Hi Ladies! What an encouragement this “Meal Ministry” testimony is to me. I have a feeling you will love it has much as I do. Please help me welcome Lori…
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| Lori and her husband Kevin have been married for over 27 years and have 3 sons, Sean (26), Dave (24), and Jordan(20). ” As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” -Joshua 24:15 Here is the sweet letter I received from Lori a few days ago: |
Hi Janelle,
Stacey contacted me to share with you about the cooking classes I have hosted in the past.
When my husband and I were mentoring engaged couples at our church, we realized that many brides had little or no cooking experience. It seemed to me that the need, desire, or interest in cooking just was not being passed down from prior generations.
When I would talk to these young women I would ask them “what do you plan to do about meal time?” We also started to realize that there was a missed connection between meal time and family connections.
During a visit to Europe- I realized that have such a different attitude when it come to sharing a meal together. Sadly, here in the states our attitude of nurturing ourselves and our family has become almost an inconvenience, to say the least.
It became my prayer to help these young women and others to find the joy and creativity that can be found in cooking.
One evening, I ran into Brad, a friend from the past, who offers his love and talents of cooking as a ministry and does some catering for events. I approached him with my burden for these ladies and asked if he would be willing to demonstrate his cooking skills! I was praying to not only help others to not be intimated by the thought of following a recipe, but also to begin to enjoy preparing a nutritious meal for their families! He did not hesitate to join me. So we began with 12 to 15 ladies gathering in my kitchen!
Brad would choose a complete meal and I would make copies of the recipes for everyone to follow. It wasn’t long before they began to want to have a hands- on cooking experience. In some of the pictures you can see the fun in the participation.
Soon we learned that some husbands had interest as well and a few of them joined us! (Especially when we did our grilling classes).
We would meet once a month and we did this for two years.
I have had many of the women express to me that the classes helped them become much more comfortable in the kitchen and helped them to realize the importance of preparing a meal for their families.
I have always loved to cook and find it a wonderful way to extend love to those we care for. I have 3, now grown sons. Preparing meals for my family has always been a sure proof way of bringing everyone to the table each evening. It has been an amazing way to keep that much needed connection with my family that can be so easily lost with our busy lives going in different directions. It was always a joy for me to see their friends anxious to join us as well. My youngest is 20, and his friend John has gone away to college, but whenever John is in town I make it a point to make him a meatloaf. He says it is his favorite.
Your blog is a wonderful way to encourage and help families get “back to the table.” I believe that is a title of a book that emphasizes the importance of the connection that is gained when we come together around a lovely meal. The Europeans still do this . But many of us have seemingly lost this over the past couple of generations. I’m am realistic and realize this will not happen every evening, but it could become the goal.
I pray blessings as you continue this most important ministry.
Blessings, Lori
Blessings, Lori
Dear Lori,
Thank you so much for sharing your story with all of us. What an inspiration you are! I would absolutely love to do this very thing one day in my home. What a blessing you have been to these families, to your church, to your family and now to us! You are so right about how it isn’t just about eating..it is about togetherness.
May God bless you and keep you.
May God bless you and keep you.
Love to you,
Janelle
Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com to be a guest blogger on Meal Ministry Mondays. I would love to show off your love for the Lord and His people!
What a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing!
What a heart-felt post…and what a blessing for her to see the need and follow through! What an encouragement! thank yiou for sharing, Janelle!
Love to YOU!
Lisa Pearson
What a fantastic idea and what a valuable ministry Lori birthed. There has been a huge resurgence of interest in home cooking in my country thanks to all the cooking shows such as Masterchef which are hugely popular. I've noticed that more and more young wives are tired of the processed quick dinners and are wanting to cook creatively and serve real food to their families. I'm very much into health and wholefoods and have often thought about sharing our passion for the healthy family by having hands on classes and demos. I can't run regular classes out of my home but Lori has inspired me to consider planning a special cooking class/recipe sharing night at my home when summer returns.
What a wonderful idea! I would have loved cooking classes offered as part of our pre-marital counseling–especially because I am definitely not comfortable in the kitchen (which is why I love your blog so much). Thankfully, my husband is a patient man who will eat anything. 🙂 I love this! Thanks for posting. 🙂
http://modernchristianbride.blogspot.com
Ann- keep me posted! I bet your daughter would be a great inspiration for young ladies too!!! Kristen…thank you so much! You are why I have a blog!!! Love you ladies, Janelle
What a wonderful idea. There is no doubt that mealtimes, and the benefits to body and family, are dying a death in the western world….. although, like others, I'm thinking they're making a come-back. Would others agree?
We have two 'teenage' daughters, and I would be mortified if they were to reach the stage of marriage and not be able to cook well (having said that, we all muddled through to a greater or lesser extent, and our husbands are still alive!)