A Pastor’s Redemption Journey From Church to Soup Kitchen

Ben Dubow experienced God’s redemption after he left his leadership in the church and turned his sights to a culinary venture. “Seven years ago, I totally shipwrecked my ministry and thought I was no longer useful or usable by God,” said Ben. “But I kept going to the Summit, and God kept calling me to the area of leadership and Kingdom impact. He was calling me to a holy discontent and a grander vision. The Leadership Summit is what has brought me back into the leadership game.”

Craig Groeschel’s concept that “If you’re not dead, you’re not done” challenged Ben. “I’d benched myself from the church—probably for longer than God intended,” said Ben. God had plans for Ben’s culinary venture that would be used to serve the community.

After Ben left church work, he became an executive chef, and just recently, a chef at a local soup kitchen feeding about 100 people per day, and leading a culinary jobs training program. “We’re changing how we feed and love people. We’re focused on dignity, and wholesome food. I also started a culinary arts jobs training program,” Ben explains. “I feel like I have found my personal hedgehog! Hospitality and feeding people meets such a basic, universal need. It is a practical way to love people and to connect with them. When people are hungry, not much else matters to them in life. But when well-fed, they can dream, and have hope—they will share their own stories with you. There is something totally grace-filled about gathering around a table and sharing food together. To get to help people do that—whether in the restaurant or the soup kitchen—is totally a privilege.”

Ben continues to learn about the power of God’s grace and redemption every day. “Just recently, I was installed as a new part-time, bi-vocational, lead co-pastor. Now, between running the soup kitchen, pantry and jobs-training program full time,  plus leading and teaching in the church part time, I feel redemption, restoration and a renewed calling,” he said. “God’s calling is fresh and I have found a place where ministry is joyful, balanced and healthy.”

Ben is a different leader from what he used to be. “As a younger leader, I was caught up in ego and insecurity and fear of failure,” he said. “Today, I lead much more freely and in response to the Spirit’s promptings. My leadership is more people-focused than project-focused. I am still driven and focused and hard-working, but I don’t sweat the small stuff nearly as much. I hold onto my ministry with a much looser hand, trusting that ultimately it is His, not mine.”

The Summit has been used to remind Ben of God’s call on his life as a leader, even through failure. God is a God of redemption, and making things new. Ben is a new, transformed leader because of the Summit. “I have made the Summit a priority in my schedule and a non-negotiable. So when the Summit was available near me, it was a no-brainer to gather some friends and go!” Ben said. “Literally every Summit I go to, I get at least one or two very practical take-aways that prove to be transformative in my leadership. It is as if sessions were created just for me. It has been the vision and the challenge to live out of our Holy Discontents and seek our grander vision. Early on, the Summit was mostly about skill building for me and getting a fresh breath of vision. Now, it is more about character-building—and the same need for that fresh breath of vision, challenge and encouragement.”

Read more about Ben’s work in the news:

“MACC Chefs Host Pop-Up Restaurant”

“MACC’s Culinary Arts Program Is Changing Lives”