Leo joined CCI in May of 2003, and immediately began helping whoever he could through encouragement and support through the Message Boards (now moved to our Facebook Page) and the Memberlist. In January of 2004, God called Leo to make CCF a ministry for him to focus on. As the title "Member Support" implies, he now helps to keep up with our growing membership on a more personal level. He contacts our members to encourage them and to see if we can be praying for them in any way. He still keeps a major focus on the Facebook Page as well so that he may encourage and help anyone in need there. Leo is also one of the four member Board of Directors for Christian Chefs International.

Biography

I was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 1954. I was educated at the Albuquerque Academy and the University of New Mexico. Culinarily speaking, I was educated at the School of Life. My culinary education was mostly formed there...on the job, working with many, many chefs - some trained in Europe and some at various culinary schools all over the country. Among my culinary accomplishments are: owner/operator of two restaurants, Food and Beverage manager at two restaurants, Chef/Manager at such Food Service operations as The Calaveras County Jail, Easter Seal Society, and at the Nashville Rescue Mission. My experience is almost 30 years in all aspects of Food Service, holding positions as Chef, Sous Chef, Pantry Chef (Garde Manger), Banquet Chef/Coordinator, and Steward. I have line-cooking experience as Saucier, Broiler, and Sauté. I have experience in Fast food, Family-Style, Hotel (The Hilton, 4 Seasons, Harrah's Lake Tahoe, among others), Resorts, as well as Specialty (ethnic) restaurants such as Mexican, New Mexican, Continental (European), Lebanese, and French. I have been a teacher and workshop instructor, a trainer, and consultant in all aspects of Food Service operations. My specialty is Food Safety, Creativity, Stewardship, and Networking. I also have experience working in the non-professional cooking scene, teaching such classes and workshops as Cooking for Singles, and Cooking for Children.

I worship at The Psalmist Christian Fellowship in Spring Hill, Tennessee, USA. I work at the Nashville Rescue Mission. I am married to the woman God blessed me with -- Cathleen (called Cat). We live with 5 dogs and 2 cats...yes we're big Psalm 36:6 folks. So we are not-so-empty nesters! We both have children from previous marriages.

These things say something about me but are not who I am. Who I am is a child of God -- who came to that realization by the Love of my Father personified in Jesus the Christ. I was blessed to fall in love with Jesus as a child and He was true to that relationship even though I wasn't. My testimony? I said...Yes. Finally, and meant it! I belong to the One who died and rose again. And when you say "Yes" to the Lord, you say "Yes" to a lot! More than you ever thought. God had plans for me that I never knew. He opened doors for me and guided me through them. Like the way I started --- during the recession, after the Vietnam war. I competed with 1500+ persons for 3 positions at KFC and got one! I took it as a sign. In hard times, a job that could feed me physically was a blessing. I stayed in food service for survival's sake and found I was good at it. I was led to what I was meant to do. I found a world of experiences and knowledge that I loved. Yes, it is a hard life for many reasons of which you all know so well. And the life lessons were tough in learning -- because I tried to do them on my own. My walk was a solitary one for many years; searching, always looking for what the world said was love and happiness. Silly me, it was there all the time! I was blinded by the lies of the enemy. You about name it, I tried it -- but God protected me. And brought me through it with a sense of love and trust. He made me rely on my faith and taught me how true faith in Him worked. He also opened the door to my heart and my mind. Truly free from the blinders of the world, I could look back at my life and see God with me at each step, in every valley and on every mountain top. Amazing! He placed deep in my heart the call to service -- through restaurants, correctional food service, Easter seals. God brought me here. In ministry, I am an encourager. I am blessed to be doing His will at the Nashville Rescue Mission; http://www.nashvillerescuemission.org feeding His sheep, seeing the miracle of the loaves and fishes daily. What an honor to serve our Lord in ministry to the homeless and hungry. I have a heart for Food Safety and am certified to teach and proctor ServSafe. But most of all I believe in the character of God as revealed by His Word in the Bible. I love the Lord and my life is His -- all for His glory, in Jesus sweet name!

"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow." -Isaiah 1:17

"Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me." -John 12:26

Chef Leo Griego