31 Jul 2025, 16:15Natasha Didkivska and IM Communications
Life at Its Best: A New Team Bringing Healing and Hope to Ireland
At the beginning of 2025, a new team was born within the Irish Mission: “Life at Its Best”, a Spirit-led initiative supported by Dr. Raymond Ehiemere, Health Ministries Sponsor for the Irish Mission. This new team is operating under the umbrella of Discover Truth, a ministry whose mission is to lead people to Christ through published resources. Deeply rooted in the values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Discover Truth is a grassroots ministry powered by passionate lay members, driven by a desire to serve their communities with purpose and love.
The vision of “Life at Its Best” is to share the Adventist health message through practical and compassionate community outreach. At its core is the NEWSTART program, an acronym that stands for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God, delivered through dynamic Health Expos.
With representatives from nearly every church across the Irish Mission, this vibrant team works hand-in-hand with local Health Ministries leaders. Their goal? To bring Health Expos to every local church, followed by tailored programs such as plant-based cooking classes, depression recovery, Bible studies, or other meaningful activities that respond to each community’s unique needs.
Already this year, Health Expos have taken place in Blessington, in collaboration with members from Ballynacrow Church, and more recently in Ranelagh, Dublin, on Sunday, July 27th. These initiatives are sparking change and drawing people in.
“We’re now preparing for a major outreach at the Tullamore Show on August 10th,” shares Natasha Didkivska, the team coordinator. “It’s a huge opportunity, 60,000 people are expected to attend, with 7,000 tents, and one of them will be ours.”
The excitement is growing as more members experience the joy of connecting with others in a meaningful, Christ-centered way.
Enikő Szőllősi, who also helped at the Ballinacrow Adventist Church team for the health Expo, reflected on her experience: “It was a blessing! It was great to see people genuinely interested in their health and to be able to help the community in such a practical way. The tools we received were so helpful—it was a truly enriching experience.”
Testimony: From a Health Expo to a Community Revival
Among the many stories unfolding from this ministry, one stands out as a powerful testimony of what God can do when we step out in faith.
Dijana Šebalj, member of Ballinacrow Adventist Church, left the Health Expo in Ballinacrow feeling deeply moved. The experience stirred something within her: a desire to do more, to serve more fully. The next morning, she prayed a simple but heartfelt prayer: “Lord, I’m not satisfied with my service for You. I know I can do more. Please, use me.”
Later that day, while out on a bike ride with her children through the quiet countryside roads, Dijana had encountered with a neighbour. The woman had just returned from the hospital, recently diagnosed with diabetes and struggling with coeliac disease.
“In that moment,” Dijana recalls, “it was like an alarm went off in my head—ding, ding, ding—this is your moment. You prayed for this!”
Traffic forced them to part ways briefly, but Dijana knew she had to act. She returned home, and without hesitation, walked over to her neighbour’s house.
“I asked her if she’d be interested in a small program, with just a few of us, where we’d talk about gut health, plant-based eating, the importance of water, exercise, and more. Her response? ‘Absolutely!’ And she even said she knew others who’d be interested too.”
That same day, Dijana designed a flyer. By evening, word had spread. Texts were coming in. People were signing up. And just like that, a new community health program was born.
“Goran and I gave a presentation on plant-based food, water, exercise, etc. in the village. We’ve got eight people interested in taking the challenge and changing their diet for the next two weeks and exercising with us daily. We are so thankful!”
What began as a single Health Expo has now ignited a local movement. People are not only learning about healthy living but are also building friendships, experiencing encouragement, and being gently led toward a closer walk with God. “I’m overwhelmed, in the best way possible. And it all started with the Health Expo. Please pray for this little event and for the people attending. I hope they learn something new, find healing, and come closer to God.”
The journey of “Life at Its Best” has only just begun, but already its impact is radiating through homes, churches, and communities across Ireland. It's a reminder that when ordinary people offer themselves to God, He does extraordinary things.
If you would like to be part and help in one of the Health Expos across Ireland, please contact Natasha on 087 142 2197.
At the beginning of 2025, a new team was born within the Irish Mission: “Life at Its Best”, a Spirit-led initiative supported by Dr. Raymond Ehiemere, Health Ministries Sponsor for the Irish Mission. This new team is operating under the umbrella of Discover Truth, a ministry whose mission is to lead people to Christ through published resources. Deeply rooted in the values of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Discover Truth is a grassroots ministry powered by passionate lay members, driven by a desire to serve their communities with purpose and love.
The vision of “Life at Its Best” is to share the Adventist health message through practical and compassionate community outreach. At its core is the NEWSTART program, an acronym that stands for Nutrition, Exercise, Water, Sunlight, Temperance, Air, Rest, and Trust in God, delivered through dynamic Health Expos.
With representatives from nearly every church across the Irish Mission, this vibrant team works hand-in-hand with local Health Ministries leaders. Their goal? To bring Health Expos to every local church, followed by tailored programs such as plant-based cooking classes, depression recovery, Bible studies, or other meaningful activities that respond to each community’s unique needs.
Already this year, Health Expos have taken place in Blessington, in collaboration with members from Ballynacrow Church, and more recently in Ranelagh, Dublin, on Sunday, July 27th. These initiatives are sparking change and drawing people in.
“We’re now preparing for a major outreach at the Tullamore Show on August 10th,” shares Natasha Didkivska, the team coordinator. “It’s a huge opportunity, 60,000 people are expected to attend, with 7,000 tents, and one of them will be ours.”
The excitement is growing as more members experience the joy of connecting with others in a meaningful, Christ-centered way.
Enikő Szőllősi, who also helped at the Ballinacrow Adventist Church team for the health Expo, reflected on her experience: “It was a blessing! It was great to see people genuinely interested in their health and to be able to help the community in such a practical way. The tools we received were so helpful—it was a truly enriching experience.”
Testimony: From a Health Expo to a Community Revival
Among the many stories unfolding from this ministry, one stands out as a powerful testimony of what God can do when we step out in faith.
Dijana Šebalj, member of Ballinacrow Adventist Church, left the Health Expo in Ballinacrow feeling deeply moved. The experience stirred something within her: a desire to do more, to serve more fully. The next morning, she prayed a simple but heartfelt prayer: “Lord, I’m not satisfied with my service for You. I know I can do more. Please, use me.”
Later that day, while out on a bike ride with her children through the quiet countryside roads, Dijana had encountered with a neighbour. The woman had just returned from the hospital, recently diagnosed with diabetes and struggling with coeliac disease.
“In that moment,” Dijana recalls, “it was like an alarm went off in my head—ding, ding, ding—this is your moment. You prayed for this!”
Traffic forced them to part ways briefly, but Dijana knew she had to act. She returned home, and without hesitation, walked over to her neighbour’s house.
“I asked her if she’d be interested in a small program, with just a few of us, where we’d talk about gut health, plant-based eating, the importance of water, exercise, and more. Her response? ‘Absolutely!’ And she even said she knew others who’d be interested too.”
That same day, Dijana designed a flyer. By evening, word had spread. Texts were coming in. People were signing up. And just like that, a new community health program was born.
“Goran and I gave a presentation on plant-based food, water, exercise, etc. in the village. We’ve got eight people interested in taking the challenge and changing their diet for the next two weeks and exercising with us daily. We are so thankful!”
What began as a single Health Expo has now ignited a local movement. People are not only learning about healthy living but are also building friendships, experiencing encouragement, and being gently led toward a closer walk with God. “I’m overwhelmed, in the best way possible. And it all started with the Health Expo. Please pray for this little event and for the people attending. I hope they learn something new, find healing, and come closer to God.”
The journey of “Life at Its Best” has only just begun, but already its impact is radiating through homes, churches, and communities across Ireland. It's a reminder that when ordinary people offer themselves to God, He does extraordinary things.
If you would like to be part and help in one of the Health Expos across Ireland, please contact Natasha on 087 142 2197.
