OtherSide Ministers

We are a love based ministry providing for our community through meals, resources, connections, and education.

We are proud to announce we have a sustainable kitchen in Apache Junction through our community partner: Genesis Project. There we provide job training and a bi monthly outreach to the homeless and food insecure of Apache Junction and East Valley. Our culinary job training program is called A New Beginning; which East Valley Institute of Technology assisted us in writing the curriculum for this program. This program gives low income and homeless persons the skills needed to obtain and sustain employment, as well as thrive in the culinary field. Students will be guided from start to finish in basics such as sanitation, knife skills, culinary technique and through all the standard restaurant stations. Every student also receives their food handlers' card and once they have worked in the restaurant industry for 90 consecutive days will also receive a full set of chef kitchen knives. We also assist in writing a resume and providing guidance on interviewing. The state is experiencing a restaurant boom providing ample opportunity for trained individuals to regain employment in this field. Horizon Health, Arizona Works and local churches create a pathway for future students to connect and sign up for our program.

We provide real world work experience and income for our graduates through our catering company. We provide on-site and drop-off catering as well as a monthly restaurant pop-up at our teaching and catering kitchen.

We provide real world work experience to our graduates through HOPE Café our for profit catering company. We provide on-site and drop-off catering, and sell packaged foods at Farmers Markets.

Testimonials

What I enjoyed about the culinary classes is that it showed me more unique ways of cooking and showed me knife skills and it was great how I got to help serve guests at the catering events. After these classes I took what I learned and signed up for culinary at school and it made everything easier, and I get to help show some of the cooking techniques I learned to others in school. Oryion Durant
Graduated 2022

Chef Jason. I want again to thank you for giving my daughter and myself the opportunity to attend the otherside ministry's culinary arts class # 4. At the time I had been retired and on social security disability and wasn't planning on returning to work, I attended because my daughter wanted to go. As it turned out 3 years ago you sent me to the original burrito company where I still work today, although part time. I made some really good friends there. My wife and I had fun volunteering for the outreach program to help feed the homeless.
David Hopkins
Graduated 2020

There are people you meet in life and things that you go through that change you. When I heard about Other Side Ministries and learned that there was a class, I could take to improve my cooking skills and knowledge I had to apply. Taking this course with Chef Jason was one of the best things I could have ever done! Not only did I learn more about cooking and working as a team, I learned more about myself. I learned how to push forward even when days were hard. I learned that even when I didn't want to travel to class I still would because I had a team of people counting on me. It was such a welcoming environment that has helped me teach my children how to cook and to continue cooking for the people I love and to do a little bit of catering on the side. Chef Jason has been an inspiration to me in so many ways. Anyone who has the opportunity to take this class should! You will grow as a person and learn so many useful skills and even find employment doing something that you love. It will teach you to love and respect the art of cooking.
Alaina Locke Hopkins
Graduated 2019

My name is Meshaun and I had the pleasure of being in the first cooking class with Other Side Ministries. Being a home cook I wanted to expand my knowledge in the kitchen. I learned so much from Jason from mis en place to seasoning and knife skills. Jason was very patient and knowledgeable. I would really recommend this class to anyone who wants to work in a commercial kitchen. This class really set the foundation for cooking and safety in the kitchen. Thank you so much Jason!
Meshaun Hamilton
Graduated 2019

I am grateful for Other Side Ministries Culinary School. Chef Jason has taught me the skills needed to obtain high end jobs in the restaurant business. Through Other Side Ministries my life has changed for the better and keeps getting better. Other Side Ministry is changing lives, Thank you GOD for Other Side Ministers. Amen
Arthur Preston III
Graduated 2019