We want to serve tuna, so is it OK to make it with mayonnaise?

Very little! Veeeery little, like a drop, for the taste.

So goes an exchange between a caterer and Karen Hill, leader for the Rock Churchs Fitness and Nutrition, at the first annual Health and Fitness Expo in Mission Valley, held on February 28, 2009.

Mayonnaise, Karen says, is one of the top no-nos when it comes to eating the way the Lord intended. The petite fitness instructor, who immigrated from Turkey 22 years ago, takes an approach to nutrition that she says is biblical.

The [Old Testament] laws were there to protect the people, not punish them, she says.

In Karens weekly Wednesday night meetings at the Rock Church, she uses scientific research to show that what the Bible states as not being good for you, truly is not.

You take that [the Bible] and compare it with the research, and whatever He (God) said dont eat, it will make you sick.

Specifically, no shellfish, pork, or dairyhence, veeery little mayonnaise.

Its amazing how easy it is, how basic it is, and how healthy can we be. Because if we are healthy we can do Gods work better.

Karen started this ministry when she and her husband opened The Burn in downtown San Diego, an alternative gym, where clients see Bible verses when they walk in, instead of pictures of barely dressed models.

The Burn is all from God, every single nail. None of it is from my money, Karen says.

The couple began attending The Rock Church in spring 2007 and helped jump start the lagging Health and Nutrition Ministry in December 2008. Karen admits she is not a born leader, but with the help of Pastor Tommy Mosley, the ministry has grown to around 200 people. She now holds lectures and movie nights every Wednesday and workout sessions every Saturday. Attendees get support from other Christians when it comes to fitness, and they also learn what not to eat (anything that doesnt look the way God originally made it) and what to indulge in regularly (fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, fish, and any type of rice as long as it isnt instant.)

Each time we open our doors, we have no clue who is going to show up. Im telling you this is another miracle event.

This Health and Fitness Expo was a big leap of faith for Karen, who organized it to not only to get the healthy living message out, but to support San Diegos homeless. Proceeds from the event will go to the Rocks Homeless Ministry.

When I go downtown and see those people handicapped and old, it kills me. How can we not help one or 10 or 20?

Karen admits that what she is teaching is a little controversial. She calls cancer preventable and curable and she believes ADD is caused by artificial foods and added chemicals.

But her ministry is filling a huge hungry hole in the church family one dairy-less lesson at a time.

Karen Hill was interviewed at the Health and Fitness Expo on 2/28/09.
For more information on the Health and Fitness Ministry, contact Karen Hill at Karen@theburnfitness.com. The Health and Fitness Ministry meetings Wednesdays at 6:30 in the high school room and Saturdays at 10 AM at the Burn downtown.