January 2021 – Reflection provided by Debby Haralson, Chief Operating Officer of The WellHouse, D.Min. student at McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University (Atlanta, GA)

“I was intrigued to learn about Healthy Seminarians-Healthy Church’s online small- group program last fall. Working in a trauma-based ministry where every need feels absolutely immediate, I have seen many gifted caregivers exit the field early and exhausted.

Leaders tend to agree that caring for self is critical. But how? How, when a newly minted minister enters an arena that publicly praises sacrifice and servanthood while well-being, strength, and stamina are simply expected?

Healthy Seminarians-Healthy Church’s program effectively equips a minister for this conversation. Providing a much-needed Biblical/theological framework around caring for self, HSHC challenges participants to explore a holistic kind of spirituality that honors God through work and rest; activism along with contemplation. Here’s hoping that tomorrow’s ministry leaders can embody such balance. Those we serve will benefit from this kind of faith-filled service. We can’t do everything, but God can. Karen Webster and her team have much wisdom to share along these lines. We would be wise to take heed.”

November 2020 – Written by small group participant Andrew Hudson, student at Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana.

“This group is so helpful to me because I have been feeling my/our health being pulled apart for years.

My bodily health, good relationships, contributing to the health of the ecosystem of which I’m a part – these are parts of health that pull on each other. I can’t PLAN all these into my life separately, in the way western culture acts like they are separate areas.

Treating the health of body/social groups/earth as an integrated whole is incarnational. It is also counter-cultural. (But worth it!)
I’m glad to be part of a group where we support each other in this holistic approach to our health!”

September 2020 – Written by small group participant, Susan Hagood, Decatur, Georgia.

In Ecclesiastes 3:1-2 it says, “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” There was no time in my history that I found this Bible verse to ring truer than during this time of the COVID 19 pandemic. You might think that COVID could have taken my joys of life from me, but rather, the opposite happened, despite facing the virus at full-fledged capacity. Instead, I experienced God at work in my life. 

Going back some years ago, I had a yearning to begin a new habit, one that could enhance my health. My goal was to increase my overall physical activity. I always had a reason as to why I put exercising on hold. My excuses ranged from “I don’t have enough time” to “I am too tired to think about exercising, much less doing anything about it” to “the weather is uncooperative.” So, the story became a familiar one for me in not overcoming my perceived obstacles. 

When I retired in November of 2019, my hopes were bolstered that I would finally be able to make lifestyle changes for which I had been waiting such a long time. But, by March 2020, to my total dismay, I had not made one measly lifestyle change! What would ever be different? 

It was at this precise time that I received an email from Karen Webster, who I had known through contacts from Columbia Theological Seminary, asking if I would be interested in taking an online course called Health and Wholeness that she had developed to improve the health of busy seminarians. I knew of Karen’s non-profit organization, Healthy Seminarians-Healthy Church, which she and her husband had established. Initially, I debated whether this course would be worth my time. After all, I just retired from being a clinician in the medical field and had received education several times over on “mindfulness.” After thinking about the possible benefit this course might provide, I decided, “why not” – after all, it would be good to be part of a group during a time in quarantine. 

My first encounter with Karen’s course was a surprise for me; it was not a totally didactic course as I had expected. It was a course that included a significant amount of discussion and introspection. I soon realized that all of us taking this course were frustrated about making permanent lifestyle changes. As we shared our stories, I felt a fellowship growing among us. 

Karen presented us assignments between sessions. The questions posed in our assignments were broad in nature, allowing us to move in our own direction. The Bible verses offered, the readings and references noted, the prayers shared, the discussions we had, and the freedom to laugh began to take hold by seemingly releasing me from some of my old thoughts. Might it be that a change in me could be happening? 

It was an early evening with clear weather as I looked outside. I asked our dog, “Would you like to go on a walk?” As I think back, I do not remember any response one way or another from her. When I put on her leash and headed to the front door, she became excited. What fun, I thought, to have a partner for walks! 

It has been about four months since the beginning of Karen’s course, and I can say without reservation that I HAVE developed a new habit, one that I had been hoping to cultivate for an exceedingly long time. Nearly every day, my dog and I set out for a walk around the neighborhood. With each walk, I expand my boundaries, increasing the benefit to my health. Now, when I say the word “walk,” my dog knows the meaning. 

So, as I finish writing my testimony in tribute to this course, I listen to the YouTube video of Turn, Turn, Turn by the Byrds. From now on, when I hear these lyrics taken from Ecclesiastes 3:1-2, it will give me pause to remember this special time in my life.

August 2020 – Written by Norma, London, England

I recently attended an online plant-based cooking party led by Karen Webster, cofounder, and executive director of Healthy Seminarians Healthy Churches (HCHS). HSHC’s approach to eating seeks to enable people to live healthier lives by taking care of God’s earth (environmental), and thereby getting the proper nutrition (plant based) that God has provided for us. I initially learned about the workshop through my church’s weekly newsletter. I did not know much about plant-based cooking and wanted to begin learning about ingredients that are often used and get some recipes, so I signed up online. 

Karen is passionate about plant-based cooking and her demeanor was relaxed, nonjudgmental, and approachable. She creates her own recipes and tweaks others to obtain the best result. She said she often takes plant-based recipes to gatherings and there are never any leftovers, so no one notices they were not made in the traditional way. It was great to see her in the kitchen with some of the dishes she created. They looked appetizing and I was delighted (and relieved ) to learn that the ingredients were easy to obtain, the recipes were not complicated, and the food tastes good! 

I found the resources Karen emailed to us as a follow-up to the workshop particularly helpful. Those included sources for obtaining ingredients, recipes, and other helpful information such as the how to stock a plant-based pantry and plant-based substitutes for some traditional ingredients. 

HSHC is a treasure-trove of information about plant-based eating and so much more. I would recommend that anyone who wants to live a healthier life through using the resources God has provided us to attend a plant-based party, sign-up for the newsletter, and visit the website. You will not be sorry.