Food for Faith Faithward

Barbecue is a slow job, and so is discipleship and community engagement. Pat Dirkse, a church planter in Compton, California and co-founder of City Catering, talks about how a shared passion for cooking and barbecue evolved into a catering business that engages the community. Through City Catering, Pat and his team mentor youth, feed their neighbors, and show the love of Christ through celebration and giving back. Listen in as Pat and Ed talk about barbecue, discipleship, and the slow work of sharing the Gospel.

When we grow and eat food locally, we are connected to the earth, to our neighbors, and to God. Chelsea Lampen is a pastor, cook, and gardener who shares the food she grows and cooks with her community as a way to care for them and show Christ's love. In this podcast, we talk about why eating and growing locally matters and share stories of how sandwiches and garden veggies can provide opportunities to love our neighbors. We also talk zucchini recipe ideas, and share one of Chelsea's favorites, Preeti's Curried Zucchini. 

The rise of stress and anxiety in this season feels really real and overwhelming and conversations about our current reality can be difficult to start. We believe the best way to begin that conversation is through food! Today, Terry DeYoung the coordinator of Disability Concerns for the Reformed Church in America will share some helpful thoughts and tips about how to begin these difficult conversations

Laura Osborne explains how tea parties and good food have helped her connect with students from diverse faith and cultural backgrounds as a campus minister at Western Michigan University. Khushi Bhatt, a PhD student originally from India, talks about how being part of the community Laura fosters has impacted her and shares how to make her family's recipe for masala chai tea. 
Get the recipe and read the blog. 

Amber Taylor, a pregnancy counselor and ordained minister, has become known for her cookies in her Holland, Michigan, neighborhood. She shares how baking cookies for the people around her has become a way for her to love on her neighbors. Plus, she offers tips to help you step up your cookie-baking game.
Read more about Amber and get her recipe for Snickerdoodles on our blog.