LITTLE ROCK — Charlotte Davis wants everyone to know about First Place programs for women that include nutrition study as part of Bible classes. She directs the First Place program at Trinity Baptist Church in Searcy.
Davis describes First Place as "a Christian weight-loss program that is nondenominational and is taught in over 12,000 churches in the United States and a few other countries." She has been leading groups for more than 12 years - two years in Pangburn and 10 at Trinity Baptist in Searcy.
The First Place program helped her to lose 35 pounds and to maintain her desired weight.
"It's a wonder fully balanced, healthy program," she said. "As a registered dietitian, I wouldn't teach it or promote if it weren't."
Several of her class members have also been successful in losing unwanted weight. Sylvia "Bunny" Burnley, who was Davis' home economics teacher at Pangburn High School, said that she lost 37 or 38 pounds the first year that she was in a First Place class. She has maintained her desired weight over the past nine years.
"It has been wonderful," Burnley said about the support that First Place gives. "The class has a good balance. We begin with a memory verse, and Charlotte teaches the nutrition and the Bible study. If we put Christ first, things work out."
A rally will be held at the church at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 9, to provide information about the program.
Then on Saturday, Nov. 10, a workshop will take place at Trinity Baptist from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. It will provide indepth training for those who want to start First Place groups or for those who are already First Place leaders but feel they need more training. Cost for the workshop is $25, which covers materials, breakfast and lunch.
Davis said that First Place began in 1981 at the First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas, and has spread because of its success. She has been the volunteer networking leader forFirst Place in Arkansas for just over a year. She said that she knows of about 20 churches in the state that have First Placeprograms and thinks that there may be more. She hopes that the upcoming rally and workshop will put her in touch with them and that new programs will be launched.
Davis said that she is in contact with six First Place groups in the Three Rivers area. They are at the First Baptist Church in Batesville, the First Baptist Church and the Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Beebe, the Heber Springs Assembly of God, the Judsonia River of Life Church and Trinity Baptist Church in Searcy.
Davis still lives in Pangburn and commutes to Searcy for church and work. She is the food service director for Searcy Public Schools and is a school nutrition specialist, as well as registered dietitian.
Her philosophy of life comes from the Good Book.
"If we seek first the kingdom of God, other issues will fall into place," she said.
Registration is needed for the workshop by Friday. Davis said that registration forms are available by logging onto www.trinitysearcy.org and then by clicking the First Place Link. More information is available by calling the church office at (501) 268-8219.
Three Rivers, Pages 127 on 10/28/2007