Manistee Church Hosts Impactful Weight Loss Program

The Manistee church recognizes that the health programs bring people into the church who otherwise would probably never walk through the doors. 

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), nearly half of the American population suffers from at least one chronic illness, such as hypertension, heart disease, arthritis, or diabetes. It is no wonder that Mrs. White describes the health message as “the right arm of the gospel” when so many Americans are searching for help on their health journey. Adventists have a health message that is unique as its guidelines come straight from God. It is our duty to share it with the world, just as it is our duty to share the gospel.

Mike and Dotti Lambert, members of the Manistee church, have been faithfully carrying out health seminars and hands-on programs for the past 26 years. The health message is especially meaningful to them as, years ago, Mike was re-converted to Adventism after 22 years of absence through the truths found in the health message. The Lamberts personally understood the importance of the health message and spiritual health, and they turned their efforts to holding seminars to help others.  

For the past four years, says Dotti, they have been hosting “healthy weight loss seminars and vegetarian/vegan cooking schools.” This summer, they began another session of the Unfit 2 Fit Weight loss program, which ran from July through end of August.

After mailing out 12,000 handbills, several from the community expressed interest in attending, and ultimately, the Manistee church hosted nine attendees at the seminar. Of the nine, five were non-members, reports Lambert.

Unfit 2 Fit focused on losing weight healthfully, using diet and exercise as tools. Each meeting began with a weigh-in, followed by breathing exercises, and then 30 minutes of exercise, which was either walking or chair exercises. The Lamberts provided coaching during this time, as well as personal testimony. Mike was a truck driver, and before finding and practicing the truths of the health message, he struggled with his own health. “Mike lost 100 pounds when he first started following the health message,” Dotti says. “He used to cook healthy vegetarian food in his truck.” Their personal experience showed attendees that it is possible to cook healthfully, even if traveling or short on time.

Following the exercise, attendees were given the opportunity to learn how to cook a healthy vegetarian or vegan dish, and then Mac Mills, who pastors the Manistee church, closed the meeting with a spiritual nugget. Each participant was given a recipe and handouts that accompanied the week’s lesson.

Mills also participated in the program, which was beneficial for community members to learn alongside the local pastor and interact with him.

The class met once a week on Sunday for eight weeks, and at the end of the eight weeks, all nine attendees had faithfully attended every meeting and had graduated from the Unfit 2 Fit Weight Loss seminar.

One attendee was so committed that, despite her husband having to have surgery a few hours away, she came “long enough to weigh in and pick up the handouts,” says Lambert.

“When they graduated,” Lambert says, “we had a vegetarian dinner for them and their spouses. Each family received the 7 Secrets Cookbook and Steps to Christ, as well as a diploma.”

After the conclusion of the Unfit 2 Fit program, all attendees were invited to come back to Manistee church for an Advanced Vegetarian/Vegan cooking program, which began on Sunday, September 24. Of the nine Unfit 2 Fit program attendees, 8 chose to come to the Advanced cooking program to continue learning.

This program will meet once a month and continue through 2024.

Manistee church has seen “great interest in health programs in the community,” says Lambert. From the health message, Mike and Dotti have personally seen people drawn into the church. “It’s all worth it, even for just one,” Dotti says. “One time we only had one person come [to a health program], she requested Bible studies, and was baptized.”

The Manistee church recognizes that the health programs bring people into the church who otherwise would probably never walk through the doors. “We always make sure that there is an opportunity for spiritual growth,” Dotti shares. “We always include the eight principles of Health,” she shares. The eight principles are nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, rest, air, and trust in God. All attendees are also invited to upcoming evangelistic series and offered Bible studies.

The church is thankful for God’s guidance through their health evangelism efforts. “We couldn’t do it without the Lord,” Lambert says.