On 26 April, 2026, the 3AM Ryde Church Health Team hosted a joyful and inspiring lunch celebration to mark the completion of the 30-Day Faith and Health Challenge: Less Sugar, More Life, held from 23 March to 22 April.
This 30-day initiative brought together 60 adults and 6 children—a total of 66 participants—including church members and friends from the wider community, all committed to improving their health and lifestyle habits. The program was designed to be practical and engaging, featuring a daily points-based system that encouraged consistent, healthy choices. Many participants also discovered creative ways to satisfy sweet cravings by preparing healthier desserts without refined sugar, using alternatives such as honey, agave and other natural options.
Participants earned points for completing a full day with no added sugar (5 points), preparing no-added-sugar meals at home (3 points), sharing recipes within their team WhatsApp groups (2 points), learning about nutrition (1 point) and attending weekly Tuesday evening health talks on Zoom (5 points), among other activities.
In total, 12 adult teams and one enthusiastic children’s team took part. The celebration lunch featured powerful testimonies. Participants shared remarkable outcomes, including losing up to 9 kilograms, gaining a deeper understanding of their health and developing more mindful eating habits.
A highlight of the challenge was the Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) generously sponsored by Abbott through the efforts of Sylvia Mallo. Participants used these devices during the first 14 days, gaining real-time insights into how foods affected their glucose levels—an eye-opening and empowering experience.
We gratefully acknowledge the support of Christiana Leimena-Lehn, GSC Health Director, who provided health equipment, including a weighing scale that the church.
The celebration included recognition of outstanding achievements. The Milk & Honey team received first place, followed by Sandy Feet 1 in second place. Tyler Kuulkers, from team Sweet, Sweet Surrender, was awarded the top individual prize winner for his exceptional commitment and results.
Overall, the 30-Day Faith and Health Challenge: Less Sugar, More Life was a shared journey of growth, learning and transformation.
The 3AM Ryde Church Health Team, led by Janneth Lopez, expressed deep gratitude to everyone who participated, contributed and supported the program. This experience was a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we commit our goals to God and support one another as a community to live healthier and more intentional lives.
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This article was first published in IntraSyd, Autumn 2026.
