Robby & Mia Graham

What appeared to be a normal, Friday evening AA meeting turned into a life-changing moment for Robby and Mia Graham. Meeting that night as recovering addicts set them both on a journey of surrendering their hearts fully to God. That continual act of surrender has since led to a book, a 90-minute documentary about their story and a unique, Christ-centered café that serves plant-based food.

Join us as we dig deeper into Robby and Mia’s personal story, the truths and passion that drive their faith, and the resources that have helped them overcome a difficult past.

QUESTION #1: ACQUAINT

There’s much more to food than palate and preference. How does a go-to meal at your favorite hometown restaurant reveal the true you behind the web bio?

One meal stands out. It was January 9, 2017, a birthday dinner for a close family member. After we said the blessing, small talk erupted. Mia and I were asked a question: “Have you and Robby thought any more about opening that café you talked about almost a year ago?”

We had just finished writing the book of our story, “222 Says It Was Always You,” which delayed us from pursuing the vision of opening a café. Well, later in 2018, Mia and I opened Revelations Café in Lutz, Florida. It’s a place where people can gather, have community and even pray together — a far cry from where we both came from.

I was born and raised until 9 years old in a little town outside of Detroit, Michigan. It was at this time my dad suffered a severe heart attack and was instructed by his doctor to quit his job as a truck driver and move to a warmer climate to recover. Shortly after that, we ended up in a small suburb of Tampa, Florida. That was in 1969, and this is where I grew up.

Mia, on the other hand, grew up in the small town of Valdosta, Georgia, before moving to Florida in the mid-1990s. Ironically, I had just been married to my second wife for approximately three years when Mia moved to Florida. Mia soon met her now-ex-husband and, during their marriage, had two children, both of whom have grown into amazing young men.

Sadly, I got divorced after 12 years, and I never had children. Mia sadly divorced and began raising her two beautiful boys as a single mom. Both of us were affected by these events and found ourselves continuing to search for true happiness. We also both thought we would find what we were looking for through our continued pursuit of relationships with people, places and things. We finally realized that neither of us was able to fill the God-sized hole in our hearts with the pleasures of this world.

Tragically, after lifting heavy in the gym one day, I injured my back and started abusing opiates. Eventually, I became an IV drug user and ended up homeless in 2013 at the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Center. At the same time, Mia was dealing with the same issues from her own abuse of drugs and alcohol. She realized her need to quit as well.

On July 26, 2013, Mia and I met at an AA meeting through a chance encounter. She saw a bracelet I was wearing after the meeting and approached me from behind, popped the bracelet I was wearing, and when I turned around, she said, “Nice bracelet”! We were wearing the same bracelet, which said, “Better Together”! That was almost 10 years ago, and we’re still realizing we are better together.

A beach from above — Shifaaz shamoon; Unsplash

QUESTION #2: REVEAL

We’ve all got quirky proclivities and out-of-the-way interests. So what are yours? What so-called “nonspiritual” activities do you love and help you find spiritual renewal?

Eleven long months later, Mia and I were married. Yes, Mia took a chance as a recovering alcoholic on a homeless, recovering IV drug user. It wasn’t a romantic, flower-filled courtship. Both Mia and I were in a spiritual battle.

We found out quickly that not everyone who knew of our relationship thought we had a chance. In fact, there were quite a few who tried to tell us we were making a big mistake. However, both Mia and I had a spiritual awakening during our respective recoveries and dedicated our lives to following Jesus. This would be the glue that held us together individually and, later, as a couple.

Often, we would find ourselves doing some of the same things we did before becoming clean and sober but with a renewed sense of identity. We no longer hungered and thirsted for drugs and alcohol but instead started to appreciate the beauty of creation. For example, we would work out in times past for vanity. We would go to the beach after a workout to look good and enjoy a day of partying under the hot sun to reward ourselves for all the hard work we put into our bodies. Unfortunately, the consequences of this day of fun in the sun led to further destruction in our lives. All the while, we thought we were living the good life.

There was something refreshing about being together on the beach now compared to before — watching a beautiful sunset, having a nice dinner afterward and going home sober. We were discovering there was so much more to life than numbing our pain with the pleasures of this world. We were beginning to see what it looks like to walk by faith and not by sight.

QUESTION #3: CONFESS

Every superhero has a weakness. Every human, too. We’re just good at faking it. But who are we kidding? We’re broken and in this thing together. So what’s your kryptonite and how do you hide it?

Although Mia and I were now on this journey together, we were both still very broken people. Even today, we find ourselves struggling with many of the same things we all struggle with. Fear, anxiety, depression — the list goes on.

For me, my biggest struggle is pride. Mia’s is control. You could say I find myself too prideful based on all the years of me being insecure. And Mia wanted to control things based on all the years she was witness to dysfunction in the family unit. None of us are exempt from the cares of this world. It becomes so easy to fall back into our old mindsets before discovering our identities in Christ. It’s easy to think there’s always a secular answer that fixes our problems and that we are somehow in control of our destiny.

It’s this constant battle between our flesh and the Spirit of God. Mia and I both were delivered from our drug and alcohol abuse, but then food started to become an issue. After all, there’s nothing wrong with eating whatever you want if you glorify God and thank him for each meal. Yes, practically and biblically, this is true. However, what does it look like to be a disciple of Christ? The root word is discipline. Mia and I soon discovered this would be an area God would get our attention — not only to make better choices regarding the food we eat but also to learn how to fast and pray. Like many of you, we are a work in progress. Yes, progress, not perfection.

QUESTION #4: FIRE UP

Tell us about your toil. How are you investing your professional time right now? What’s your obsession? And why should it be ours?

Today, Mia and I are the proprietors of a unique café called Revelations Café. The café was birthed out of a vision the Lord gave Mia.

Both Mia and I went back to school together and received degrees in Christian counseling. Shortly afterward, Mia became a certified Christian life coach, and I did, too. However, when Mia first received this spiritual download about this café, I wasn’t on board. After all, this was to be a plant-based, vegetarian café that didn’t serve any meat. But I was on board with the fact that we would be a faith-based café!

While building the café in a former mattress store with no existing kitchen, I experienced a heart attack while working out in the gym. By God’s grace, Mia got me to the hospital in time for them to stop the heart attack, and the next morning, I received a stent in my left coronary artery. I had what’s known today as the Widow Maker!

At that time, a brother in Christ sent me a book on how to reverse and prevent heart disease. The more I read this book, the more convicted I became. It was about eating a plant-based diet to reverse my cardiovascular disease. Now, more than four years later, I can honestly say I’m on board with the vision God gave Mia—and I feel great! Furthermore, my doctors are amazed by my test results. Mia was mainly a vegetarian as she doesn’t like the taste or texture of meat, and now she eats more plant-based foods as well.

Both of us continue to exercise regularly as well as, now more than ever, fast and pray. Intermittent fasting especially helps the body to regulate weight gain. Going a minimum of 13 hours to as much as 16 hours from the meal the night before until the first meal the next day makes a huge difference in how your body metabolizes food. We pray together all the time. We pray with our staff and we often pray for our patrons. We’ve seen God move mightily through our obedience to pray and fast! We pray you do as well.

QUESTION #5: BOOST

Cashiers, CEOs, contractors or customer service reps, we all need grace flowing into us and back out into the world. How does the Holy Spirit invigorate your work? And how do you know it’s God when it happens?

One might think owning a faith-based, plant-based café is reason enough to preclude we are on a supernatural path with no resistance or pressure from the outside world. Nothing could be further from the truth! Unfortunately, we have an enemy Scripture classifies as a roaring lion seeking those he may devour.

Both Mia and I — more so now than ever — have submitted ourselves to the leading and prompting of the Holy Spirit. As proprietors, we must run our business with structure, intentionality and strategy. When you have as many as 10 people under your guidance and authority working harmoniously together, grace must be at the forefront. By praying with our staff regularly, time and time again, we have witnessed God’s manifest presence in all nine fruits of the Holy Spirit as represented in Galatians 5:22,23 — love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Mia and I intentionally and strategically apply God’s Word to every aspect of our business. Some people say, “You shouldn’t mix your faith with your business,” but it’s because of our faith that we have our business! We encourage others, “Let your light shine and be bold in your faith. With God before you, who dare be against you?”

QUESTION #6: inspire

Scripture and tradition beckon us into the rich and varied actions that open our hearts to the presence of God. So spill it, which spiritual practice is workin’ best for you right now?

God’s Word means everything to Mia and me. However, life application is most important. The first Scripture that became our life verse is Proverbs 3:5,6, which says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Wow, right? Trust in the Lord, not your own understanding!

The truth is, all the Proverbs are paramount in business as they were written by the wealthiest man who ever lived, King Solomon. Yes, King Solomon was worth more monetarily than anyone who’s ever lived, but it was his wealth of wisdom and knowledge from God that set him apart from other rulers. That’s still relevant today!

Although we will never reach perfection on this side of eternity, Mia and I hope to exemplify the mind of Christ when making important business decisions that affect the lives of our employees and patrons. I think the great apostle Paul said it best at the end of his famous love chapter: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13, NIV).

Love is the answer because God is love, according to the apostle John. When we love others well, faith and hope are the byproducts. Who doesn’t need more faith and hope in this world we live in today?

QUESTION #7: FOCUS

Our email subscribers get free ebooks featuring our favorite resources — lots of things that have truly impacted our faith lives. But you know about some really great stuff, too. What are three resources that have impacted you?

I think three resources have impacted Mia and me exponentially. First, “Lead Like Jesus Revisited” by Ken Blanchard, Phil Hodges, and Phyllis Hendry. We all need to learn from the greatest leader of all time, Jesus himself.

Also, “Communication IQ” by Fred and Anna Kendall. This book is truly amazing. As we discover from Scripture, especially Romans 12, God created each one of us with the seven gifts of the spirit and mind. Learning how you communicate and how others communicate can only strengthen the body of Christ! Gerald Parsons is the CEO of Life Languages International, the organization behind “Communication IQ.” We’re fortunate to call him a friend and brother in Christ. Taking the organization’s assessment will open your eyes to knowing the language you and others in your organization speak.

Last, another great book is “The Richest Man Who Ever Lived” by Steven K. Scott. It’s an in-depth look at who King Solomon was and a deeper, more intimate understanding of what we can glean from the book of Proverbs.

Something else Mia and I do frequently is watch a lot of sermons from pastors like our very own Craig Altman as well as other preachers like Robert Morris, Jimmy Evans, Allen Jackson, Louie Giglio, Steven Furtick, Levi Lusko, David Jerimiah, Charles Stanley, Mike Bickle and many others. These are some of God’s finest messengers, and we encourage others to be in community as they learn God’s Word.

We all have things we cling to to survive (or thrive) in tough times. Name one resource you’ve found indispensable in this current season — and tell us what it’s done for you.

When all is said and done, Mia and I pray and fast when we need to hear from God. Not only do we pray fervently together, but we both also will pray without ceasing.

We also use the YouVersion Bible app and often research devotions relating to something we might be going through at that moment. It never ceases to amaze us just how relevant these devotions are and how very applicable they become in a time or season when we need to hear from God the most.

QUESTION #8: dream

God is continually stirring new things in each of us. So give us the scoop! What’s beginning to stir in you but not yet fully awakened? What can we expect from you in the future?

Neither Mia nor I know what God has in store next. However, through our obedience to surrender our lives to the will of the Father, we have opened God’s café with no restaurant experience, filmed a 90-minute documentary about this journey and finished writing a book telling of the signs, miracles and wonders God performed in bringing two broken people together for his glory. Mia and I continue to surrender by saying the words of the prophet Isaiah (paraphrased of course from Isaiah 6:8): “Then we heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And we, said, ‘Here we are Lord. Send us!’” So, we wait for his next assignment.

Have you ever felt God calling you to do something you felt you didn’t have enough experience in?

Modern culture calls it “imposter syndrome.” The Bible calls it fear. Whatever name you give it, it’s a natural response — but also one that can hold us back from the good things God has in store.

So how should we respond when fear rises up and we feel inadequate? Well, why not take Paul’s approach and step out anyway? When some Corinthian believers began questioning his call as an apostle, Paul wrote:

“Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

Where does your competence come from, friend?