North America (MNN) — This summer Rob and Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma are hopping into their Volkswagen and taking a road trip across North America to talk about food and faith.
Christian Reformed World Relief and their Office of Social Justice is helping to sponsor the Vander Giessen-Reitsmas six week trip with stops in Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Michigan and Ontario.
As they travel, the Vander Giessen-Reitsmas “will be stopping at churches to give presentations, facilitate potluck dinners, interview those with innovative ideas on food and faith, and keep track of their steps using blogs and videos,” according to CRWRC.
Eight years ago, the Vander Giessen-Reitsmas founded a non-profit organization, *culture is not optional (*cino). Their goal is to equip “Christians to be faithful servants by uniting the community of believers and learning together how to actively redeem all of culture.”
One of the ways they are doing this is through their “Eat Well Food Tour.” The Vander Giessen-Reitsmas told CRWRC food is an important justice issue considering the wide spread starvation all over the world.
“The workshop will explore how our food choices can represent faithful improvisation on the themes of the Christian story, including justice, abundance, love, hospitality, creativity, stewardship and more,” Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma said, explaining what they will present to churches, farmers markets and other locations they will visit.
The tour's goal is for Christians to relate eating and food with their faith, helping them understand how the production and distribution of food can have a spiritual effect on people around the world.
The Vander Giessen-Reitsmas are still looking for more congregations to visit. If you are interested in them visiting your area, go to www.cultureisnotoptional.com. To look at the Vander Giessen-Reitsmas’ trip schedule and their blog, visit www.eatwellfoodtour.com.
