This document proposes a wellness initiative to address obesity in churches. It summarizes a virtual program called The Serenity Challenge that provides weight loss support through online classes, manuals, social media groups and biweekly weigh-ins. The 14-day program aims to help participants lose 10+ pounds and reduce medication for diabetes and blood pressure. It has served over 15,000 people since 1992 and utilizes social media, radio shows and conferences to promote and support the program.

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The Healthy Churches Now
Grant-Funded Wellness Initiative
Author: Michelle Edmonds, M.A., M.Ed
Public Health Educator|Author
The Serenity Weight Loss and Detoxification Program© 1992

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PROPOSAL
Executive Summary
The pilot was launched May, 2013 and funded October, 2013, after it was noticed that a
plethora of articles were being published by the mainstream and social media on the
obesity epidemic in the church. The author of both the grant and the program is Michelle
Edmonds, M.A., M.Ed., owner and co-founder of The Serenity Weight Loss and
Detoxification© Program©, a NY corporation established in 1992. The corporation has
serviced over 15,000. The extended program is an empowerment curriculum for daily
living, teaching strategies to detox the mind, body and spirit, from a psychological and
Godly perspective.
Statement of Need
 African Americans are the most obese people in the world (per CDC data).
African-American women, specifically Caribbean sisters are the most obese sub-
group, exceeding Black men and Latina’s.
 Smaller churches of America, regardless of denomination, often serve
congregants with the greatest need, yet with the fewest resources. Clearly they
do not have access to Rick Warren's "Dream Team", namely Dr. Oz, Dr. Amen
and Dr. Hyman; the men who assisted Rick Warren in designing a program to
address obesity in his church. The program is popularly referred to as The Daniel
Fast.
Project Goals*
 Eliminate obesity and promote wellness self care throughout the body of Christ
 Reduce the # of participants on medication for diabetes
 Reduce the number of participants requiring HBP
* As of 2015, the average female starting Serenity weighs:
Average female 5’4’ 242 lbs
Average Male 5’11’ 265
.Constraints
______________________________________________________________________________________
Due to the virtual nature of the program, we are not able to serve individuals
with very low computer literacy

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Advantages
 The program is 100% virtual. Classes, referred to as boot camps, are held on
a free conference call line
 Instruction manuals are sent via email.
 Support is provided via FB chat rooms
 Weigh-ins are held 2x’s week via text
 Depending on the number of participants in a given city, Serenity holds SPA
Day Retreats These reunion type conferences are great fun, because they
are typically when challengers meet the coaches and mentors for the first
time
Eligibility
 Any adult over the age of 21, not wheel chair bound or under the care of
nursing home staff
Minimum Participant Requirements
 An email address
 Text capability
 Email access on a smart phone
Time
The SERENITY CHALLENGE is actually 14 days; thus when a participant meets
the challenge, it is because they have released 10 lbs or more during the first 14
days. The overall program may be modified to 21 or 28 days to match the # of
days of a spiritual FAST.
Impact: Costs & Risks
After the initial installation of the program the wellness program should
continue, until weight loss goals start being realized. At this stage, momentum is
high. The church leadership or health ministry should leverage this excitement by
encouraging participants to continue. If one does not already exist, it is an
excellent time to establish a health ministry. The grant enables participants to
continue for just $1.00 per day. They feel good because they have access to a
private nutritional coach, a service not typically available to people of color.
Thus, the continuation schedule is as follows:
Registration $25.00 nonrefundable registration fee per person
Easy fee processing: @
https://www.paypal.me/serenityweightloss/25.00
90 days $90.00
60 days $60.00

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Protection from risks:
 We do not prescribe medication.
 Participants are encouraged to get documentation of the program’s
effectiveness from their M.D, such as lowered blood pressure and blood
sugar. With the exception of insulin, participants stop medication upon the
advice of their MD only.
 A 15 minute intake and medical screening is conducted with all participants,
prior to beginning the program. The following information is requested of
each prospective participant:
a) All current medications
b) All diagnosed medical conditions
c) Current weight, height, age and family medical history
d) Current bad food eating habits
e) The lab reports of all participants when available, is reviewed by, Michelle
Edmonds, program director for THE SERENITY CHALLENGE. However, due
to time constraints, this service cannot be provided when program
enrollment is less than 30 days
Impact: Benefits & Opportunities

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Project Fit
The SERENITY CHALLENGE is an excellent companion to any church fast. We
provide support for a healthy, yet restrictive eating lifestyle during the fast,
paired with a structured colon and internal cleansing program, done in the
privacy of one’s home.
However, philosophically, we do not recommend total abstinence from food for
medical reasons. We understand that the definition of fast means to abstain, but
we disagree that abstain means to abstain from all mealsi
; it could also mean to
abstain from certain food items. We see great potential liability in this practice of
abstaining from meals for days or for extended periods of time each day. Many
individuals have undiagnosed medical problems, such as diabetes or they are
already an insulin dependent diabetic.
We support fasting that is rooted in ISA 58, however we do not teach
participants on fasting. During program implementation our role is one of
support to the spiritual leadership. We design a cleansing program, with an
eating lifestyle that supports what the church leadership is being led to do for
his/her congregants.
Nutritional Partner
________________________________________________________
Youngevity liquid multiple vitamins and minerals
http://serenityweightloss.my90forlife.com/
Starting on or about day #15 of your program, we incorporate Youngevity’s the
Healthy Body Start Pak 2.0 Item # 10252 as our core vitamins. The liquid
vitamins are used to make meal replacement smoothies, that safely replace
solid food during a spiritual fast. We also use Youngevity’s superior mineral
formula for those with diabetes, and their mineral formula for those with
cardiovascular disease or high blood pressure.

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Evaluation and Measurement*
90% Release 10 lbs or more during the first 14
days of the program, called THE SERENITY
CHALLENGE
96% Of all participants diagnosed diabetic,
must stop insulin during the first 14 days
100% Of all participants on insulin need to stop
insulin injections after the 1st
30 days
90% M.D’s reduce meds after the 2nd
consecutive visit following the program
95% Release 6-10 lbs between weeks 3 and 4
95% Release 5-8 lbs between weeks 5 and 6
* You may expect 6-8 lbs per month thereafter ~Serenity’s average weight loss
for 6 weeks is 21 lbs.
Marketing
The SERENITY CHALLENGE© is offered through the Serenity Weight Loss and Detoxification
Program©, that has created of nationwide community of well over 15,000 clients since
1992. We use the following platforms to provide exposure to the church entity as well as to
the congregants who participate. Participants must agree to share their success via one or
more of these platforms, so that their testimony can inspire others
Radio
Serenity Radio Network @ http://www.blogtalkradio.com/serenityradionetwork
eLATION Radio @ https://www.spreaker.com/show/kimmie-kim-of-elation-radio
Jerry Royce Live @ www.positivepower21.org
Jam Vibes Radio http://www.jamvibesradio.biz
Social Media
Michelle Edmonds @ https://www.facebook.com/MichelleC.Edmonds
Serenity Weight Loss@ https://www.facebook.com/serenityweightloss
Pinterest @ https://www.pinterest.com/serenityweight/
Linked-In @ www.linkedin.com/in/michellecedmonds
Groups
Healthy Churches NOW https://www.facebook.com/groups/healthychurchesnow/

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References
Fat in Church www.foxnews.com/opinion/2012/06/03/obesity-epidemic-in-
america- churches/
Why Going to Church Can Make You Fat
http://healthland.time.com/2011/03/24/why-going-to-church-can-make-you- fat/
Frequent Church Goers, Frequently Fatter
http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/24/frequent-church-goers-frequently-
fatter/
Ga. Pastor:Churches Full of Fat Sheep, Super-Sized on Religion
http://www.christianpost.com/news/ga-pastor-churches-full-of-fat-sheep- super-
sized-on-religion-54666/
Overview of the 4th
Pastor’s Forum, Michelle Edmonds, M.A., M.Ed
http://www.slideshare.net/serenityretreats/fat-in-church
Weight Loss Success in God’s Mighty Army~ Kudos to Pastor Rhonda Bello
http://serenityweightloss.blogspot.com/2015/11/weight-loss-success-in-gods-mighty-
army.html
Dr. Joel Wallach, Live presentation on You Tube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMae2f68QqM
i
Abstain | Define Abstain at Dictionary.com

To hold oneself back voluntarily, especially from something regarded as improper or
unhealthy (usually followed by from): to abstain from eating meat..