The Michigan Conference encouraged church leaders to use the LifeStyle Matters materials for community outreach, leading up to Hope for Our Day this fall.

When Jackson (Michigan) Church members held their first LifeStyle Matters seminar on diet and stress last April at their community service center, they felt successful because more than 25 people attended.

But when they held their second seminar, "Foods for Thought," in August with seminar developer Vicki Griffin as presenter, they were excitedly overwhelmed when 170 non-Adventists attended the event.

Throughout the four-session seminar the numbers remained steady. The room was so full church members were politely asked to either stand at the back or refrain from attending to make room for the non-Adventists.

Dennis Benedict, a physician and Jackson Church personal ministries leader, coordinated the effort and says he believes "having the seminar at a neutral site, securing a great group of people who worked as a 'team,' outstanding marketing/promotion, and developing a mission statement," led to its success.

The seminar was held at the county's largest medical facility, W.A. Foote Hospital, selected because it brought a degree of credibility. When approaching hospital administration for use of their auditorium, Benedict stressed the program's mission statement — "Helping as many people as possible with their health concerns."

The large auditorium was secured, free of charge, and then Benedict asked the church for volunteers to help. More than 20 individuals volunteered in their areas of expertise. Marketing and promotion was headed by Ray Hamblin, Jackson's head elder. Sixteen-thousand brochures were mailed to selected zip codes in the city, press releases were published, and display ads ran for three days. The area's 20-largest employers were visited by trained church members, who offered free posters and brochures for employees. Not one site refused the materials!

As calls poured in, registration reached more than 140, far exceeding original estimates of 50 registrants. The food team had to quadruple recipes to serve everyone adequately. Gene Hall, Jackson Church pastor, actually made two trips to Berrien Springs to pick up more workbooks. On opening night the Jackson team was ready and waiting!

When guests arrived they were led to beautifully-displayed sample foods to taste, and to a display table with colorful workbooks, many cookbooks, and other health-related publications available for purchase. These sales generated funds to help with seminar costs.

Bob Ritzenthaler, seminar host, said: "I am thrilled to be a part of this successful outreach. The 'Foods for Thought' module is first-class and professional. Any church could put this on."

One attendee asked Benedict why this information was not more widely available, especially in the public schools. This idea prompted the church to consider presenting programs to other groups in the city.

So what made this seminar so successful? The Jackson team believes their mission statement says it all — "Help as many people as possible with their health concerns." The numbers speak for themselves! (See p. 10 for Lifestyle Matters information.)

Madlyn Hamblin is a member of the Jackson Church.