The Rev. Brenda Booth, executive director of Isaiah 58 Ministries, recently presented Lawrence Johnson, president of the Shaw Neighborhood Improvement Association, with the annual J.I.M. (Joined In Ministry) award at Isaiah 58 Ministries’ Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner held recently at Isaiah 58 Ministries, located in the basement of Compton Heights Christian Church on South Grand.
The J.I.M. award was created in memory of two men who were instrumental in creating long-term, committed relationships between their two churches and Isaiah 58 Ministries. Both men passed away in 2007, saddening both their communities and our ministry.
Jim Hofferth was a member at Ladue Chapel Presbyterian Church and worked tirelessly to develop their outreach center that today continues to provide fresh produce, sandwiches and other food items on a weekly basis.
Jim Ross was a long-time member at Bonhomme Presbyterian Church who served on the board of Isaiah 58 Ministries and provided direction and strong leadership to the ministry.
“These two men displayed through their daily actions what it means to be Joined In Ministry with others,” Rev. Booth said.
Free healthy food classes for churches
Three Saturdays in summer 2013, local faith community culinary staff and pastors, working with culinary and nutrition professionals, will learn to prepare healthy, affordable food that could change Sunday’s church dinner.
Through a collaboration of Operation Food Search and Faith Communities Joined for Health (funding provided by Missouri Foundation for Health), three free classes on healthy food preparation are being offered at various churches throughout the city and county.
Designed specifically for the African-American faith-based community, where an increase in the prevalence of diabetes, heart disease and obesity is taking its toll, these classes aim to provide culinary staff and pastors a chance to learn new skills and techniques to prepare healthier versions of traditional favorites.
On a typical Sunday following church service, meals are a time to congregate and enjoy friends, family and foods such as fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, candied yams, and other tasty yet calorie and fat filled foods. Through this training, culinary staff and leadership of local African-American congregations will receive tools and skills necessary to encourage their congregations to make healthier food choices and be able to set an example within the church.
Educational materials will be distributed on how to start health ministries, recipes will be prepared and sampled, and discussions will be held regarding the negative health consequences of unhealthy eating and how it is adversely affecting the African American community.
Two classes are currently scheduled, with a third to be announced.
- June 1 – Lane Tabernacle, 910 North Newstead, 63108 – RSVP no later than May 17
- June 8 – Coleman Wright Church, 9777 Halls Ferry Road, 63136 – RSVP no later than May 24.
All classes will be held Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Established in 1981 to tackle the growing problem of hunger, Operation Food Search is a St. Louis area food bank that distributes food free of charge to feed the poor and hungry. In addition to food distribution, Operation Food Search offers robust culinary-based nutrition education.
Faith Communities Joined for Health are volunteers from faith communities, universities, health departments and community agencies who focus on African-American churches to implement program to improve the health of members.
Individuals wanting to attend must RSVP to Monique Norfolk at 314-286-0095 or fcjh2013@gmail.com. It is requested that church pastors and culinary staff attend.
