By HENRY CARPENTER

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — A Natchez pastor is trying his hand at the restaurant business.

John Collard, who is pastor at Abundant Life Church, is opening a Cajun restaurant on 383 John R. Junkin Drive in Natchez.

“I was praying and felt like this is what the Lord wanted me to do,” Collard said. “The Lord is wanting me to lead by example.”

Collard doesn’t have an exact date for opening the restaraunt, which will be known as Rice ‘n’ Roux, but plans a soft opening at first, followed by something more official three weeks or so later.

When it opens, Rice ’n’ Roux will be open  11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and will serve jambalaya, gumbo and sauce picante, as well as “gumbolaya,” which is gumbo topped with jambalaya.

Collard plans to cook all the food using what he said is award-winning recipes he got from a family member. Collard is also training Joshua Cable, originally from New Orleans, who will eventually take over cooking duties. Cable attended culinary school in New Orleans.

Originally from Gonzales, this venture is Collard’s first business. He began work on the restaurant idea in September 2014. Splitting his time between his church and working to start up the restaurant have been more than a full time job.

“I work from 6 to 10 at the church and if I have to go over I will, and if there is any problem I will go back to the church to deal with it because that’s certainly more important,” he said.

The John R. Junkin Street location provides him with high traffic, Collard said.

“There are three musts when you open a business: location, location, location,” he said.

Customers will be able to eat in the restaurant, or will be able to take dishes to go in serving sizes of small, which will feed five to seven people; medium, which will feed eight to 11 people; or large, which will feed 12 to 15 people, he said.

Collard also plans to offer catering services.