<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=06IY9G_0wK1KTR800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=06IY9G_0wK1KTR800" width="1242" height="932" ><figcaption>The Southwell family, Dustin, Sheridan, Landon, 18 months, and Canden, 3, pose for a photo at the dinner table.</figcaption></figure>The 3-year-old feasted on a dinner of hamburgers, macaroni and cheese and sliced cucumbers with an air of curiosity."What was your high today, Dad?" Canden Southwell asked as he looked across the dinner table at his father."My high today was going to work, where I gave a presentation and it was good," Dustin Southwell told his son, as the Yukon family participated in the "Meals@Home" Campaign underway at their house of worship.Canden's question about the high point of his dad's day was sparked by prompts listed on a fun "Meals@Home placemat and other materials provided by Putnam City Baptist Church, 11401 N Rockwell Ave.Ed and Donna Edwards are leaders of the church's marriage and family ministry team which is spearheading the campaign that began in September. The couple built and designed a Faith@Home center at the church where families can find helpful resources to help them succeed.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3u2L4v_0wK1KTR800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3u2L4v_0wK1KTR800" width="960" height="1280" ><figcaption>Families that participate in Putnam City Baptist Church's "Meals@Home" campaign receive special placemats to help guide their dinners together.</figcaption></figure>Donna Edwards said each participating family was asked to sign a pledge that they would make meals together a priority for 30 days. They agreed to eat together at least three times a week and turn off media during meals to connect and discuss their beliefs and values.The families were given packets which included items such as the placemats used by the Southwells, cards with suggested conversation topics, meal recipes that families could make together and other fun family activities. Each of the cards includes a recommendation for connecting together spiritually, such as discussing how God gives families strength to stand together or talking about God's perfect timing.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2Wfw6e_0wK1KTR800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2Wfw6e_0wK1KTR800" width="960" height="720" ><figcaption>Donna Edwards, co-leader of Putnam City Baptist Church's marriage and family ministry, looks at ministry pamphlets in the Faith@Home ministry area at the Oklahoma City church.</figcaption></figure>One resource called entitled "Face Your Fear" suggests that family members try eating while discussing personal challenges and how God's love conquers all. Another card titled "One of a Kind" encourages each family member to make his or her own personal pizza and discuss around the dinner table how God makes everyone unique."You learn from that that we're all different," Edwards said of the Meals@Home resource card.Edwards said it was important that the family activities be fairly easy so families wouldn't see the campaign as just one more thing they have to do.Valerie Fisher, the church's childhood minister and marriage and family ministry team member, agreed."Meal times are important because that's when families get to connect," she said. "It's just a great challenge for families and we're hoping that this will spark some spiritual conversations," Fisher said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0F7vod_0wK1KTR800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0F7vod_0wK1KTR800" width="500" height="500" ><figcaption>Valerie Fisher</figcaption></figure>She said there are several obstacles to family meal times including parent's schedules, children's involvement in sports activities and different school schedules. Edwards said another obstacle is the dinner routine that people grew up with. Some people grew up in families that always ate dinner together, while others may have grown up in a family where members routinely ate their evening meal at different times.The ministry leaders said Meals@Home is designed to help families overcome some of those obstacles, at least for the 30 days of the campaign, and may they can make some of the family meal suggestions a part of their weekly routine."It's just a great challenge for families and we're hoping that this will spark some spiritual conversations," Fisher said.<h2>'Thank you for the cook'</h2>Dustin and Sheridan Southwell said they have been eating family dinner together with their sons Canden and 18-month-old Landon, for a while, particularly as Canden has gotten older, but they found that the Meals@Home campaign added structure and consistency. The couple said since they started the campaign, the frequency of their family meal times has increased from twice a week to more often.Sheridan Southwell, 32, said Canden has gotten a "kick" out of the child-friendly placemats and other campaign resources that have encouraged him to get involved in setting the table, among other things. She said Canden has also been able to connect with her and her husband through the "high-low game" suggested in the Meals@Home materials. The game is designed as a good way for families sitting around the dinner table to check in with each other by asking each other about the high and low points of their day.The Southwells said a funny part of the family meals came when Canden took to heart the Meals@Home recommendation that family members thank the cook."He came up to me and said 'Thank you for the cook!'" Sheridan Southwell said.Sheridan Southwell said eating together can be difficult sometimes if her husband's job keeps him from getting home before children's early bedtimes, but they didn't haven't had that issue during the meal campaign.Dustin Southwell, 36, said the campaign has fostered a sense of working together as a family — a team.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1tmbm1_0wK1KTR800" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1tmbm1_0wK1KTR800" width="960" height="1280" ><figcaption>Canden Southwell, 3, stacks his cups during dinner with his family.</figcaption></figure>"It sets the foundation for the future, for the next phase which will probably manners and how to properly conduct yourself at the table," he said. "This is the best foundation for all of that."<h2>'Very profound impact'</h2>The Rev. Bill Hulse, Putnam City Baptist's senior pastor, said the campaign fits within the church's three core missions: helping the community know God, becoming family and impacting the world."That 'become family' piece is something we really embrace hard, because the biggest hurt in any any community is the attack on the family, the brokenness of the family," he said.The preacher said the church's ministry team does a "phenomenal job" every year helping church members find practical ways" to keep planting healthy seeds in the life of families.""We're part of people that are doing really creative, neat things with their families," he said. "Now, they're not just doing meals — they're doing it with purpose. They're having great God conversations and passing on faith stories to their children and their grandchildren. So it's been a neat, simple but very profound impact."<h2>Did you know?</h2>Family meals are "powerful for many reasons," according to a 2021 report by the American College of Pediatricians.<ul><li>Family meals offer opportunities to spend time together, reconnect after a busy day, communicate with and listen to each other, share values and ideas, and problem solve.</li><li>Family meals contribute to traditions that tie families together, i.e. special food for a birthday celebration, a favorite place to eat for special occasions, a cultural or ethnic food unique to the family’s heritage ― these become traditions that provide meaning and context for children as they grow.</li><li>Family meals provide structure for the day, allowing children to feel more secure and safe, knowing what to expect.</li><li>Family meals also permit parental monitoring of children’s moods, behavior, and activities, providing parents with insight into the emotional well-being of their children.</li></ul>This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC church's Meals@Home aims to help families come together at meals</div></body>

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An OKC church's 'Meals@Home' campaign brings families together around the dinner table

The 3-year-old feasted on a dinner of hamburgers, macaroni and cheese and sliced cucumbers with an air of curiosity. \"What was your high today, Dad?\" Canden Southwell asked as he looked across the dinner table at his father. \"My high today was going to work, where I gave a presentation...

The 3-year-old feasted on a dinner of hamburgers, macaroni and cheese and sliced cucumbers with an air of curiosity. "What was your high today, Dad?" Canden Southwell asked as he looked across the dinner table at his father. "My high today was going to work, where I gave a presentation...