or designing during this season at Vintage. I did however share the book, Little Green Plant that I had written, and the Pastor was going to talk with me about a signing, selling and give away table. Que covid, this did not get to happen.
At 47 years old, I had decided to go to Grace Christian as that is where my heart was drawn to. It was my third return to Grace. It was the place it all started for me. Once again, Grace had no lead pastor. I wanted to help hold the sails down while Grace Christian navigated these seas. Then, the hand of the Lord hand-picked and delivered us phenomenal pastors that would call Grace their home. Pastors Patrick and Marlena Kiteley and their beautiful, lively family. Grace Christian was advanced and renamed Charis Church, which is a deeper meaning of the word Grace in the Greek language. Our pastors are prophetic, and very grounded in the Holy Spirit. I know without a doubt that our three former pastors are smiling and rejoicing in approval. I know this, because I knew them.
At 48 years old I began burning with a new color of fire for the vision, dream and mission for Holy Edge Ministries. I had been drawing closer to Jesus more than I had ever been, with my entire spirit and being (He was ‘causing me’ to draw near to Him). I was no longer afraid of rejection and stopped looking to man. Some sort of shift had happened spiritually that put a stomp in my walk with Jesus Christ. I had found my identity In Him. The Holy Spirit is my CEO and I look to and follow Him first and foremost, in all aspects, believing everything else will fall into place.
On my 49th birthday a very special woman (Melissa Joy) blessed me with five hundred dollars towards starting this Ministry and business. I started a POD (print on demand) business and studied the platforms of Etsy, Printify, and Canva. Lots of trial and error. I attained an EIN, DBA, and a tax ID number. Once again, I became flooded with concepts and ideas. I began designing. I have been at this for just over a year now as I just turned 50. I have over 200 apparel products on Etsy and have published a 30-piece canvas line. The Holy Spirit told me not to publish the “If we Could See” canvas line until I had established a website for Holy Edge Ministries. The reason being is that people are going to need a place to go to where we can really share what Holy Edge is all about and its journey. Its purpose. Its mission. Its victories.
This calling goes well beyond apparel. There is a REASON it’s ministries. We are quite serious about making an impact in this world in the name of Jesus. By prayer and agreement with the Holy Spirit, we will be giving at the VERY least 25% (and upwards of 50%) of all profit to the Ministry. These ministries will include but not be limited to: Prison and jail outreach. Halfway homes and rehabilitation centers. Homeless shelters and the less fortunate. Combatting human and child trafficking. Animal shelters rescue and rehabilitation. Youth outreach. Planet cleanup. The work of The Kingdom of God and the ‘Great Commission’.
I am very much an empath and have been blessed with the gift of discernment. I am driven to leave a legacy with a powerful, positive footprint in this world. I want my footprint to keep on stepping, long after I am gone. Under God, we have the opportunity to make the impact together, via Holy Edge Ministries.
At the present time, our Etsy platform is the only place one can purchase Holy Edge items. We have established a print on demand business via Printify to Etsy. There are several categories on the left side of our page to make browsing items easy and efficient.
I also have a book published on Amazon which covers the long disputed and hazy topic of God and marijuana. How He approves AND disapproves (1Peter 5:8). I currently have two more books in draft. One covering music and the influence Satan uses it for, the other is over gaming and its hidden potential dangers. These books will cover spiritual, mental and even physical aspects of dark manifestations. These were strongholds that have been broken in my life, by the Grace of God.
When you side with and support Holy Edge Ministries, you are becoming part of a literal, powerful and positive change that will be felt around the world. Because of YOU, and many others, in unity.
In His Service – Joseph Martin Salaiz, Fides In Deo.
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
