S5 Episode #12- Chayil Johnson

THE ONE WITH CHAYIL JOHNSON

This week I am so excited to welcome Chayil Johnson to the podcast! Chayil is the Executive Chef at Community Matters Cafe in Charlotte, NC, where the core mission is helping the men and women of the Charlotte Rescue Mission, who are battling addiction and substance abuse, by teaching life skills and then implementing them in the setting of the cafe and restaurant.

In this conversation, we dive into topics relating to faith, using your gifts for the Kingdom of God, fighting the desire to compare, and lessons learned from David and Esther in the Bible. I believe this interview will motivate you to pursue your passions with new fervor!

MORE ABOUT CHAYIL

Chayil Johnson is the Executive Chef at Community Matters Cafe in Uptown Charlotte, NC. Chayil is originally from Laplace, Louisiana, where he started studying culinary arts at the age of 12 at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). He moved to Charlotte to continue his studies at Johnson & Wales University, where he was a Teacher's Assistant and Fellow, and received his degrees in Culinary Arts and Foodservice Entrepreneurship. Chayil's food stems from the food memories and experiences of Cajun and Creole cuisine that he grew up with, while also adding the influence of his love for middle eastern and Northern African cuisine.

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Chayil knew at a very young age that he wanted to be a chef. He finished culinary school by the age of 16, and he had to trust God and believe that he was on the right path. He realized that the mastery of the little things can lead to big results. 

God is so creative and has given us each unique gifts and talents that can be used for His kingdom, but that doesn’t mean the path is always easy. God may be asking for a level of dedication and commitment that feels daunting when we are trying to do it on our own. 

There are many moments in life where we feel like the task at hand is too hard or requires more than we have to give… those are the moments that will grow your faith. We are not made to do it on our own, God will give you what you need in each moment. 

“Don’t ask God for something if you’re not prepared to deal with the things that it takes to get it.” If you ask God for patience, God will send people or situations into your life that will require patience. If you ask God for faith, He may put you in situations that require you to rely on Him in new ways. 

Faith is not by works alone– our salvation is not dependent on our works, but there is still a level of stepping out in faith and making the changes that we need to make in our lives. 

LIFE LESSONS 

  • Practice makes permanent, not perfect. 

  • Words matter. Death and life is in the power of the tongue. Speak love and life into others, and into yourself.

  • You are only in competition with yourself– God’s vision of your greatness will be different from what other people are doing. We must fight the desire to compare our progress to those of others. God has a unique plan for YOU. 

  • We must strive for success in God’s eyes, not the world’s eyes. As we grow with The Lord, we can begin to shift our focus to also helping those coming up behind us.

  • Through Christ, you can do harder things than you are giving yourself credit for! You may not be capable on your own, but God is MORE capable than we can ever imagine and He is so good to use us in His plan! 

COMMUNITY MATTERS CAFE

The core mission of Community Matters Cafe is helping the men and women of the Charlotte rescue mission who are battling addiction and substance abuse, by teaching life skills and then implementing them in the setting of the cafe and restaurant. 

Community Matters is a branch of the Charlotte Rescue Mission, which works with men and women in Charlotte, NC who are going through substance abuse and addiction. They provide a holistic recovery program to help people become mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually right with their sobriety. 

Community Matters is a full service cafe, restaurant, and life-skills program for people to enter after they complete the 6-month sobriety program through the rescue mission. While they are being trained in life-skills, they are also being mentored to continue to develop their mental, emotional and social health. 

If you’re in the Charlotte area, you have to stop in for a coffee or a meal! 

LESSON FROM KING DAVID 

No matter what came up in David’s life, God was always preparing David for the bigger moments. David didn’t know he would one day be king, but he was learning every skill that he would need in his early role as a shepherd. 

David was a man after God’s heart, yet he messed up often. David was a murderer, an adulterer… yet God never turned His face from David. There were repercussions for David’s sins, but God never left David. 

Even when we fail or make poor decisions, God’s grace never leaves us.   

LESSONS FROM QUEEN ESTHER 

Esther is a strong woman of faith! Esther never shied away from the moment. She always listened and she never reacted out of fear. 

In moments of stress, fear, or anxiety, you will not do what you want to do, you will revert back to what you know how to do. 

Esther was intentional, smart, wise and obedient in her decisions. Esther didn’t know that God was going to use her to save the entire nation, but she was still obedient every step of the way. Her story was not just for herself– it was for the good of others. 

Esther did not fulfill her childhood dreams, but she did fulfill her God-given destiny. Everything that she went through was used by God for the glory of His kingdom. God will use every part of your story to accomplish His plans. 

FINAL THOUGHTS 

Even in the worst times, God is with you every step of the way. You have made it through every single hard time in the past, and God will get you through this one too. 

Find the joy in the small things– the small things hold great beauty! 

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  • The Collected Podcast is produced by Jes Biondo and edited by Jacob Early. Cover art designed by Ben Biondo.

Most Recent, Podcast Episodes, InspirationJessica BiondorecentComment