Lay ministers learn about Foods of the Bible

February 10, 2005

Approximately 25 members of the KirkCare ministry team at Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma learned the difference between God's food and man's food at their monthly training meeting Feb. 9 at their church.

Nutrition Manager Kalli Campbell and Pastoral Care Director Rev. Michael A. Langham, both from Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Southwestern Regional Medical Center, team-taught the meeting. While Campbell explained the health reasons for eating whole, organically grown, natural foods whenever possible instead of processed fare, Langham shared Scripture talking about specific foods and showing God's interest in how people care for their bodies.

"I really enjoyed all the information on flour," said Karen Duncan, a KirkCare lay minister. "I didn't know that whole grain flour can help you lose weight."

"My husband doesn't see well, and I know what Kalli said about brightly colored vegetables being good for his sight is true," Joana Fidler, another KirkCare lay minister, said. "We need to get back to eating natural."

"I think we often forget what Michael shared, that worship is who we are and how we live, not what we do," said Jeff Reed, pastor over lay ministry and KirkCare at Kirk of the Hills. "That includes what we eat, honoring God with what we do with our bodies. I'm going to do my own study now for the KirkCare team on what all God says about food. It's something we need to pay more attention to. That way, we can take better care of ourselves so we can take better care of others."

KirkCare is a lay ministry program of Kirk of the Hills to its congregational members who are in crisis and needing special support, including home visitation, personal attention and care.

Campbell and Langham presented as part of CTCA's spiritual outreach program called Our Journey of Hope®. They will present Foods of the Bible again on March 31, from 7-8:30 p.m., for the general public at First Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1244 S. Utica Ave., Tulsa.

Our Journey of Hope® was created to export one of the core tenants of CTCA's integrative treatment approach for cancer ? spiritual care ? to the general public in hopes of providing more effective ministry to cancer patients and their families.

For more information on Our Journey of Hope® and scheduling speakers or lay ministry training at a church, call 1-888-399-8126.