Skip to content Feeding Body and Soul: Ignite the Grill's Mission with Stephen Bougher May 12 · 32 min ...more
Feeding Body and Soul: Ignite the Grill's Mission with Stephen Bougher
May 12, 2025 · 32 min
Meet Steven Bougher, founder of Ignite the Grill, feeding the homeless in Seattle while offering prayers for hope and healing.
Series Fresh Fire 🔥 New IKT Episodes May 12, 2025 · 32 min · Fresh Fire 🔥 New IKT Episodes
Meet Steven Bougher, founder of Ignite the Grill, feeding the homeless in Seattle while offering prayers for hope and healing. ...more Show the full description Show less Meet Steven Bougher, founder of Ignite the Grill, feeding the homeless in Seattle while offering prayers for hope and healing.
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Kraig and Desiree Bougher are Spirit-filled business leaders who God has called to display His heart for the marketplace - Making the Marketplace the Miracle Place! Follow us on Ignite-KG.org
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Ignite Kingdom Talk: A Mission of Hope 0:01 Welcome. This is Ignite Kingdom Talk. Make the marketplace the miracle place. This episode's guest is Steven Bouyer, founder of Ignite the0:13 Grill, a Christ centered outreach in Seattle that feeds the homeless and offers prayer to spark hope and healing. Steven also serves as program director at the Mill Creek Food Bank, leading efforts to fight hunger and0:23 build community. He and his wife, Channa, a successful business owner, are proud parents of a blended family of 4 children. You can learn more by connecting with Steven through Ignite Christian Business. We would love0:34 your help spreading the word and leveraging social media for the kingdom. Let's ignite Christian business leaders all over the world. Like, comment, share, follow, and subscribe. Join the Ignite community today.0:47 Ignite Kingdom Talk is made possible through the generous support of our Ignite partner access members. This subscription based community offers Christ centered accountability, encouragement, and growth through small0:57 groups. Are you looking for a network of like minded Christian business leaders to uplift and encourage you in your calling to the marketplace? Well, learn more and sign up today at ignite cv dot com. And now, in the1:08 name of Jesus, may your faith and hope be ignited fresh and anew.1:14 Hey, guys. Welcome back to Ignite Kingdom Talk. We're excited about this next guest.1:21 Yes.1:21 We kinda like him. It's our boy, Steven Bouyer. And Steven, it's it's all you're my boy. You're my boy. If we were doing something else, I'd wrestle you right down here on the ground.1:33 But Steven has done such a great job with this at Ignite. Couple years was it a couple years ago that we had a conversation about maybe it1:45 was last year. A conversation about what to do, some of the giftings that we have, and you started you started hanging out with with us in the groups. And and we want you to1:57 be part of of Ignite. And I said, let's just just start hanging out in in in these groups that we're doing. And he comes back and says, but, dad, I I wanna do something. And I said, well, son, what2:09 do you like to do? He said, well, I like to grill. And I said, okay. Great. Then2:14 I don't I2:15 don't know what that looks like. Next thing I know, he takes his Blackstone Grill downtown Seattle. I didn't wasn't expecting that, but he takes it to2:26 downtown Seattle, and you start flipping burgers for the homeless. I mean, I I guess I never thought that's what the direction you were gonna go,2:38 but it was a God thing. And what, I mean, what came what made you do that?2:43 Yeah. So going through different books, reading through the Bible, we hear different stories. And the story that impacted me was the widower woman who was about to lose her kids. Yeah. And she goes up to a2:55 prophet and he says, make me a cake. And she goes, I have nothing. And he goes, go find these pots, Fill them up and continue to fill them up. And while I'm reading this story,3:07 it kinda comes over me and guys are going, what what do you got? And I was like, I got a grill. Like you were saying, I got a passion for people. And so threw it in the bed of my truck and went out, and we started3:17 cooking for people. And what happened was, feeding people has never worked. We feed people, and there's the same people in line over and over and over. And it's a vicious cycle, and the homelessness is running rampant.3:29 Mental illnesses are running rampant. And prayer works. Yeah. And so, it was put on my heart to go pray for people. And when I started praying for people, I felt something that I hadn't felt in a long time.3:41 And going through a lot of issues in my personal life where I felt like I was losing my girls. I felt like I was losing my kids. So this widower woman, she related to me. Mhmm.3:53 And God said, go get these pots. And so I went and I got my grill and I got a buddy and I went out downtown Seattle off of third and James and I lit it up and things started happening. Things I couldn't4:05 even fathom. We popped up shop right next to a barbershop and he he started giving free haircuts to the homeless people. And we're praying for people, and we're seeing these people change right in front of us. These4:16 people are lighting up. And we've been going out for months now, over a year, actually. And people recognize oh, Steve is here. Steve is here. What are we having today? And the best part is, a lot of the times when I4:28 ask, hey, how can we pray for you? How can we help you today? They don't ask for anything selfish. They're asking, hey, can you help my mom? Hey, my family's going through this. And so people are asking selfless4:40 prayers when they need help. Yeah. They need a wall. They need food. They need shelter. They need safety. And all of that, we can pray for them, and they choose to pray for other people. So when4:51 it comes down to it, God asked me to go take a step. Yeah. Elijah asked this woman to go take a step, and God is faithful4:59 Yeah.5:00 And God is true. And not that my life got so much easier,5:04 but5:05 the blessing I get when I go and pray for people. And what happened was, I started going out and doing this, and God started talking to me. And it's the most cliche thing I ever heard in my life, but when you5:17 say, show me your friends, I'll show you the directions of your life. And I hear it, I go, no, that ain't right. Like and I started looking at my friends, and I'm going, you know what? I I need I need to make new5:28 friends. And so I found new friend groups, and I started investing more time with people in our in our men's group.5:34 Yeah.5:35 And now everybody in my corner is pushing me forward. Mhmm. They're promoting me. They're they're helping me get to the next level as opposed to, hey, oh, boo, come over here. Right? And5:47 I would you get tired. Yeah. You're not meant to be the lead at all times. You're not meant to call people with you. Somebody's supposed to pick you up also. And so my friend group has radically changed, and a5:59 lot of it is because of the Ignite group. But what happened in my life is hard to explain because I get such pure joy simply by giving my time and the gift that I've been given. I'm I I know how6:11 to pray, and I praise God for that. And it's a gift I get for my momma, I believe.6:16 But I6:17 go out and I pray for people, and I got people coming to help. And in Seattle, it gets cold in the winter, and we had thousands of beanies, gloves, socks, sanitary kits just show up. I didn't6:28 advertise for it. I didn't say these people are in need of this,6:33 but God delivers. Yeah. Yeah. Amen. So so, Steven, I I get it I get excited about the tell us how you found that location. What was the the very first 1 you did? What Tell us6:45 how you found that location.6:46 Yeah. So we're we're actually off of Third and James. If anybody knows where that is, it is downtown Seattle, and it's, it's not a good place. It's not a safe place, I should say. But, 1 of my buddies I took,6:58 Jeremy, we went out and he's like, yo, I got a spot where we seen a bunch of tents. And so we pull up, and they just clean them out. There's graffiti, there's trash everywhere, but there are no tents.7:10 And so we're kind of frustrated because, I mean, we drove, like, 45 minutes to get there. We went through some traffic, and I got these burgers and my grill in the back. And so we're just driving around, and we see7:21 probably 20 people sitting on the sidewalk. So we flip around, we park, and we park right in front of a barbershop. And, like, yo, what are you doing? And I was like, we're about to be cooking out here. Is that7:32 okay? What are you who are you cooking for? And so, kinda let him know what we're doing, we're gonna be praying for people.7:38 This is the guy in the barbershop?7:39 Yeah. Sam the barber.7:40 Yeah.7:40 And so, Sam was just thrilled, and he's like, we're gonna help you out. And so, sure enough, it was a God thing, because the place we wanted to go, obviously wasn't the right spot. Yeah. So we've been going to the same7:51 place, and now the transit officers, they get excited because we feed and pray with the transit officers out there. Thankfully, they don't give us a ticket, so please don't. Right? But I mean, we have our food handler's8:03 permit, but where we go, we we didn't pop up a grill and we cook. And so, I mean, we've done burgers, chicken fajitas, chili. We've done chili dogs, hot dogs, and it's a huge blessing.8:15 Initially, it was all coming out of pocket. And by the grace of God, he he ordains your steps. And I had to put in a hundred and 40 public service hours for my master's program. And at the food bank I work8:27 at, now my 1 of my best friends, Tom, he, he just gave me a hug and he goes, bro, you ain't gotta buy food anymore. Mhmm. And so, what initially was very taxing on me financially became a huge8:39 blessing because now it's a gift that we get to give back. And the, the food bank is actually getting some credit for it, so they're gonna be able to say that they're helping more people, which helps them get more8:50 funding, more food, more more notice.8:53 Well, I so the story about the widow, I love that story as well. And and you look and and her giving out of her lack, like, she had very little because9:05 she was basically gonna make that, and that was gonna be it. And so she, you know, then she brings all of those, empty jars in her home, and9:17 the lord miraculously fills them, and they never ran dry. And so out of your giving and your little, that the lord is multiplying and there's9:28 gonna be such abundance. Not because it's like, oh, look what I've done, even feeding. It's like, look what the Lord has done through obedience. And this scripture9:40 has just been kinda burning on my heart lately, and, you know, there's so many people that say fast fast and pray. You know, the Lord wants us to fast and pray. And but in9:52 Isaiah 58, he talks about, true fasting and what it means when you truly fast. And he says, is this not the kind of fasting I10:04 have chosen, to lose the chains of injustice and to untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it is it not to share your food with10:16 the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? And I thought that is true fasting. It's not even that you're not eating. The true10:27 fast is doing what Jesus did, and multiplying the food, how he fed the hungry.10:34 Yeah.10:34 He clothed the naked. And when you bring clothing, when you bring the food, and it's like, I believe the father in heaven, he's just like, that's my boy. And we here on Earth are going,10:46 that's our son. And we are so pleased with what God is using you and how he's using you to feed the hungry and to see the homeless and and know that they're they have value.10:58 I think they just think, who are we? You know, nobody notices. I've lost family. I have lost everything. You know, I'm sure that a lot of them, they haven't talked to their children in in years and years, and11:10 they feel no hope. But it's Christ in you, the hope of glory. So when you bring your burgers or you bring your tacos because I know you're, like, they get tired just eating burgers, so you bring tacos. You11:22 bring beef dippers. I don't even know all the things you've made, but that the Lord is so pleased and that you are making an impact because of Christ that you carry downtown and feeding them. You're11:34 not just feeding them earthly food, but spiritual food.11:37 Yeah. And the center of it is the prayer aspect.11:40 Yeah. Yeah.11:41 Right? And, it makes me sad because I've had a few people that don't want prayer. Right? And like, no. No. Don't pray for me. Hey, what's your name? I I don't wanna tell you. And if if we believe in11:52 angels, we have to believe in the counterpart. And I believe that we're seeing these demonic spirits run. And I've had people take take food and run. And I'm going, we're gonna pray for you anyways. Right?12:04 And so that's the whole concept of feeding people has never solved the problem. Yep. Right? People are always gonna be hungry. That might solve a temporary problem, but anxiety doesn't disappear with the cheeseburger.12:17 Yeah. Right? Anxiety doesn't disappear with 1 meal. But when you pray and you invest that time into people, and people start realizing you're not out there just to feed them,12:29 like, no. I'm I'm out here to invest in you because God's called you to do something. And 1 of the prayer requests that tugged at my heart is I won't say the name of the lady, but she asked12:41 that her kids would know who she was. Wow. And Wow. As a as a father, as a parent, and as a son of God, I was like, Jesus knows who you are.12:53 Mhmm. And my I mean, my prayer was that she felt recognized and that she felt recognized enough to reach out to her kids and be like, I'm still alive. I'm here. Because she said her13:05 her kids don't know where she is, and she's off the grid, walking around the streets, taking food. But those people need help. Those people need prayer, not just food, and they need shelter. And so13:17 that's our step with Ignite the Grill is step 1, make them feel something inside where their mental illnesses, their anxiety, their depression levels diminish. And when you13:29 feed them13:29 Yeah.13:30 They feel a little bit of home. They feel a little bit of something, but when Jesus gets a hold of them and they get that little bit of conviction, maybe they take that step to reach out to their kid. Maybe they take13:40 that step to reach out to a job. And, we're we're we're doing what we can to really help these people improve their life, where they're at in life.13:48 Yeah. Amen. And and and and, Son, I love the way you just stepped out and did it. So many and I'm not saying this is right, wrong, or indifferent, guys. All I'm saying is sometimes as believers,14:01 we get this idea, here's what God's laid on my heart. So we're gonna for the next 6 months, you're planning and you're doing all this. It's good to plan. Steven just went14:13 and just did it. And sometimes I think we get too much buried in all the stuff that could happen, that we should do. Sometimes it's just14:25 about stepping out and doing it. And you you didn't wait for the different, licensing or anything like that, but you get out there. And even even the officers that walk by, they're14:37 they they they wanna be they want you to be doing that. Mhmm. Yeah. And and I'm not I'm not saying avoid that. Don't don't get me wrong. But what I am saying is sometimes the Lord's put something14:48 on Urgent.14:49 Yes.14:49 There's a urgency.14:50 And it was it was time. It was a season, and Steven stepped out and just did it. And I I I just I love that about what you did, and God's blessing that, and God is is,15:03 is on that. And you so now now you're to the point, how often are how often are you doing that now?15:10 Yeah. So we're going out at least once a month. A lot of the times, 2. And we would like to do it more often. People's jobs get busy, people's lives get hectic, so it's sometimes hard to get15:22 help15:23 Yeah.15:23 To go down there, and it's something I can't do on my own. So I always have to take 1 buddy. I I typically like to take 2 to 3 other people. For safety, speed, and efficiency, that15:35 helps get more people served. That way, I can pray for people as they're getting to the table, not just waiting Yeah. At the table to pray for them. I feel like that's a big aspect. But going back to what you touched on,15:47 God called us to be the hands extended. Yeah. Right? And if we're sitting there receiving, consuming, that's great. We need to consume. But at some point, being a Christian means taking that step. Yeah. We're called to15:59 be disciples. Yeah. And I didn't know where I was going. I didn't know what to expect, but I've I've made adjustments, I've made changes, and I like to say that what we're doing right right now is not16:11 even close to what the finished product is gonna look like. But I'm so thankful I did. I I I took that step. I took a leap of faith.16:19 And but with boldness16:20 With boldness.16:21 As a mom, I'm going, downtown Seattle?16:24 He went where?16:25 Oh, my God.16:26 Right. And being uncomfortable. I don't know if you guys I mean, you guys definitely saw, but I I did a a freestyle rap, with 1 of the guys that showed up. I was extremely uncomfortable and I uncomfortable and I I could16:38 talk with anybody. I like I like16:39 being uncomfortable, but it it it16:39 made me feel some sort of way. And I feel like it was a huge blessing. I've had a lot of people just give me give me good feedback on it. Yeah. Not that that's my new career, but guys be uncomfortable.16:51 It's it's good for you to be uncomfortable. That's how you that's how you experience growth.16:55 Yeah.16:55 If you're always stuck in the same potter, you're you're never you're never pushing your limits. You don't know if you don't know how big of a tree you can be if you're if you're content in your pot. So I encourage you17:06 Be stretched. Yes.17:07 Be really distressed. Be drenched and17:08 Yeah. Let your roots expand.17:10 Yeah. So, the scripture in John, everybody pretty much probably knows it. In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God. And so,17:22 like, powerful God, he he is the word. Jesus is the word. And then but it goes on to say the word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. And I think17:33 oftentimes, you read the first part that he is the word Yeah. But his word became flesh and dwelt among us. And so Jesus in us, the hope of glory, but it's,17:45 you know, that it's in him. We live. We move. We have our being. And so should shouldn't it be the same that when we are so into the word of God Oh17:55 my god.17:57 That it affects our our flesh, our bodies in such a way that what he did, we begin to do. What he said in the word, we begin to say.18:09 And when he heard the father, because he said, I only say and do what I hear the father saying and doing. Then if we have the spirit of the living god in us, which we do, then when god speaks,18:21 it enlightens us. And then we go forth and do what he said because you could have heard that over and over. Just like Samuel heard, you know, Samuel. Samuel. And he kept going, you know,18:33 to the priest, and he's like, no. It's it's the Lord. It's God speaking to you. And you knew that it was the Lord, and so you obeyed and you went.18:42 Yeah.18:43 And that's what I Jesus, what did Jesus do? He multiplied the fish and the bread. He is the bread of heaven. You know, we eat of his flesh, we drink of his blood, and we18:55 remember him. But it's like if we do not understand that we are called to be and do what he did, and, you know, the19:06 same power that raised Christ from the dead, the resurrection power of Christ is in us. And we have the ability when you pray for people downtown, that we believe19:19 that lives are changed19:20 Yeah.19:20 And that they're transformed by the renewing of their mind19:23 Yeah.19:23 And to know him. Yeah. So I just can't get I'm so excited what God this is just the beginning.19:30 Yeah. Yeah. You're you're giving people hope. Yeah. And just to see their just the pictures that you send back to us, of you can you can see it in their face. And and and19:42 even if it's just for a, just for a couple of hours, just to have that hope back in them, I I it is to me, it's just a it's such a powerful thing.19:54 You you you touched on the groups, and and I wanna I wanna go there, a a little bit because I I just I I think, you know, here's here's Steven is. He he knows what it is to be an entrepreneur. He does a lot20:06 of, of coaching, pitching lessons, for for base baseball, and and so he knows what it is to go out and knows what it20:17 is to to to to be a be a father, but yet knows what it is to have that calling in your life. And these groups that meet every single week, guys, I'm telling you, it's20:29 so important. It's so important. We weren't meant to do this on our own. We weren't meant to do this on our own and and to have a group that meets every single week. You wanna go to ignite dash20:41 c b dot com and and and look at the different groups that are out there under the strategic groups. And there's there's women's groups that meet, there's there's men's groups that meet, they're all throughout the week,20:52 different times. But get yourself plugged into 1 of these groups. I I'm telling you, it will change your life. Mhmm. To have to have the we were on 1 this morning. And and21:04 just to hear just to hear Curtis' testimony, I've I've heard it several times, but it's like, oh my gosh. You forget, you were where you did21:16 this, but yet look at where he's at now. That's encouraging. And and I needed that this morning. I I I needed to hear that this morning. And to me, it's just it's powerful. It's powerful when21:28 we can get together with those like minded men of God. And, and and you've been part of it for for a a year now. Right?21:37 Yep.21:38 What's what's some of your what's some of the things you've gleaned from the the the groups?21:43 Well, some of the things I've gleaned from the groups is, insight. Right? Well, I I told them about Ignite the Grill and how it was starting. And, well, we have other people doing similar outreaches now.21:55 Right? We have drive through donuts21:57 Yeah.21:57 Where people are pulling up and they're getting prayed for as they get a donut on their way to work. Right? People are taking initiative because in these groups, we get too many groups that just receive, receive,22:08 receive, and we're calling people to go. And so through our mission impact plan, I don't know if you've talked about this much, but you get challenged as a believer. This is what I'm doing right now currently to impact22:20 the kingdom. This is what I would like to be doing. This is something I see long term. Yeah.22:24 This is22:24 where I'm supposed to be in about 6 months. Well, guess what? When you say that publicly to people that are investing time into your life, guess what? I'm a I'm a help you get there. Craig, I I I wanna I wanna assist you22:35 in this. How can I help? Hey, Craig. Where you at? And so people have been asking me how how can I help you get to where you wanna be in your 6 months? And so it's coming up to where I'm gonna have to restate where I'm22:46 at. Am I taking the right steps? Am I always making progress? I would Yes. We're always striving to make progress, but these groups don't allow you to sit and get comfortable and just say, oh, that was great. I can't22:57 wait to see what somebody else is doing. So our groups challenge you to be a disciple, not just a learner, which is great. You need to know the word before you can deliver the word, but at the same time, I didn't know23:09 what I was doing. That lady that widower had no idea what those vessels were for. But she had to go. She had to go get them. I had to go. And so these groups help you be a goer,23:21 a doer, not just a consumer because we consume everything. We watch TV. We consume. We consume. And we talk about our favorite TV shows. But how often do people get excited to tell people this is what I'm doing to impact23:32 the kingdom. Right? And when you hear people talk about that, that's somebody you want in your life. And those are the people we have on our roofs.23:38 Yeah. I think the scripture Yeah. That's good. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all the other things will be added unto you. That you have come into a place that you truly23:57 righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, and it's not something that we earn, you know, It's not like, oh, if I do this, God will love me. That he loves me just the way I am.24:09 Once we say, yes, you know, I believe in Jesus. He is the way to the father. The father is like, I have all these good and perfect gifts. I'm just waiting to give them to you because it's gonna further my24:21 kingdom. It's gonna advance the kingdom of god on earth. We pray, you know, heaven come on earth as it is in as it is in heaven, so be it on earth. And so when you are out there24:33 feeding these people, I just know it puts a smile on God's face. Yeah. And I think there's so much evil. There's so much wickedness. But24:45 even in the church, there's so much self absorption, so much pride, so much whatever. And the Lord sees a man that comes, a son of God that comes24:57 with a with a humble heart. And it's like what you've done into the least of these, you've done unto me. Yeah. And I believe he just sits in heaven, he's like, that's my boy. That's my kid.25:07 Yeah.25:07 And he just smiles as you feed. And there's no fear in you because it's the perfect love of the father that shines in and through you and is released. And when you cook food,25:19 because I know there were times that I would I would make you a sandwich, and I've said this before. And if I cut it a certain way, you go, mom, you didn't make that sandwich with love. So,25:31 like, I know when I made food with love and when I'm making it now for your your sister who's pregnant with twin boys, you know, I'm helping out and trying to do more because she she's not able to do as much.25:43 And, you know, I just look and you do it with love because you're doing it unto the father.25:50 Yeah. Yeah.25:51 I love that.25:52 Yeah. It's so good. It's so good. Des, I want you to pray over Steven and pray over pray over our listeners that they would find their purpose. And and find26:04 that more, and and just have the I don't know, just just step out and do. Just to step out and and and it's like I think there's just too many of us26:13 that talk about it. Yeah.26:15 We need to step out and do that.26:17 But before we do that though, I'm gonna Steven, you look in that camera there and that you pray. Yeah. And then I'll close it in prayer.26:28 Dear father, we thank you for what Ignite is doing, but we thank you for these listeners. Yeah. We thank you for people that are watching online, and we thank you that you told everybody that calls your name to go. And26:40 father god, we ask that you would find their vessels26:43 Yeah.26:43 And make it obvious to them. Give them insight and give them the character and strength needed to go and make a change. God, I felt like I had nothing, and I grabbed my grill and went. This widow26:55 woman felt like she had nothing, and she went and found pots. God, I ask you would give every listener the insight and the knowledge to go and get that pot, and to have the strength and the27:07 will power to fill it up and listen. Yeah. So, God, we bless these people listening. Help them ignite a change in their life.27:15 Yeah. Amen. Amen. Amen.27:18 And so, Lord, we pray also that every listener, Lord, that, God, you they have been knit together in their mother's womb and, Lord, with purpose, with destiny.27:30 And so, Lord, as there are those that are in their twenties, thirties, all the way up to 80 or 90 years old, and everything in between. Lord, we just say that they have been27:42 made in the image of God. That, Lord, you are the father, and you, Lord, love to give gifts to your children. And, Lord, not gifts that we can just lavish it on ourselves, but,27:54 Lord, gifts that we can use to bring light Yeah. And light. And so, Lord, that our lights would shine, that we would not hide our light under a bushel, but instead, Lord, we would shine. We would be theShow more In this video 0:00 Ignite Kingdom Talk: A Mission of Hope
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