More Than a Haircut
Featuring Godfrey Nilluka
By: Chase Muro
Most people walk into a barbershop expecting a haircut.
Some leave with much more.
At Chico's Classic Barbershop in Vancouver, it's not uncommon for conversations to drift beyond sports, weather, or the latest local news. Sit in Godfrey Nilluka's chair long enough, and you may find yourself talking about faith, purpose, family, or the deeper questions of life.
Godfrey is a husband, father of three, and barber whose genuine curiosity and passion for Christ naturally shape the conversations he has every day.
But his journey to this point was anything but ordinary.
Around 2010, at just fourteen years old, Godfrey joined a metal band and spent much of his teenage years traveling up and down the West Coast.
Like many young people, he was having the time of his life.
There were road trips, late nights, friendships, music, and the excitement of being part of something bigger than himself. But as the years passed, life brought challenges he never anticipated.
Those moments eventually brought him to his knees.
In the middle of life's struggles, Godfrey encountered Jesus Christ in a way that changed everything.
One phrase from his childhood never left him. Hanging on a placard in the bathroom of his family home was a simple saying:
"Weave in faith, and God will find the thread."
At the time, it was just something he passed by every day. Years later, he realized how true those words were.
Looking back, Godfrey can see God weaving together every chapter of his life. From playing in a metal band as a teenager, to working as a tile setter, to becoming a barber, husband, and father, God was quietly finding the thread and leading him forward.
He also remembers a pivotal moment while watching a preacher on television explain the historical reality of Jesus Christ and proclaim that Christ was "the way, the truth, and the life."
Godfrey had been baptized at nine years old, but for much of his life, faith remained in the background.
This time was different.
This time, he was ready.
"I just loved the Lord," he told me.
From that point forward, his faith became personal.
One encounter at a barbershop would prove especially memorable.
Years ago, while getting a haircut at a shop on Fourth Plain Boulevard, a barber casually asked him a simple question.
"Do you have a girlfriend right now?"
Without hesitation, Godfrey replied:
"My girlfriend is Jesus."
The barbershop erupted in laughter.
Most people would have backed down. Godfrey doubled down.
He began talking passionately about his faith, sharing what Christ had done in his life and why it mattered so much to him. While much of the shop laughed, a woman sitting nearby quietly began crying.
After the haircut, she approached him outside.
She explained that her father was a pastor.
Before long, she connected Godfrey with him, opening a door that would help shape the next decade of his life.
Following that connection, Godfrey began attending church faithfully. For the next ten years, he immersed himself in Christian community, serving others and growing deeper in his relationship with Christ.
Along the way, he spent years working as a tile setter, building a career with his hands while God continued building something even greater within him.
Today, Godfrey finds himself in another season of growth.
His desire is not simply to stay where he is spiritually. He is actively studying Christianity more deeply, exploring different church traditions, learning about the sacraments, and seeking what he calls "the fullness of Truth."
What struck me most during our conversation was not that he claimed to have all the answers.
It is that he is still searching.
Still learning.
Still curious.
Still hungry for Truth.
And that is something you notice immediately when you sit in his chair.
At Chico's Classic Barbershop, conversations naturally drift toward faith, family, purpose, and life. Godfrey has a unique ability to meet people where they are and share his story without forcing it.
He simply talks about what Christ has done in his life.
And people listen.
Of course, faith is not the only thing you'll hear about.
Godfrey loves cooking almost as much as he loves cutting hair.
Mention steaks, and you'll quickly hear about his Blackstone griddle. According to him, a steak cooked on the smoker is tough to beat. He'll also tell you that six minutes in the air-fryer can produce a pretty impressive steak too.
Either way, dinner is usually in good hands.
As for the haircuts?
They're excellent.
The conversation is even better.
And if you happen to walk into the shop wearing a hat, don't be surprised if you accidentally leave it behind. According to frequent customers, forgotten hats have become something of a recurring theme around the barbershop.
As I sat talking with Godfrey, one thing became clear:
God is moving in his life.
Not through grand stages or viral moments, but through everyday conversations, genuine curiosity, and a willingness to share his faith wherever he goes.
Whether he's behind a barber chair, cooking steaks for his family, or talking with a stranger about Christ, Godfrey continues to live with the same lesson that greeted him every day growing up:
"Weave in faith, and God will find the thread."
Looking at his story, it seems that's exactly what happened.
From a teenager touring the West Coast in a metal band, to a husband, father of three, and barber who shares his faith with anyone willing to listen, Godfrey's life is a reminder that God often works through ordinary conversations, unexpected encounters, and a willingness to keep searching for Truth.
And for Godfrey, the search continues.
Not because he doubts.
But because every step closer to Christ only makes him want to know Him more.
Everyone Has a Story is a series dedicated to sharing the lives, experiences, and journeys of people whose stories deserve to be heard.
Thank you for your time, friend.