The Barstow church plans one-day cooking schools twice a year with the goal of helping people, meeting their needs and making friends for God.

Promoted by newspaper announcements, flyers at the local health store and word-of-mouth, the May event attracted 50 participants, half of whom were not church members. Several have stayed in touch with the church.

“We stick to vegan menus—no dairy or animal products—because many people have cholesterol problems. It is difficult to find vegan recipes that are nutritious yet taste great,” said Joy Sajdak, cooking school coordinator. Her husband, Ed Sajdak, became the Barstow pastor in 2003.

“Having Carl Casey as our main speaker seemed to bring more men to the cooking class,” Sajdak added. “A captain at Fort Irwin and a Barstow church member, he focused on how to improve your cardiac health by making lifestyle changes—including diet.”

Each participant received a folder filled with handouts and recipes. Vegan foods prepared on the spot included fettuccini alfredo, French bread, Swedish “meatballs,” tofu patties, chip dip and mock tuna. At the buffet table, participants could also sample three salads, five entrees, two soups, two dips and two desserts.