b'DAYTODAYFULL PLATETyler PeoplesKingdom Recipe You are the secret ingredientD ecember 5, 2009, Chef Chifumi made agoing to use her or if she was going to fit in this journal entry detailing her awkward andenvironment. Chef Chifumi was uncomfortable, unpleasant experience volunteering forbut willing to see how God could use her to serve the first time in Samaritans Kitchen at the Springsthose in need.Rescue Mission. Chifumi is naturally artistic andThirteen years later, Chef Chifumi is still vol-has an incredible eye for detail and a love forunteering an average of six hours a week. In the food. These traits brought her to culinary schoolnearly 4,000 hours that she has spent in Samari-where shetans Kitchen, Chef Chifumi has touched so many studiedlives. Hundreds of men have learned about the Frenchlove of Christ through her work. Scratch-made pastry tech- pastries, pies, cookies, and confections are her niques. Shemedium, but her message is Christs love. I want is a masterto tell these guys about Jesus, says Chifumi. It is baker and anmiraculous to see how impactful a cream puff can accomplishedbe in the hand of an expert. The art and precision cake decora- of fine pastry work teaches men to slow down, tor. Hertake their time, and create something of value. JapaneseThese days, it is not uncommon to see men in upbringingaddiction recovery piping butter-cream rosettes taught her toon a cake or making chocolate mousse from be mindful of the little things, valuing precision,scratch. Chifumis artistry, professionalism, and consistency, and cleanliness. care have become standard practice in the kitchen On that day in 2009 none of these talents,now. We thank God for Chifumi, and the many traits, or skills seemed to apply. Chifumi read inother volunteers who took the risk and used their a local paper that the Springs Rescue Missiontalents in an unexpected way. was looking for volunteers to help train recoveryFor me the message is clear: God can use you. program participants in some culinary skills.All of you! Your talents, history, connections, skills, Responding to the appeal, Chef Chifumi madegifts, and passions are all useful to the Kingdom. her way down to the tiny, chaotic, and disorgan- You are the secret ingredientjust be available. ized kitchen. She did not know what to expect.God is the ultimate Master Chef, and in his hand After the first day, she was not sure how God wasyour uniqueness can make all the difference. \x03Tyler is senior director of work for Springs Rescue Mission. During his 10 years in thefood services industry, he has been recognized as the Best Chef in Colorado Springs by the Colorado Springs Restaurant Association, and was awarded Chef of the Year in 2014 by the American Culinary Federation. Contact him at tylerp@springsrescuemission.org.60 WWW.CITYGATENETWORK.ORG NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2022'