The Joy of Eating

Health Sabbath 2021

Immediately after creating humankind, God showed them the abundance of delicious and nutritious food available to them.  He meant it for their good health, and for their good pleasure.  This year, we will look at what God intended for us through our diet, but also some of the problems that came along with the entrance of sin.  This is an opportunity to relish the Joy of Eating that comes when we see it from God’s original design.

On this page you will find resources to host a Joy of Eating Health Sabbath at your church.  The North American Division has designated July 24, 2021 as Health Sabbath on the Calendar of Special Days.

Sermon

Resources

Fuel Your Gut

Optimize Your Microbiome, Optimize Your Life

In this presentation, Dr. Kazzi will look at the following questions:

  • What is the microbiome?
  • Why the recommended 20th century western diet doesn’t work?
  • What is real nourishment?
  • What you really need boils down to fiber
  • How fermentation can heal you
  • What are prebiotics/probiotics/postbiotics?
  • How to properly fuel your life with fiber and love it

Youth/Young Adult

Images

Share these images on your social media or church email list.  Click on each image to download.

Tagline:  Savor the Joy

Tagline:  Nourish Your Community

Tagline:  Designed for Good

Be Inspired

Truth be told, many people in this world struggle with food security, robbing them of the joy that God intended.  These reports showcase how Adventist Churches are making a difference in their communities in this area.  Our brand new Health Disparities Action Guide gives more information and ideas.  What can your local congregation do to share the Joy of Eating in your communities!

Presenters & Contributors

Pastor Anil Kanda, MPH

Anil Kanda is a former Hindu with a Sikh background.  Approximately 18 years ago, someone shared end-time Bible prophecies with him, and he was transformed by the truths of God’s Word.  Pastor Anil is now the young adult director for the Central California Conference and recently completed as Master’s degree in Public Health.  You’ll love his energetic approach to the Bible and his deep, provocative insights into life’s toughest problems.  Pastor Anil’s favorite verse is Isaiah 41:10.

Fay Kazzi, PhD, MS, RD

Dr. Fay Kazzi is a cookbook author, health professional, and food enthusiast. She has a Masters in Nutrition and Dietetics, is a Registered Dietitian, and earned her PhD in Rehabilitation Science at Loma Linda University (LLU). She specialized her clinical research in probiotic therapy for gut-related disorders. Her findings have been published in peer-reviewed medical journals. Dr. Kazzi’s professional career spans coordinating nutrition education programs for school districts, teaching in local universities, and working as a consultant for her corporation, FK Nutrition Consulting Inc. While at LLU she ran a plant-based culinary program designed for medical students. She is passionate about food photography and recipe creation. Her cookbook is titled “TheEarthyCanvas Vegan Cookbook”, and is currently available wherever books are being sold. She is currently working on her second cookbook that will be vegetarian with an emphasis on gut-health.

Tiffany Bartell, LPC, MHSP

Tiffany Bartell is a licensed professional counselor, mental health service provider and the Counseling Services coordinator at Southern Adventist University. Her journey to experiencing the “Joy of Eating” started with a seven-year eating disorder in high school and early college and now includes a love of baking, sharing fellowship through eating together and a passion for promoting healthy attitudes towards food and body image. Tiffany specializes in trauma therapy and enjoys helping her clients find healing and joy. She lives in Ooltewah, Tennessee with her husband, two children and dog, Pumpkin.

Bryan Arvelo

Bryan Arvelo is an avid student of the Bible. Known as a dynamic and engaging presenter, Bryan’s friendly personality enables him to speak to young and old of faiths. He approaches scripture with a practical lens and extracts relevant lessons that he conveys masterfully. Bryan is an Associate Pastor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church within the Carolina Conference. He desires for all to experience an intimate connection with Jesus Christ.

Michael Baranda

After graduating from Southern Adventist University in 2020 with four degrees (Bachelor of Science double major in Biology and Health Science; Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies; and an Associate’s Degree in Allied Health), Michael served as the Assistant Chaplain during the COVID-19 school year. Despite obvious circumstances, he and his student team were able to execute the spiritual programming for the campus, which one, the Fall Week of Prayer, resulted in six baptisms. Before venturing into a new opportunity in healthcare leadership, Michael will be taking a personal ‘sabbatical year’ while pursuing a Master of Arts in Religion from Andrews University.

Natalie Boonstra

Natalie Lilly is the Communication Intern at the Pennsylvania Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, and a recent graduate of Southern Adventist University, where she earned her Bachelors of Science in Public Relations. She is also the co-host, and co-producer of Flourish, an Adventist Women Leader’s Podcast, available on all platforms.

Beatrice Ngugi

Beatrice Ngugi is currently studying at Southern Adventist University and pursing a Masters in Social Work with an emphasis in Mental Health. Before enrolling in the MSW program Beatrice graduated from Southern with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Management & Intercultural Communications. Throughout her education she has served in the Chaplain’s Office both within the Humanitarian Engagement Office and Student Missions to plan and facilitate short & long-term missions service. She has travelled all over the world and her mission is to be an active advocate that inspires others to move from apathy to empathy.

Alissa Tanguay

Alissa Tanguay is a recent graduate of Southern Adventist University where she majored in music education and minored in religion. Currently, she teaches music at Mesa Grande Academy in sunny Southern California. She enjoys making music with her various instruments, baking, outdoor adventures, reading, and producing episodes for her podcast (Carved to Beautify) for young women.

Ignight

“Ignite” is a new SJC show produced by students of the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC), at Southern Adventist University. This weekly talk show tackles the tough topics and issues that are facing our students today, such as mental health, racism, and spiritual issues. The hosts, Sarah Manuel and Aaron Patterson are both juniors in the Mass Communication program at Southern Adventist University.

Sharing Grace

Our overall theme for this year’s Health Sabbath is to value and appreciate the community that can form around eating.  God planned for it to be that way.  We hope that you are able to find, build, and experience a beautiful community during Health Sabbath.  Considering the current pandemic, and the many various thoughts and behaviors and choices that we are all making, please extend grace to those who may see things differently from you.  Please also be safe with each other — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Create a safe place to connect — whether online or in person — and invite the Holy Spirit to abide among you.