But, little did they know, the Lord was about to radically change the course of their lives and give them beauty for ashes (Isaiah 61:3).

“To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV)

Before meeting Mattie, Al always had a passion for furniture, as his father had a re-upholstery and custom furniture business with an influential cliental in downtown Chicago for 38 years. But, when Al’s father passed and the family business was dissolved, Al heard from the Lord that He would restore his inheritance in furniture and business.

Not knowing what the restoration would look like, Al knew he would have to be obedient to the Lord, take up his cross and follow Jesus, and trust the Lord was going to lead him into his destiny.

As Al was contending and trusting the Lord with his destiny, so was Mattie.

 When Mattie was ten years old, she prayed and told the Lord she would love to have a vendor mall one day. And He faithfully answered her prayer in His timing and in His way.

 In 2012, the Lord spoke to her about learning how to paint furniture. She obeyed the Lord and began learning how to paint furniture. She would paint and pray over the pieces, and she ended up selling the pieces for a profit. A few years later, she found herself raising her two boys Elijah and Micah on her own—who were 6-months-old and 3-years-old at the time. During this time, she moved back to her hometown of Rockwall, where she had no home and $20 to her name—not knowing how God would provide for her and her two boys.

 But, as the Lord promises in Philippians 4:19-20, He longs to provide for his children.

  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Philippians 4:19-20 (NKJV)

 Mattie found a home to rent at a good price for her and her two boys. She then began painting and selling furniture out of her garage for a profit. After stewarding the small, she began hearing from the Lord about her business, and how it was time to go find her store.

 While driving in the car with her mom, she saw an abandoned warehouse, and she just had this feeling it was the place for her future business.

 She contacted the building owners, but after several meetings and waiting to hear back, she could feel the tension of contending for her promise while also holding onto the dream the Lord gave her for a vendor mall.

 And that’s when the Lord spoke and encouraged her about His plans for her.

 The Lord said to Mattie, “I am bigger than you, and I can do so much my sweet Matilyn. Stay faithful and you will prosper, and your vendors will even be blessed because of your faithfulness to me. Tithe and do not forget.”

 The last thing the building owners said to her was she had one day to get 35 vendors.

 She trusted the Lord with all her heart, and said it was the Lord’s time to shine. She posted on a Rockwall Facebook group, and by the end of the night, she had over 40 vendors apply. Not only did she get the number of vendors she needed, but the Lord exceeded her expectation.

 And, the Lord continued to exceed her expectation.

 Within the first year of opening, she was able to quickly expand The Rustic Warehouse, where 55 vendors were added, and the store tripled in size.

 The Rustic Warehouse continued to grow, but Mattie was still contending for another promise and heart’s desire from the Lord—a husband.

When praying for her future spouse, she prayed for a God-fearing man, who loved the Lord and was obedient to Him. She also prayed for her husband to have a background in business because she knew it was something The Rustic Warehouse needed, but she also wanted her future spouse to share the same passion she has for business and entrepreneurship.

 During this time, Al was still grieving the loss of his father and was following the Lord with all his heart, which led him to West Palm Beach, Florida. It was there the Lord told him to purchase a condo as an investment for a future family he did not yet know. Through complete trust and obedience to the Lord, Al purchased the property.

 While in Florida, Al pursued Jesus and allowed the Lord to refine his character by doing a deep heart work through dreams and intercession. After a few months in Florida, Al had a dream he was the first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys, and he was wearing the number 55.

 In addition to the dream, the Lord also gave Al Genesis 12:1-3, which says, “Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (NKJV)

 Through deep prayer, intercession and vision, Al began to seek out the Lord’s heart on the scripture and the dream. He heard the Lord say he would be going to Dallas, where he would get married to a woman who had two kids, and he would restore his calling and inheritance with furniture and business.

 A few weeks later, Al had a friend from Rockwall offer him a place to live, so again, through complete trust and obedience Al followed where the Lord was leading.

 While in Rockwall, and before meeting Mattie, the Lord discipled Al and taught him his identity is in the Lord—not in the things of this world. He was also teaching Al what it would mean to be a husband and a father, while preparing to launch him into his calling and inheritance by refining his character through dreams and intercession.

 And through that process is where he met Mattie.

 Al and Mattie Vivo married on January 20, 2018, and not only were they united in marriage, but in business as well. (Also, the condo he bought in Florida in complete obedience to the Lord. He was also able to sell it and use it to purchase their first family home.)

After being united in marriage, Al came alongside Mattie’s vision for The Rustic Warehouse, where he brought his experience and knowledge in the business and finance industry to help  build, align and restructure the business to help further her creative vision and passion for The Rustic Warehouse and bring it to another level.

 Together, Al and Mattie have expanded their business to feature new and upscale furniture of great quality at an affordable price. Brining in incredible American made upholstery, and top notch wood furniture. Some even designed by them making it exclusive to the RW.

 They are stewarding a culture of Kingdom business focused on honor, integrity and excellence in the marketplace. They are also training and equipping the employees at The Rustic Warehouse to prosper in Kingdom entrepreneurship endeavors.

 And, there’s still so much more to come, as they continue to faithfully steward the promise the Lord has given them at The Rustic Warehouse.