Shaped through motherhood: Becky & Joanna's Story

This Mother’s Day Month, we’ve been reflecting on what it means to be shaped by a mother—and then to pass that on. Immediately we thought of Joanna Vaughn, the daughter and the founder of the Amani Chattanooga, and her mother Becky Chinchen! Here are their words on how motherhood shaped the creation of Amani in the past, present, and looking into the future.

Joanna

Sharing this work together, as mother and daughter, has been one of the deepest joys of my life. My mom is a visionary, always drawn toward the flourishing of others. Through her, I have seen what it looks like for business acumen, loving leadership, prayerful decision-making, and beauty to coexist. I am grateful to have been shaped by her example.

I grew up at Amani, and now my daughters are growing up here too—labeling and stocking products, baking in the café, counting inventory, and even helping care for our spaces. They have seen both the beauty and the challenges of life in ministry. My hope is that what they carry from it all is this: it’s worth it. Finding ways to serve others—whether in ministry, in your profession, or in your home—forms in you a deep sense of gratitude, joy, and community.

My understanding of beauty was shaped early on. As a refugee in Côte d'Ivoire, one of the highlights of my week was going to the market with my mother—surrounded by vibrant fabrics, carved wood, woven rugs, and rich textures. That early exposure formed a love for color and material that still influences my eye today.

When someone brings an Amani piece into their home, my hope is that they experience something deeper than function. That they recognize beauty—not just as something well-made, but something that resonates. Beauty is often felt before it is explained. It draws us in.

I believe this is one of the ways we encounter our Creator.

Just as the women at Amani are formed through the work of creating beautiful things, those who receive these pieces are also formed by them. The making and the receiving are both part of the story.

Looking ahead, my hope is that the culture of Amani—its beauty, peace, hospitality, and sincerity—continues to be carried forward in every product and every person it touches.

Amani has always been more than a mission.
It is a community of people being formed together.

Becky

You don’t expect to wake up to do life AND work with one of your kids. It’s been sheer joy to work with Joanna—together bringing a life-giving Amani center into existence that brings hope, peace, and blessing to others.
As a mom working with a daughter, I have learned the importance of allowing her to have ownership of her work, not imposing on her my desires and dreams. It was important to give her space in order for her to develop what she envisioned Amani Chattanooga to be—a space of beauty that invites people in to experience the richness of God’s love and peace.

I have also come to appreciate Joanna’s strong sense of justice. The Liberia Amani Center was established because of her unyielding burden for the women of Liberia and the negative impact destructive cultural practices have had on women. It was not part of my agenda initially, but with her vision and my experience, we established the Amani Liberia Center together.

I learned to trust Joanna’s business instincts. We all have our own style of leadership—my gifts are more entrepreneurial, while Joanna is very measured and thoughtful in her business decisions, ensuring growth and sustainability.

When I think about my daughters and granddaughters, my hope is that they learn beauty of heart, beauty of art, and beauty of people. That they learn to do everything in grace and peace as they live life and do work.

Because Joanna grew up in Africa, she absorbed the values of respect, compassion, and community. These values, which are foundational to Amani, did not have to be introduced to her—they were already part of her DNA.

My prayer for my grandchildren is that they will develop and use their God-given gifts with passion in a way that not only brings them joy, but points others to God’s truth and beauty.

What has surprised me most in my work with Amani is how work could be so much fun. I have never viewed Amani as work, but rather as a community where we work and live life together.

My biggest hope and prayer for Amani in the coming years is that she will continue to be a beacon of hope and light to all who come through her doors. My greatest joy is knowing that visitors and the women who work at Amani—all of us, in fact—experience His transformational peace.