When Sonadroug’s brother arrived for a recent visit, his family couldn’t help but notice that he looked better than he had in years. He shared his secret—the CHIP program. "You have to go!" he said.

So, when a client mentioned that a CHIP program was being offered in Clovis, Sonadroug, his wife, Phoebe, and his parents decided to attend.

They were shocked to learn that meat, cheese and coffee were harmful. "I couldn’t believe it!" says Yeghia Hajian, Sonadroug’s father and a Fresno Mennonite pastor. "It will hurt me." Sonadroug and Phoebe owned a ranch and sold goats, sheep, beef, chickens and ducks.

In one month, Sonadroug lost 10 lbs. and his energy level increased. Phoebe was off her blood pressure medicine. "It’s wonderful!" she says about her lifestyle change. "I feel so good." And they’ve sold the animals. "If it’s not good, why should we feed these bad things to others?" explains Sonadroug.

Yeghia has reduced his daily cups of coffee from 10 to one and wants the program at his Mennonite church because "we follow God and share with others," he says.

The Coronary Health Improvement Project (CHIP) is a lifestyle modification program designed to dramatically reduce and even reverse the risk of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries)—the number one killer in America. It also helps reverse high blood pressure, high cholesterol, adult onset diabetes and obesity.

Developed by Dr. Hans Diehl, director of the Lifestyle Medicine Institute in Loma Linda, Calif., the program includes comprehensive nutrition and food preparation in a clear and practical manner. "This program shows how to apply the principles of what is learned. It’s very practical," says Christina Pittman, coordinator of the Fresno/Clovis outreach.

Pittman first discovered CHIP when she attended Diehl’s seminar at camp meeting. After attending a training workshop in Canada, she was inspired to bring CHIP to her community. Working with Steve Horton, vice president for ministries, she established a partnership and action plan that included the conference and 17 volunteers from seven area churches.

In September, the conference office hosted a micro-CHIP program and met once a week for four weeks. The goal was three-fold: train local leaders, recruit community participants and enlist volunteers.

In October, CHIP began and included two blood tests and 16 meetings Monday-Thursday nights for four weeks. Group exercise (walking) and cooking classes were part of every evening. "When a person leaves the program, they have the tools to be successful," says Horton.

Just ask Sally Thomas. When her Adventist friends invited her to CHIP, she’d just been released from Stanford Hospital and was in too much pain to walk. And the doctors didn’t know why. She couldn’t wear shoes or drive.

Her friends drove her and for the first week of classes, Thomas sat with her legs elevated. By the end of second week, she was wearing shoes. The third week, her legs stopped aching. And by graduation, she was pain free and wearing her favorite high heels. "This program made me well," she says.

Area Adventists attended, too. Alfred Montez, a diabetic, came "because I want the next 10 years to be better than the last," he says. His medications have been dramatically reduced, and now his suits are too big.

Petra Pena came to support husband Larry. Describing their new lifestyle as "effortless," she says, "I was kinda grumpy all the time like I was living in a fog. Now I feel great, the fog is gone, and I’m joyous every day."

Thirty of the 32 participants received graduation certificates. At a celebration banquet, guest speaker Dale Leamon, pastor of the Clovis Church, challenged the group to stay motivated. "The CHIP diet really started in Eden, so that gives us quite a bit of confidence. We think we can trust God and take the risk."

The "Chippers" alumni group will meet once a month for encouragement, education and cooking classes. "Our commission is to use the right arm of the Gospel to meet felt needs and then to offer them Jesus as their Savior," says Horton.

For more information about CHIP or health outreach in your community, contact Steve Horton at shorton@cccsda.org or 559-347-3177.

By Caron Oswald