“God put everything on earth that we needed to not only survive but thrive,” says Carolyn Johansen, a member of Community Grace Brethren Church (a Charis Fellowship congregation in Goldendale, Wash., Greg Howell, senior pastor).
Carolyn became interested in natural health at the age of 40 years old when she developed leaky gut syndrome after being prescribed an array of antibiotics. She then developed headaches, which lasted for two consecutive years. Carolyn was told she had a multitude of food allergies, all resulting from her leaky gut syndrome diagnosis. Seeking out medical attention led Carolyn to a chiropractor who, after seven months, was able to aid in the reversal of Carolyn’s food allergies. Around the same time, Carolyn was approached by Enriching Gifts International, a natural health product company, to be a product distributor. Carolyn accepted and began to move forward in her exploration of natural health.
As Carolyn felt guided by the Lord, she enrolled in an online school to obtain a degree in biblical counseling. Carolyn completed her degree and accepted a position as a women’s counselor at her former church in Portland, Ore.. Her first four clients were women who needed counseling with nutritional issues. Taking another step of faith forward, she obtained a certificate in nutritional counseling and eventually achieved a doctorate in naturopathy.
Carolyn and her husband, Jan (the worship director at Goldendale Grace), moved to Goldendale, Wash., where she began a counseling position at Community Grace Brethren Church. It was at this time that she felt the Lord leading her to start writing her book, Eating God’s Way.
“I feel like God gave me a message,” says Carolyn, “and I put it in a book.”
The book is an instructional approach to eating the way God intended human-kind to eat from the beginning of Creation. The book does not cover a specific diet but rather compares and contrasts the types of food we have available today versus what was available during bible times. Each chapter begins with a bible verse and serves to encourage people to move toward a God-inspired diet.
“God has transformed me,” she says, “I would encourage others to step out in faith to do something that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.”
Carolyn continues to serve as a counselor at the Goldendale church. She continues to counsel women and children. She is passionate about assisting others in their nutritional and health journeys.
[Connect:] Send Carolyn an encouraging note here. You can purchase a copy of Eating God’s Way here.
This story appeared in GraceConnect eNews. To subscribe to the weekly e-newsletter that includes news and information from congregations in the Charis Fellowship, click here.
