It’s Something God Did, Not Me

Recently, our Chef quit. As our organization’s Senior Manager of Operations, food is one of my primary areas of responsibility. All things food. It’s actually what landed me a gig at the homeless discipleship ministry where I’ve worked for almost three years.

In addition to food, my other primary areas of responsibility include facilities, resources, and inclement weather service. Each of these can be a full time job of their own. Hence, losing our Chef is kind of a big problem. However, such is the weight of responsibility.

When one of our young Summer helpers asked, “What’s the plan?” I shrugged and replied, “I don’t have a plan. I’m going to trust the Lord.”

I hadn’t anticipated losing our Chef. At least not so suddenly after hiring her to replace our Chef who left at the end of last year. It had been a rough ride, decorated with highs and lows.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”
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Proverbs 3:5-8 ESV

Our Chef quitting put me back in old, familiar territory. I’ve done pretty much everything you could do in the food business—-at least from the restaurant industry side of things. Before starting at OurCalling, I’d spent nearly 25 years working in restaurants. The food industry is rich and multifaceted. And I am our food guy.

Needless to say, I’ve spent quite some time pondering this in prayer. “God, I don’t know what to do. Help me. I’m fresh out of ideas.”

I’ve mulled over if we needed to change something about the role or how we operate our kitchen to make the lead kitchen position more appealing and sustainable. It’s tricky. We serve over 2,500 meals a week. That’s not something everyone who’s got kitchen skills can do. Did I mention that part of our food comes from donations and is supplemented with food we purchase? There’s no set menu. We create what we are serving daily.

The Lord answered in a unique way. It’s really only in a way that He could respond. I can’t personally take any credit for it. It’s something God did, not me.

A friend of mine, Jonathan, owns a catering company. He and I’ve grown to be fast friends over food and inclement weather. Jonathan has saved my bacon numerous times during our inclement weather service. During this transition from our Chef to Kitchen 2.0, Jonathan has been a big hero.

Turns out, he’s been partnering with an organization called Adult Teen Challenge. They have a chapter in DeSoto. My friend Jonathan introduced me to Daren, who leads the incredible work being done by Adult Teen Challenge. Adult Teen Challenge is a long-term, faith-based recovery program for people struggling with drug and alcohol addiction. The program is specifically designed to help individuals find healing and ultimate freedom from chemical dependencies. 

Thanks to Adult Teen Challenge, I have a couple of young men who will come in and run our kitchen, gaining invaluable experience in the process.

Shortly after Daren and I worked out a plan, a man named Adam dropped by our Cesar Chavez offices. Adam introduced himself and told me that he worked with a non-profit organization called Mercy Chefs. Apparently, an outreach they were involved in helping had come to an end. So, having a full-sized commercial kitchen and a staff looking to cook food for non-profits who could use those meals to help feed their guests, Adam found us.

He graciously offered to help us by providing meals on Tuesdays and Thursdays. (My Adult Teen Challenge guys are covering Monday, Wednesday, and Friday).

Neither of these are strategies that I formulated in my head. They weren’t something I knew to explore or look into. God, always gracious and kind, facilitated them. To Him be the Glory!

²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Romans 3:20-21 NIV

It’s mind-blowing what happens when we get out of the way and let God show us the way. He is always at work around us. All we have to do is look for where He is working and join Him.

In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”

John 5:17 NIV

Rest assured; this is all something God did, not me.

Blessings and Happy Blogging!

Rainer Bantau

The Devotional Guy™

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