Melissa M.

Today, Melissa speaks to us about her candle company based on Scripture VSSL, shifting our focus back to God, and the importance of prayer.

Tell us a bit about how you grew up and your childhood: I grew up in a home with parents who were on fire for the Lord, and their passion for God was evident in how they lived their lives. Our week was filled with activities like church services, Bible studies, and serving in the children’s ministry. I was taught early the importance of prayer and Scripture. Music was also an important part of my upbringing—I played the piano, violin (briefly), and participated in show choir, which gave me an early appreciation for creativity and discipline. My favorite hobbies as a child included reading, writing, running, and creating. I loved immersing myself in stories and expressing my own thoughts through writing, being a part of a team winning races in track, or working with my hands to create something beautiful.

Inspiring biblical passage of the moment: I have two! John 15:5:

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

My all-time favorite verse. It reminds me that no matter what I do, I can’t bear true, lasting fruit apart from God.

Isaiah 43:18-19:

“Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

It could be because we’ve just entered a new year, but this passage reminds me that God is constantly working on something new. Sometimes it may be hard for us to perceive it, but God is moving in places and ways we could never imagine. When I let go of the old things in my life, and open my hands to receive the new things God has in store for me, I can experience the fullness of His plan.

Spiritual growth focus at the moment: I focused on building a deeper, more intimate relationship with God through the study of His Word. The way to truly know the Lord is to know His Word. How can I fully trust in the character and faithfulness of the Father, I don’t know his promises? I want to grow to have the Word stored in my heart so that when life’s unpredictable moments are thrown at me, I know where my hope lies.

Profession/Mission: I’m the CEO and Founder of VSSL, a minimalist, faith-based candle brand. My mission is to steward the gifts God has given me to encourage others through moments of stillness and peace.

What inspired you to start a candle business? VSSL was an idea that came from God on my way home from church back in 2019. It only took a short walk from the sanctuary to the car and I had the idea for the name of the business, what it would stand for, and how I would decide what fragrances to create. After that, I became obsessed with the concept but was too afraid to put it in action. I had previously attempted to launch a jewelry business and that failed. I was afraid to try again and potentially embarrass myself in front of others or invest more money into something that potentially wouldn’t give me a profitable return.

It wasn’t until 2023 where the call to create VSSL wouldn’t leave my mind. I knew God had given me this vision, and I finally decided to pursue it, no matter how it looked.

I had no idea how to create candles, I had no idea how to create the vessels, I had no idea how to mix fragrances but YouTube University is real. Also, with every challenge I faced, God used it to help me build the skills I needed to launch in October 2023. I’m still learning and growing each day but I’m amazed by how far I’ve come.

Which of your candles is your favorite? This is a hard one because they’re all my babies but if I had to choose one, it would have to be the first candle I created Before You. This fragrance was a happy accident. I was making candles to gift to friends and I ran out of fragrance for what I thought would be one of my signature scents. I randomly mixed two fragrance oils with notes of Brazilian pink pepper and amber and it worked! I only made a few, but when people smelled it, their reactions made it clear: this was the one. And to this day, it’s my bestseller.

Do you have any advice you would give to someone who wants to start their own business? When starting a business you need a healthy combination of passion, curiosity, and discipline. Passion will get you started, but it won’t always be there. When you run out of passion, the curiosity to seek solutions, refine your craft, or strengthen your business skills will push you further. And when curiosity fades, discipline will carry you through, ensuring you show up even when you don’t feel like it. There will be sacrifices and challenges, but the ones who succeed are those who keep pushing forward. If you quit, you’ll never see what’s on the other side of perseverance. Keep going.

If you wrote a memoir, what would the title be? Change Your Perspective, See His Hand. Explanation: Oftentimes we get caught up in our circumstances so much that it’s all we see. We no longer see God in the midst of our troubles, and everything is seen through the lens of lack. If we shift our focus back on God, we can see how his hand moves through our trials. God has reminded me of this time and time again.

“If we shift our focus back on God, we can see how his hand moves through our trials.”

When did you first encounter God and how did you encounter Him? When I was nine years old, I felt God’s presence for the first time during an altar call at church. Although I had never experienced the urge to go to the front before, that day, I felt my heart beating faster and a feeling or comforting warmth spread throughout my body, encouraging me to accept Christ as my savior. I was so excited about it for weeks! I remember feeling so happy I literally did cartwheels all day long.

How would you describe Jesus? My best friend, my mentor, my therapist, my counselor, my everything.

How has your relationship with Him changed you? As my relationship with Christ deepens, the more apparent the fruits of the Spirit are in my life. I often find myself surprised by my actions in different scenarios. Where I once may have reacted with anger or impatience, I now find myself responding differently. This transformation is certainly not a result of my own efforts, but rather a testament to
the power of God’s grace working in my life.

What has helped you grow spiritually in this season? Spiritual podcasts such as In Totality with Megan Ashley & With The Perrys, The YouVersion Bible and Enduring Word apps, My business, VSSL. My company creates meaningful fragrances inspired by verses in the Bible. In order to build a brand with a Christ-centered focus, I need to have a strong foundation in Christ myself. Building VSSL has been a journey that requires me to lean on God more deeply than I ever imagined. It feels like I’m living out my favorite verse, John 15:5 which reminds me that “apart from Him, I can do nothing.” There were countless moments of confusion, anxiety, stress, and spiritual warfare, and I know I wouldn’t have made it this far without being grounded in worship and prayer. God’s still, soft voice has been my guide and comfort through every step of this journey, reminding me that His presence is always with me.

“There were countless moments of confusion, anxiety, stress, and spiritual warfare, and I know I wouldn’t have made it this far without being grounded in worship and prayer.”

Just read/currently reading (and what has it taught you?): Building a Story Brand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen by Donald Miller is an absolute must-read for business owners! As someone with a background in communications, I’ve always loved the art of storytelling, and this book provides a clear framework for crafting a compelling brand narrative. It teaches you exactly how to position the customer as the hero of your story while keeping them fully engaged in your messaging.

Top three essentials: Bible, my Spotify playlists, a good candle.

How did God speak to you recently? Recently, God has spoken to me through friends, His Word, and during my time journaling. In this season, He has reminded me to trust in Him regardless of what
circumstances may look like. Even when I’m confused, I need to remember that He sees the whole picture. If I trust Him instead of relying on my own limited understanding, everything will work out in the end.

Hobby: My hobbies include making candles, reading, hiking, cycling, and Pilates.

Top three practical tips for staying spiritually strong: Stay in the Word, pray without ceasing (aka always have an open line of communication with God), memorize God’s Word so when life’s circumstances or the enemy come to throw you off balance, you have a sure foundation. This allows you to take captive
untruthful thoughts and decipher lies that don’t align with the words the Lord has spoken.

Favorite person in scripture? David! His story reminds me that God is always preparing you for greater things even when your surroundings say the opposite. Before he faced Goliath, his experience as a shepherd prepared him. When his father forgot him, God had him anointed as king. And when he messed up, God was still there to welcome him back and used his lineage to bring Jesus to us.

What do you want people to learn about God when they look at you? How big He is. Every accomplishment in my life is because of Him. I want people to see how exciting and limitless life with God can be.

How do you engage with your community? I usually engage with my community through my personal and business social media accounts and email newsletter.

Favorite holiday? Christmas! I love the atmosphere of togetherness, love, and compassion the season brings.

A goal you have? To see VSSL in unexpected places through exciting collaborations.

Question you will ask when you get to heaven? This is a tough one! I have so many questions, but I can’t pinpoint one that I think I’ll even remember or will feel important enough to ask when I’m in the presence of God. Honestly, I’ll probably just go blank and forget them .

Thing you want to raise awareness about: As believers, there is a need to know the Word for ourselves. There are many competing voices and without knowledge of the Word, we won’t know the truth of God’s character.

What does your morning routine consist of? My morning consists of reading my Bible and taking a moment to hear what the Lord has to say while I write in my prayer journal. I’ll then go for a morning workout to become more alert and get my brain going, eat breakfast, and tackle whatever tasks I have to do for VSSL. This can include answering/drafting emails, creating vessels, pouring candles,
testing out new fragrances, or creating content for my social channels.

What is on your nightstand? My Bible, prayer journal, and my current fiction read.

Define Christianity in a sentence: Developing a personal and intimate relationship with the Savior so that His fruits shine through you, enabling you to love and move as Christ did on Earth.

For more Melissa:

Instagram: @vsslcandles (business), @alovelettertobee (personal)
Website: www.vsslcandlesla.com

Until next time, keep witnessing!

XX