By the time he was 19, Jeff Henderson had established himself as one of the premier drug dealers in southern California. He was making $35,000 a week by age 21—driving fancy cars and living the life of a street celebrity.
But all that came to an end at 24, when he was sentenced to 19.5 years in prison.
For far too many, this is where the story ends—or at least begins repeating itself. In Henderson’s case, however, this is where the real story begins. During his 10 years behind bars, he worked his way up—from picking up cigarette butts in the yard, to washing dishes, to serving as the head cook for the prison. After his release, Henderson used the cooking skills developed in the prison kitchen, as well as the networking skills honed through years in the drug trade, to gain an apprenticeship with one of the top chefs in Beverly Hills. From there, “Chef Jeff,” as he is more commonly known today, became head chef at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas, and then the Bellagio. He is now a bestselling author, motivational speaker, and host of multiple national television shows.
“When I tell my story,” Henderson says, “I talk about how prison saved my life—how I grew up in prison.”
In an attempt to help others like him “grow up,”Henderson has committed himself to serving at-risk kids and those behind bars. He teaches cooking classes in detention facilities across the country, hoping to show youth a way to leave a positive mark on their communities. He has sponsored scholarships to culinary school for students who have shown a commitment and desire to make food a career.
“It’s by the grace of God that I’ve made it this far, to live to be 44 years old,” Henderson says in an interview with Beliefnet. “I truly believe that my success is directly tied to God’s work, which is rescuing, motivating, inspiring, and uplifting people of all races and from all different communities.”
Many of the teens, men, and women behind bars lack a mentoring figure like Chef Jeff—someone who is encouraging them and telling them they have value that can be of benefit to their communities. More importantly, they aren’t being shown the infinite value they have in the eyes of God. Prison Fellowship volunteers take this message into prisons, proclaiming that Jesus has set the prisoners free, and He is calling them to greater work on behalf of the kingdom of God. If you would like to learn more about how you can be an agent of change in the lives of prisoners and their families, visit our action page.
To learn more about Chef Jeff and his work with at-risk youth, visit his website: www.chefjefflive.com.
