The evening of Tuesday, November 6, found approximately 150 guests enjoying a free “Dinner with the Doctor” in the warm atmosphere of the atrium at Church in the Valley (CIV) in Langley BC. Dinner with the Doctor (DWTD), an instructional program designed in 2012 by SDA physician Dr. Mike Hollie, is a means of helping people implement a whole food, plant-based approach to deal with many chronic diseases that afflict North American society today. DWTD offers sound scientific information presented by a physician, along with a plant-based meal and a demonstration with tips on how to best prepare the food. Pastor Dauncey, Acts of Kindness (AOK) pastor at CIV, led the planning committee while members of both Abbotsford and Church in the Valley worked together to provide this program for the community.
Dr. Tim Riesenberger, an emergency room physician from the Seattle, Washington area was the speaker for the evening and his focus was the “The Blue Zones: How to Live to 100.” Author Dan Buettner in his 2008 New York Times best seller “The Blue Zone: Lessons for Living Longer from the People Who’ve Lived the Longest” reports finding a significant percentage of centenarians still living productive and disease-free lives in four different regions in the world. Seventh-Day Adventists are included in these blue zones and Dr. Riesenberger discussed the factors that contribute to living not only longer, but healthier lives. Following the presentation many attendees had the opportunity to ask him questions about their specific health and nutrition concerns.
Rebecca Stonecypher planned the menu and prepared the delicious holiday-themed meal consisting of cashew/rice casserole, mashed potatoes and cauliflower with gravy, sweet potatoes, fresh buns from the Sprouted Oven Bakery and a colorful green salad. It’s no small task to prepare for two hundred people (
we weren't sure how many would come); but Rebecca has a passion for sharing the benefits of a plant-based diet and she and her helpers cheerfully and skillfully cooked for two full days in preparation for this event. At the end of the evening Rebecca demonstrated how she put together the casserole, the gravy and the decadent chocolate mousse with raspberry dessert.
The program was well-received by those in attendance and CIV is tentatively planning to offer DWTD as a quarterly event. Just as Jesus used physical healing to draw people to an understanding of God’s grace and love for them, we will continue to use our understanding of health principles to lead those who are seeking physical health, to greater spiritual health as well. Special thanks to all the volunteers as well as our company sponsors: The Sprouted One, Nature's Fair Market and Acts of Kindness.
