Today we’d like to introduce you to Chance Alexander.
Hi Chance, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
On Sunday, August 9th, 2021, I was sitting in church listening to our children’s minister share her testimony about God’s calling and His plan for her life.
That’s when I felt it—clear as day.
God was calling me to step into something with food and cooking. I didn’t know exactly what it would look like, but I knew I was called.
I’ve loved cooking my whole life, but I had only ever had one job—23 years at a dairy as a logistics manager.
That day, I said yes.
I didn’t know how it would work financially, mentally, or physically—but I started praying every night that God would make a way. I didn’t tell anyone.
Nine days later… I was terminated.
I was wrongfully terminated, but I told them I understood why this was happening—because I had prayed for it. I knew I never would’ve left on my own. This was God moving in my life.
I took another job to provide, but I stayed faithful and started cooking out of my home during COVID. I didn’t know what I wanted to do, but I knew I was called to do something with food and cooking.
I even told my wife April, “I just want to cook for free… I just don’t know how to do that without going broke.”
About a year later, my church—First Baptist Longview—asked me to be their Food Service Director and gave me access to a commercial kitchen. The same day I said yes, the city contacted me about complaints from local restaurants saying I was cooking from home and taking their business—but now, I was covered. God had already made the way.
Since then, God has opened doors I never imagined—serving in Alaska with Alaskan Missions, cooking during the Iditarod, and spending months feeding people in Nome and the Kenai Peninsula.
At the same time, Chances Kitchen Catering has grown—from small side jobs to corporate events, and now weddings.
Through it all, the mission hasn’t changed:
How do we feed people—even for free—and still make it work?
I don’t have all the answers—but I trust His plan.
And we’re just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
t definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
One of the biggest struggles wasn’t just starting something new—it was walking away from something I had known for 23 years. I had a lot of responsibility in my role at the dairy—managing employees, handling day-to-day operations, constantly moving, constantly thinking. That was my life for over two decades.
Even now, I still get emotional thinking about it. I never saw myself doing anything else.
So stepping into the unknown was hard—not just financially or professionally, but personally. There was a lot of uncertainty, and I had to learn how to slow down in some ways while also building something completely new from the ground up.
On top of that, early on I was cooking out of my home during COVID just trying to figure things out, and I even ran into issues with the city after local restaurants complained. That was a stressful moment—but it ended up pushing me into a commercial kitchen through my church, which turned into a huge blessing.
Looking back, the struggles were real—but they were also necessary. They stretched me, grew me, and helped guide me into what I’m doing today.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about chance’s kitchen catering?
Chances Kitchen Catering is built on a simple mission: serve high-quality food and take care of people the right way.
We specialize in catering weddings, corporate events, and large gatherings, with a focus on interactive and crowd-pleasing setups like pasta bars, taco and fajita bars, and elevated comfort food. We also bring in Southern and Cajun-inspired dishes that reflect my background and passion for bold, flavorful cooking.
What really sets us apart is the heart behind it. This business was never just about food—it was about answering a calling. From day one, the goal has been to create something where we can serve people, bring them together, and, when possible, find ways to give back. I’ve always said, “How do we cook for free and still make it work?”—and that mindset still drives how we operate.
That same mission shows up in my role at the church as Food Service Director. We have a weekly Wednesday night service called The Table, and since I came on board, it’s really grown. It’s a place where I get to be creative with food and serve high-quality meals at almost the cost of the food itself, while people gather for fellowship and Bible study. That’s a big part of who we are—using food to bring people together in a meaningful way.
We also focus heavily on quality and experience. We’re not trying to be the cheapest option—we’re trying to be the best value. That means generous portions, fresh ingredients, and food that people actually remember. At the same time, we work hard to keep our pricing fair, especially for weddings, so people can have a high-end experience without feeling like they’re being taken advantage of.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is the trust we’ve built in a short amount of time. A lot of our business comes from word-of-mouth, repeat clients, and referrals—and that means everything to us.
At the end of the day, we’re more than just a catering company. We’re here to serve people, create great experiences, and use food as a way to bring folks together.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost, God gets all the credit. None of this happens without Him.
After that, my family has been everything to me through this journey. My wife, April, has been my biggest supporter from day one. My kids, Madalyn and Will Alexander, and my son-in-law, Matthew Bowles—I truly couldn’t have done this without them. They’ve stood by me through the uncertainty, the long hours, and the growth of this business.
My church, First Baptist Longview, and the entire church staff took a chance on me. They trusted me, believed in me, and gave me an opportunity that changed everything. The church members have also been incredible—supporting me in the kitchen and encouraging me along the way.
And the Longview community really embraced me early on. When I was just getting started, people showed up, supported the business, and gave me opportunities that helped us grow. That meant more than I can put into words.
At the end of the day, this has never been a one-man journey. I’ve been surrounded by people who believed in me, supported me, and helped make this possible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.facebook.com/ChancesKitchencatering/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chanceskitchencatering/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChancesKitchencatering/
