February 12th is a very special day in my life — First, because it was on this date in 1934, at 8:20 a.m., that I physically entered this world, and secondly because it was on this same date in 1992, Hallelujah Acres was born.

I feel blessed to be celebrating my 78th birthday. Neither my mom nor dad lived past age 65. I have outlived them both by 13 years and am only four years from outliving the oldest family member on either mom’s or dad’s side.

Could The Hallelujah Diet have something to do with it?

Is longevity in the genes or could longevity possibly be in diet as well? Time will tell!

Mother died following a bout with colon cancer, and dad died after suffering numerous strokes and heart attacks.

So if genes have anything to do with what physical problems develop in a person’s lifetime, surely I was a prime candidate for both mom’s cancer and dad’s strokes. Sure enough, in 1976, at the age of 42, I was told I had colon cancer, and in 2001, at age 67, I suffered a hemorrhagic stroke.

In 1976, when I was told I had cancer, rather than going the medical route mom had gone before me for her colon cancer with horrible consequences, I opted for “The Genesis 1:29 Diet.”

Within weeks of making the diet change, my rectal bleeding stopped. Within one year of making the diet change, my baseball sized tumor was gone, and my cancer has remained gone for 36 years without any help from modern medicine.

Now about that stroke…

In 2001, I did a speaking tour in South Africa where I had delivered seven seminars in six days to an average crowd of 600. I was also in airplanes for 53 hours. Shortly thereafter, I returned home and, during a seminar at Hallelujah Acres in Shelby, lost my ability to speak coherently.

I was rushed to the Shelby hospital where I was diagnosed as having experienced a hemorrhagic stroke (a blood vessel had ruptured in my brain). Doctors blamed the stroke on the extended stress experienced during my South African speaking tour and 53 hours in flight.

Doctors immediately wanted to introduce intravenous drugs into my body and airlift me to Charlotte for surgery to cauterize the bleed, but they needed permission. I was in no mental condition to give permission and so they turned to Rhonda.

Rhonda knew that not a single drug had entered my body in the previous 25 years; she was concerned the drugs would kill me. So, she refused not only the drugs, but also refused the doctors permission to open up my brain to cauterize the bleed.

After Rhonda refused to give the doctors permission to treat me, the doctor told her that without treatment I would die. I was sent home by ambulance, placed in my bed, and Rhonda had to sign a paper saying I was still alive when I arrived home.

At home, Rhonda immediately started me on the Hallelujah Recovery Diet, which includes a fresh raw vegetable juice or a barley powder drink alternately every waking hour.

By the next morning my thinking abilities had begun to return and continued to improve day by day.

Within one week of the stroke, Rhonda took me to a neurologist who read my hospital record, talked to me, and exclaimed “You’re a miracle!” He went on to say that 50% of all who experience a hemorrhagic stroke die and the remaining 50% are usually left with physical and/or mental limitations, yet just one week following the stroke I had none.

I am convinced that if I had not been on The Hallelujah Diet when I experienced that stroke in 2001, and if Rhonda had not refused medical treatments, and if she had not given me copious amounts of raw vegetable juices, I would not be celebrating my 78th birthday.

I am still very much alive and the stroke has left me with absolutely no known limitations.

In fact, as I prepare to celebrate my 78th birthday, I feel absolutely TERRIFIC! They call me Mr. “T” here at Hallelujah Acres. I still have incredible energy, endurance and stamina, (even more than I had before the cancer or stroke), along with a resting pulse in the 50s, and I still find life on planet earth a wonderful and exciting experience!

I am also thrilled to still be able to do anything physically I desire – including daily vigorous aerobic workouts, stretching and weight resistance exercises, going on 2 – 6 mile power walks with muscle-building walking sticks, doing hard physical work, you name it.

I go to bed around 9:00 p.m. most evenings and then most mornings I am up at 3:00 a.m. where I work on my weekly Health Tips in my study till 6:00 a.m. Then I go back to bed from 6:00 till 7:00 for a power nap before rising for the day full of energy from the time my feet hit the floor until bedtime that evening.

And as for my energy level, you can come see me in action at one of my seminars. I do my seminars (3 hours) from memory and never miss a beat! I’m often called the “Hallelujah Energizer Bunny!”

Last February (2011), I told Rhonda that I was going to start slowing down by reducing the number of seminars that I was conducting and taking some time off to smell the roses, and that is what I have been doing for the past year.

Still, I conducted 25 seminars last year, reduced the number of television and radio interviews and stopped making those long speaking tours. But I continue to write these Health Tips and I am working on a new book due out soon! And I can still type over 50 words a minute with almost zero errors.

Rhonda and I are both active in our church. We both love gardening and grow much of our salad vegetables and fruit. And I still mow my own lawn behind a walk-behind mower for several hours at a clip, and take care of the landscaping.

Today, at the age of 78, I have no sign of senility, Parkinson’s, arthritis, mental fog, liver spots on my hands, or a protruding tummy. I haven’t an ache or a pain in my body, and still have a full head of hair.

My eyesight is such that I do not need glasses for distance or reading. In fact, three years ago, after having a “restriction” on my drivers license for corrective lenses for over 50 years, I passed my North Carolina driver’s license eye test without glasses! The restriction for corrective lenses was removed. A big hallelujah!

At age 78, my hearing and sense of smell are exceptionally keen; and I weigh the same as I did in high school, with a waist of 32 inches. And because I have been on a 100% plant-based, mostly raw diet for 36 years (with lots of daily vegetable juices), there is no indication of a protein, mineral, vitamin, or any other nutritional deficiency. (I haven’t eaten anything from an animal in 36-years – not even cheese.)

And for those who might be interested, my height is 5’ 9”; weight 145 pounds; and I have a lean, muscular body, with rock hard abs, calves, biceps/triceps, and I am still building muscle without any animal source protein in 36 years. The audience always gets a kick out of my beating my tummy and showing my muscles in my seminars.

I do not believe I have ever felt stronger in body or mind then I feel as I celebrate my 78th birthday.

To God be all the glory, because He created this physical body I possess, and he designed it to be exercised and nourished with exclusively garden foods so that I could experience health into my later years.

I believe the only reason I have reached the age of 78 in such a physical and mental state is because I listened and applied what my Creator communicated to me in His Word, the Bible, in Genesis 1:29 some 36 years ago and I became “not a forgetful hearer”…

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
James 1:25

And let’s not forget what the Bible says in Galatians 6:7: “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Here we have an irreversible law that works both positively and negatively. Sow good diet and lifestyle and reap health and long life – sow unhealthy food and poor lifestyle and reap ill health and early death.

Isn’t it wonderful that God has given each of us the ability to CHOOSE a long and healthy life or a short and sickly one?

“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore CHOOSE LIFE, that both thou and thy seed may live.”
Deuteronomy 30:19

Because 36 years ago I CHOSE LIFE, I still have the ability to deliver the first-Saturday-of-the-month seminar here at Hallelujah Acres, still drive my car to give seminars in the eastern U.S., still write the weekly Hallelujah Health Tip, and still have the ability of “smelling the roses” — all with a strong body and sound mind.

Many tell me that I have more fire in the delivery of my seminars than I had before the stroke, and I still deliver the three hour seminar without notes and then answer questions, while experiencing no fatigue.

Today, my passion and concern for others, especially God’s people who are sick and dying needlessly, has not slackened!

Thank you for your continued love, prayers, and support, and thank you for sending in those healing testimonies – nothing encourages and motivates me more than reading how the Hallelujah Diet has restored the health of God’s children and in some cases even saved their lives and extended their ministries.

And thank you especially for those who have stood with us, prayed for us, and encouraged us through the years. We love you and thank God for each of you!

Nothing tops Rhonda’s Winter Salad better than this incredible Poppy Seed Dressing!

Rhonda’s Poppy Seed Dressing

Send Us Your Recipes
If you have a favorite recipe send it our way! We will share the best of them in future Health Tips and on our website. They can be raw or cooked, but they must be vegan (no animal products), and contain no refined sugar, refined grains, or table salt.

Hallelujah Acres had its beginning on February 12, 1992 — 20 years ago! Ever since that beginning, testimonies have flowed into Hallelujah Acres from people who adopted The Hallelujah Diet and were writing to share how their health has improved! Tens-of-thousands have written to share their experiences – and they are still pouring in:

“As one who was God-guided to attend your ‘How to Eliminate Sickness’ seminar in Rockford, Illinois in 1999 (13 years ago), and then to be healed of ovarian cancer after adopting The Hallelujah Diet you shared in that seminar, I know the loving kindness of our God first-hand. He has guided me in my personal health and in my health ministry just as he guided you. Thank you also so much for sharing your personal history with us in Health Tip #739.

I must admit, being a sometimes curious female, I wondered about your past and what had happened to the mother of your children. It’s difficult to share personal grief like that sometimes and I admire you even more for having done that. How I wish my husband and I could be with you all for Hallelujah Acres’ 20th anniversary celebration. We will continue praying for the success and blessings of Hallelujah Acres.”
Health Ministers John & Carolyn H., Fitchburg, Wisconsin

“I have been on The Hallelujah Diet for 50 days now and my headaches are gone, I have way more energy, and am sleeping better. My blood pressure has gone down from 160/99 to 140/70. My skin is so soft now and filling out a bit and my hair has also become very soft. To top it off I have lost 20 pounds. And to think that all of these improvements in my health and well-being have happened since I did something as simple as change what I ate less than two months ago is amazing.

To accomplish these improvements I eliminated all animal source foods from my diet, along with all refined sugar and refined grains and added to my diet three 8 oz glasses of carrot juice daily, three servings of BarleyMax daily, and I eat 85% raw and 15% cooked plant foods exclusively. Yes, I am now a vegan.”
Teresa C.

“I love Hallelujah Acres, its diet and its products. Thank you Hallelujah Acres for having the eating program that God, my Lord and Savior, led my husband and I to six months ago. We have attended a Hallelujah Acres nutrition class and as a result of making some changes in our diet and lifestyle I have dropped over 50 pounds in just six months, I am stronger and happier than I have been in a very long time. My husband is also doing well on The Hallelujah Diet and is also losing weight. Please keep doing what you are doing!”
Johanna Y.

“Dear Dr. Malkmus, I just read your article addressing the issue of ‘How Prayers Can Hinder the Healing of God’s People’. I appreciate you raising that issue. In order to reverse the epidemic of chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, autism, obesity, etc., we must create an environment that promotes a return to eating the foods described in Genesis 1:29.

Sadly, churches, schools and health care providers do not make prevention a priority. By the time people get to doctors they require crisis management. Medical schools do not teach us how to prevent and reverse disease through simple diet and lifestyle changes. Prevention should be the word of the day, not crisis management.”
Dr. Roby M. (M.D.)

“My husband and I attended your free ‘God’s Way to Ultimate Health’ seminar in Shelby the first Saturday of January 2012 and we were inspired. Thank you for your leadership and example in the health movement! You are loved and appreciated.”
Estelle B.

In previous Health Tips, I shared how God used a colon cancer diagnosis in 1976 to birth a health ministry called Hallelujah Acres, and how we struggled during its early years.

In this week’s Health Tip I want to pick up where we left off, sharing how Hallelujah Acres grew from 1997 to 2001.

To God Be The Glory

As I reflect on what has transpired, the words of that great Christian hymn come to mind: “To God be the glory, Great things He has done” I want to say right up front that without God’s leading and help, Hallelujah Acres would not have become a reality.

Man can only do so much, but when God is in it, all things are possible!

1997 – Hallelujah Acres Moves To North Carolina

The location of our ministry on a mountaintop in Tennessee was running out of room; we started a search for a new location. A business man from Shelby, North Carolina attended one of my seminars there in Tennessee and shared that he owned a building that would be perfect for our ministry.

The location was ideal – 45 minutes from the international airport in Charlotte, North Carolina and within an hour’s drive to four interstate highways. Shelby had a small enough population (20,000), to have the small town appeal, but large enough to provide all basic needs and less than an hour’s drive to Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina.

The owner of this Shelby property knew that we didn’t have much financially to purchase the building so he allowed us to move into the building while he held the mortgage and allowed us to pay off the mortgage as finances allowed. We moved into our new facility on November 1, 1997.

1997 – Paul Malkmus Joins Hallelujah Acres

Early in 1997 Rhonda and I knew we needed someone to help us manage a ministry that was growing too big for ma and pa to keep track of and oversee. My thoughts turned to my son Paul who was a career man in the U.S. Air Force. Paul was just three years from achieving the 20 years needed for retirement when I contacted him.

I told him I needed help but he wasn’t interested as he was intent on securing his retirement and preparing for a business career thereafter. But he had enough curiosity to come and see what was going on at dad’s Hallelujah Acres.

He came for Health Minister training in 1997 and was blown away by the testimonies of healing and by the ministry potential of Hallelujah Acres.

He went back to where he was stationed in Florida and asked his general to release him early. The general told him “No way, you are committed for three more years.” No amount of petitioning appeared to change the general’s mind, but we were all praying the general would let him go.

Just a week before Hallelujah Acres was to move to North Carolina, the general called Paul into his office. He said, “I don’t know why I am doing this, but I am going to let you go.”

Paul asked the general why he had decided to let him go early and the reply was “I really don’t know, it just seemed the right thing to do.” The general may not have known, but we who were praying knew! God does hear and answer prayer!

Paul completed the paperwork and prepared to move to Shelby.

Many people do not know realize the sacrifice Paul made to come to Hallelujah Acres. By leaving the military early, he forfeited his retirement income that took 17 years to build. Until he left the Air Force he had been involved in intelligence and communications with higher security clearances than some of the generals at the pentagon he had briefed.

Paul arrived at Hallelujah Acres on November 1, 1997, the very day we moved into our new facility in Shelby, North Carolina. With Paul taking over the business end of things, I was able to concentrate on the ministry aspect of Hallelujah Acres.

Before moving from Tennessee to Shelby, Hallelujah Acres had 11 employees and only a few were able to make the move with us. Paul immediately had his work cut out for him! He hired new staff, learned the business part of the ministry, and refined its operations.

Today, Hallelujah Acres has a staff of almost 60 people, has a huge web presence, produces its own products, and ships products across North America and to 139 other countries.

Paul and his wife Ann are a tremendous duo! They are totally dedicated to helping to take God’s health message to the world.

I am thrilled that my son will be here when I graduate to heaven to carry on the ministry Rhonda and I began in that little store front in Rogersville, Tennessee 20 years ago.

1998 – Dr. Donaldson Joins Hallelujah Acres

In 1997 I received a letter from Michael Donaldson, a fine Christian young man, who was to soon graduate from Cornell University with a PhD in Chemical Engineering. He expressed interest in joining Hallelujah Acres as our research scientist since his wife was able to correct some serious pregnancy problems after adopting The Hallelujah Diet.

Most of those graduating from Cornell in Michael’s class were going into the drug industry but Michael wasn’t interested in going in that direction. So we asked him to come to Hallelujah Acres for an interview. Michael shared how he would like to scientifically validate the Hallelujah Diet and make sure it had no weaknesses.

We were so impressed that we invited Michael to join us and be a part of the Hallelujah Acres team. Michael has done an outstanding job these past 14 years constantly making sure that the Hallelujah Acres diet was the best it could be. Michael is still with us and has 12 children. All of his children were born at home.

1998 – Hallelujah Acres Canada Opens

Shangri-La Health Resort

Around 1978 while I was a lecturer at the Shangri-La Health Resort in Bonita Springs, Florida (which was closed for 18 years and is now open again), a Canadian couple was in one of my lectures. The reason they were there was because Bev Shouldice, a business man from Canada had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and the doctors had given him no hope of surviving. Bev and his wife were searching for an alternative way of dealing with the cancer — a way that would offer some hope.

Years later, I received a letter in which they told how, after hearing my lecture, Bev had adopted the diet I was advocating in my lectures at the Shangri-La, and Bev’s cancer had gone away as a result of the diet change. When they wrote me that letter they had just learned about Hallelujah Acres and were trained as Health Ministers.

It wasn’t long after that training that Bev contacted me. He wanted a Hallelujah Acres in Canada to bring God’s health message to Canadians. Bev offered their home in rural Shallow Lake to be the Headquarters of Hallelujah Acres. Bev and his wife Dot ran Hallelujah Acres until Bev’s death at age 91; some 30 years after Canadian doctors had pronounced his cancer death sentence.

Upon Bev’s passing, we moved Hallelujah Acres Canada to the city of Toronto where it continues to grow and help multitudes. Judy Fleming (who worked with Bev and Dot) now manages our Canadian operation and we now have hundreds of Hallelujah Acres trained Health Ministers scattered across the Canadian provinces.

Through the years I traveled extensively throughout Canada holding seminars in most of the Canadian provinces. I also conducted Health Minister training at the Hallelujah Acres Canadian headquarters in Shallow Lake for many years.

1998 – Rhonda’s Recipes For Life Recipe Book Is Published

When Rhonda adopted The Hallelujah Diet due to her debilitating arthritic condition in 1990 (of which she completely healed within a year) there were very few recipe books available that supported the primarily, raw plant-based diet Hallelujah Acres advocates.

So, Rhonda set out to write a recipe book. Rhonda, like me, had never written a book before, no less a recipe book. It took her two years to write the book and it turned out to be a tremendous success. The book has 358 pages, over 400 recipes that fit The Hallelujah Diet, and it has a spiral binding for ease of use.

Over a quarter million copies of this book are now in print and in 2011 it was the best selling book of all books Hallelujah Acres carries!

1999 – First Women’s Retreat

For years Rhonda had tried to get me to hold a Women’s Retreat at Hallelujah Acres. I told her that women wouldn’t travel across America by themselves to attend a seminar. Boy was I wrong! In 1999 when I finally said “ok” and that first Women’s Retreat, it was the biggest event we had ever held, and has continued to be the biggest event each year.

2000 – Rev. Malkmus Takes The Health Message To Australia

In the year 2000 I took the Hallelujah Acres health message to Australia’s six largest cities – Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and Adelaide. The trip was a tremendous success with an average of 500 in each meeting. During that trip I personally trained some 50 Australia health ministers.

2001 – Rev. Malkmus Takes The Health Message To South Africa

In South Africa I delivered seven seminars in six days to an average crowd of 600. In Cape Town I had 600 in attendance at a Saturday morning seminar, and upon completion of that seminar there were 600 more waiting to hear God’s health message. I did back to back seminars that day. I was 68 years of age at the time.

I was in the air over 53 hours that week and not long after returning home, while lecturing, suffered a hemorrhagic stroke. I was rushed to the Shelby hospital where the doctors wanted to immediately airlift me to Charlotte for cauterization of the bleed and start me on intravenous drugs.

All medical treatments were refused, doctors ordered me out of the hospital and I was sent home by ambulance to die. Rhonda immediately started me on The Hallelujah Recovery Diet and within a week a neurologist could find no lingering physical or mental limitations. Doctors believe the stroke was caused by the stress experienced on that South Africa trip.

On February 4, 2012, at my First Saturday of the month, “God’s Way to Ultimate Health” seminar at Hallelujah Acres International Headquarters in Shelby, North Carolina, Hallelujah Acres will celebrate its 20th Anniversary. In addition to the seminar, many special things are planned for that day including a healthy birthday cake to be enjoyed by all who attend the seminar, plus each person will get a 20^th Anniversary lapel pin. Y’all come!

Next Week, the good Lord willing and if the creeks don’t rise too high, we will pick up where we have left off here in 2001 and share how Hallelujah Acres has continued to grow to where it is today! I trust you will join us as we continue to share the rest of the story.

This weekend will be a BIG one at Hallelujah Acres in Shelby, NC — it’s Hallelujah Acres’ 20th anniversary and you’re invited to the party!

Friday Evening, February 3: An Evening With Rhonda Malkmus

Rhonda’s Culinary Class begins at 6:30 pm. Her theme for this class will be “A Valentine Banquet”, and will feature a vegetable juice she has named “Heart Throb”. Then she will prepare a full course meal for you to learn how to prepare and taste when it’s done! Cost is $30 per person and registration is required.

Saturday Morning, February 4: God’s Way To Ultimate Health

Rev. Malkmus’ three-hour  God’s Way to Ultimate Health seminar begins at 10:00 a.m. sharp, during which we will celebrate Hallelujah Acres 20th Anniversary. Those in attendance will receive a free copy of Hallelujah Acres Health News magazine, a 20th anniversary souvenir pin, and a slice of anniversary cake!

The seminar is without charge, but come early to get a good seat. At our regular first Saturday of the month seminar, folks usually start arriving before 9:00 a.m., and we expect to fill the auditorium for this special day!

Our health food store will be open at 9:00 a.m. with sample snacks available, and a special video begins at 9:30 in the auditorium.

Saturday Afternoon, February 4: Where Do I Go From Here?

At 1:30, it’s our three-hour “Where Do I Go from Here?”class with Paul and Ann Malkmus, which takes you through a day on The Hallelujah Diet. You will see how simple preparation of Hallelujah foods can be and sample these foods as well. They will also give you some helpful shopping tips.

Cost is $45 per person, $10 for spouse or child aged 13+ (children 12 and under admitted free with parent). You can sign up once you arrive, but pre-registration is appreciated.

PLUS… In February, Rev. Malkmus has two more “God’s Way To Ultimate Health” seminars in Florida: one in Jacksonville and the other in Tampa. Both seminars begin at 10:00. If you live in these areas please plan to attend and bring someone with you.

We look forward to meeting you, and if you can’t attend and you know someone who lives in the areas where these seminars will be held, please let them know about the opportunity. For more information regarding these seminars

“My husband and I recently adopted the mostly raw Hallelujah Diet due to my husband’s recent diagnosis of prostate cancer. We adopted the diet rather than submitting to the surgery and radiation therapy route the doctor prescribed. After being on the diet a short time we both did a litmus test to check on whether our bodies were too acidic or not. My test showed I was fairly normal but my husband’s revealed that he was highly alkaline. Is this bad?”
Shirley L.

Editor Responds

Random testing of urine or saliva really tells us very little; these tests are not a very good guide as to the acidity or alkalinity of the body fluids.

The body will automatically maintain a stable blood pH of 7.35 to 7.40 as this is critical to sustaining life. Other body fluids have different pH levels.

Ideally, the first morning urine pH will be 5.8 to 6.2; that is if the liver is detoxifying the toxins throughout the night. The pH testing values will vary if one has to get up during the night to urinate.

Saliva pH also varies but is often slightly acidic (under a pH of 7.0). When checked about 15 to 30 minutes after eating or drinking, it should move into the alkaline range.

Because there are so many variables, we discourage people putting too much stock in pH testing of their saliva and urine.

I never check my pH. The Hallelujah Diet, after one has been on it for a period of time, should automatically keep the pH levels of the blood, urine, and saliva just right.

Eat right, exercise right, and pH will be right almost 100% of the time!

[There is a video that cannot be displayed in this feed. Visit the blog entry to see the video.]

A little pruning gains a lot of fruit! Here’s how to prune a blueberry bush to enjoy a bountiful harvest next summer.

Sign up for the Health Tip to receive notification of new Gardening Guide videos every week!

Different seasons call for different tastes! Here’s a creative salad using produce found in winter:

Winter Salad

Send Us Your Recipes
If you have a favorite recipe send it our way! We will share the best of them in future Health Tips and on our website. They can be raw or cooked, but they must be vegan (no animal products), and contain no refined sugar, refined grains, or table salt.

Many responded to last week’s Health Tip in which I shared some of the difficulties I faced in taking God’s health message to the world. Below I share a few of those responses along with several wonderful testimonies including one from a nurse who has seen the dark side of cancer both in her work life and personal life:

“I adopted The Hallelujah Diet six months ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer. I adopted the diet because I did not want to follow traditional treatments.

As a result of making this lifestyle change, my tumor is getting smaller, and as a side benefit have lost 45 pounds, a couple of other health issues have been completely resolved and I have been able to stop ALL medications. I feel GREAT! The Hallelujah Diet is the real deal!

I should know because I have been a nurse for 36 years and for the past 10 years worked with cancer patients medically, so I know all about cancer treatments and I know what works and what does not work.

If you have health issues, or just want to get healthy, please check out Rev. Malkmus’ seminars being held in Tampa and Jacksonville Florida during the month of February.”
Lisa M.

“Dear Rev. George, I want to thank you for your very inspiring Health Tips. I have read two of your books – ‘The Hallelujah Diet’ and ‘God’s Way to Ultimate Health’. I was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2010, and adopted The Hallelujah Diet. I feel great and healthy but the doctors say I am not yet in complete remission.

I live in Africa and have access here to most of the Hallelujah Acres products for which I am thankful.”
Tessy A., Africa

“Just got home from the doctors. Everything is awesome as always – all my blood work is PERFECT. On The Hallelujah Diet my blood pressure is excellent; weight improving dramatically; bone density that of a 22-year-old. Follow up in six months.

Now heading to the kitchen for a nice glass of carrot juice and starting supper. I’m having vegan split pea soup this evening – yummy!”
Carla B.

“Dear George, Thank you so much for sharing your early years story. I have tried to share The Hallelujah Diet with others and became discouraged because no one wanted to share the journey. Feeling so alone I returned to lots of cooked foods for a few months and lost almost all the improvements I had attained when on The Hallelujah Diet.

Because of your Health Tip I am returning to The Hallelujah Diet because of your perseverance and the fact that God brought your seed to fruition, as He will do mine, in His time.”
Ginny L.

“Thank you so much for sharing your story. I had no idea you went through such difficult times. Yet through it all you kept your focus on what God had led you to do and it was well worth the wait. Being so open with your own struggles gives others hope while going through their challenges. Thank you for being such a blessing.”
Sandie C.

“Rev. Malkmus, I’m so glad you stayed with your health message and didn’t grow weary. God has truly blessed you after such a long, hard journey. I started The Hallelujah Diet over four years ago and have seen some good results.

Three years ago I became a Health Minister and have been working with a cancer support group sharing alternative means of dealing with cancer. We share The Hallelujah Diet and a number are following it. Keep up the good work. I am just a year younger than you. God bless you and all at Hallelujah Acres.”
Grace L.

“Dear Brother Malkmus, I purchased two of Rhonda’s recipe books at the North Carolina Fair two years ago. I told one of my nieces about Hallelujah Acres and she attended one of your seminars.

Following the seminar she adopted The Hallelujah Diet and within a couple of months was well and able to go back to work after being out of work for over a year on disability. The Hallelujah Diet saved her life!

I just read your Health Tip and wanted to share that as a child I met Lester Roloff. He came to my parent’s home in the Caribbean with Brother Bob Mayer who had led my parents to the Lord. I just wanted to share the memory as Brother Roloff had left an impact on me and my family with his vegan way of eating.

Hope that I can someday attend one of your seminars. May God keep blessing you and your ministry!”
Maria V.

In previous Health Tips, I have shared how God used what appeared to be a tragedy in my life – a colon cancer diagnosis in 1976 – to birth a ministry in 1992 known today as Hallelujah Acres.

In this week’s Health Tip I want to cover the history of Hallelujah Acres from 1992 until 1997, the year we moved the ministry from Tennessee to its current facility in Shelby, North Carolina.

To God Be The Glory

As I reflect on what has transpired during the past 20 years, the words of that great Christian hymn come to mind: “To God be the glory, great things He has done.”

I want to say that without God’s leading and help, Hallelujah Acres would not have become a reality. Man can only do so much, but when God is in it, all things are possible.

Reflecting on those challenges, and final triumph, reminds me of the words of another great gospel song, written by Kittie Suffield in 1924 titled:

Little Is Much When God Is In It

In the harvest field now ripened
There’s a work for all to do;
Hark the voice of God is calling,
To the harvest calling you.

Refrain:

Little is much when God is in it!
Labor not for wealth or fame,
There’s a crown and you can win it,
If you go in Jesus’ Name!

1992 – Hallelujah Acres Has Its Beginning

Shortly after Christmas 1991, Rhonda came into the antique mall I was managing all excited to tell me of a tiny restaurant that was closing its doors down the street. She said if we could rent the space I would have a place to sell my health products and hold my seminars.

It sounded like a great idea… but neither of us had any money.

So I went to the president of the local bank with (whom I had developed a friendship because he too had an interest in health and healthy living) and I asked to borrow $1,000. Using my 1986 Mazda pick-up truck as security I was able to obtain a loan.

With that $1,000 we paid the first month’s rent of $50, purchased some tables, 16 chairs, some used kitchen equipment, some produce for the dining room and product for the shelves. We opened “Hallelujah Acres” in that storefront on February 12, 1992 selling carrot juice by the glass and offering a limited vegetarian menu.

DID YOU KNOW?

In those early days we lived on our tips of about $25.00 per week, while putting all profits back into paying off the loan and building inventory. To this day, we have never taken a salary, received a bonus, or been paid for a seminar or culinary class, yet God has met our needs and blessed us financially above anything we could ask or think.

In those early days few frequented our restaurant in that little town of Rogersville, Tennessee. The town had a population of only 5,000 people and there was little nutritional awareness. We were getting quite discouraged until we started holding a free “How to Eliminate Sickness” seminar on Saturday mornings in the restaurant.

People began coming to hear the health message, staying for lunch, and buying product. As people started applying what was being taught, testimonies started being shared with others and it wasn’t long before we had standing room only in the seminars!

Our restaurant was being frequented by local businesspersons, judges from the next door courthouse, and the president of the bank had a standing order for daily carrot juice.

Within a year of opening the doors of Hallelujah Acres we couldn’t contain everyone in that 16-seat restaurant. Plus, the basement of the restaurant was becoming too small to warehouse and ship the products we were now shipping across the country.

DID YOU KNOW?

In those early days our customer names and contact information were handwritten on 3×5 index cards and kept in a shoebox.

1993 – Hallelujah Acres Moves And Publishes A Magazine

In the spring of 1993 we moved down the street three doors to a 56-seat restaurant; the day we opened we had to turn people away! Soon our seminars filled the restaurant with people coming from across America and sometimes even another country.

During 1993 we also published the first issue our paper publication, “Back to the Garden“. The first issue was two colors, eight pages, and we had 3,000 copies printed. Today, this publication is called the “Hallelujah Acres Health News,” has 48 full color pages and is read by a half-million people bi-monthly.

This magazine has been a free publication ever since we started publishing it in 1993 — and it is still free to read online today from anywhere in the world! The paper version is also available to US and Canadian residents through an annual subscription.

1994 – Hallelujah Acres Moves Again

After two years ministering in Rogersville, we felt that closing the restaurant and going on the road would enable us to reach many more people with the message “You Don’t Have to be Sick!” So we moved Hallelujah Acres to our 50-acre farm where we were living on Clinch Mountain in Eidson, Tennessee.

There we built a building to house the ministry and I started doing seminars across America. No sooner had that first ministry building been completed then it was too small! We immediately started construction of a much larger second ministry building where we held our first Saturday-of-the-month “You Don’t Have to be Sick” seminars.

I was gone a great part of the time. Meanwhile, Rhonda was overseeing the ministry operation in Tennessee, which was growing in leaps and bounds necessitating hiring others to help handle the rapidly growing interest in the Health Message we were proclaiming.

Our Motto – That the Whole World Might Know – You Don’t Have to be Sick!

1994 – First Health Minister Training

People were adopting The Hallelujah Diet and becoming well from all kinds of physical problems. These people began asking us to teach them how to share God’s health message with others. As a result, in August 1994 we held our first Health Minister Training with 25 in attendance.

Our new ministry building was not completed as yet and not having sufficient finances to purchase chairs, that first group of Health Ministers sat on 2×10 wood planks resting on concrete blocks. We had no windows yet and the floor wasn’t even finished.

To say the least, it was a very humble beginning for a health ministry which today numbers over 10,000 trained Health Ministers located in every state in the U.S. and in 48 foreign lands.

Attending that first training was Olin Idol (PHOTO: upper left corner in plaid shirt) who joined me in 1995 as my personal assistant, and has been with Hallelujah Acres ever since.

Bev and Chet Cook (PHOTO: middle row, far right – Chet is wearing a black shirt) were also in that training. They later opened the first Hallelujah Acres first Lifestyle Center in Lake Lure, North Carolina and currently direct all four of our Lifestyle Centers. Dr. Rowen Pfeifer was also in that first training.

1995 – Rev. Malkmus Appears On 700 Club

By this time, Graeme Coad, who at the time was Chaplin of the 700 Club, had reversed his terminal prostate cancer on The Hallelujah Diet. Graeme was instrumental in getting me on the 700 Club for a nine-minute interview with Pat Robertson. That nine-minute interview generated more response than the 700 Club had ever had.

That television exposure caused a tremendous increase in interest in The Hallelujah Diet. Since then I have had opportunity to appear on ABC Nightline, all major TV networks, Trinity Broadcasting, The Food Network, Fox News (3 times) and the Jim Baker show.

1995 – “God’s Way To Ultimate Health” Published

My second book, “God’s Way to Ultimate Health” has everything a person needs to know about how to return to God’s original plan for nourishing the human body. The book contains 279 pages of vital information and real-life testimonies – a book that many people say saved their lives. (Over a quarter million copies of this book are now in print.)

Also in 1995, Destiny Image took over the printing and distribution of my first book “Why Christians Get Sick.” Over a million copies of this book are now in print and are available in several languages.

1996 – Rev. Malkmus Holds Seminars Across America

By 1996, so many churches across America were wanting the hear God’s health message that I traveled across America holding “How to Eliminate Sickness” seminars. Some of these seminars had attendances of over 1,000 people.

These seminars took me from Florida to Texas, up the west coast, across the fruited plains, the northern states from Wisconsin to New England, and down the eastern seaboard. I remember doing 17 seminars in 18 days in Texas on one of those speaking tours.

1997 – Hallelujah Acres Goes Online

Not many people had access to the internet as yet, but we realized it provided the potential for us to reach people around the world with the message “You Don’t Have to be Sick.”

What should our URL be? We thought of “HallelujahAcres.com” but knew if they had to spell “Hallelujah” they would never gain access. So we just used the letter “H” for “Hallelujah” and ended up with www.hacres.com. Today, this site averages over 90,000 hits per month.

1997 – The Very First Health Tip

About the same time we went on the internet, we began publishing a FREE weekly electronic Health Tip. There were not many subscribers in those early days, but as more and more people gained access to the internet subscriptions have steadily increased. Today this electronic Health Tip goes out to nearly 100,000 subscribers weekly.

I personally write these weekly electronic Health Tips between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. most mornings. This issue is consecutive issue #740, and all previous issues are available in the archives (look for the “wall clock” icon on the right hand side).

1997 – Hallelujah Acres Moves To North Carolina

The location of our ministry  — on a mountaintop in Tennessee, located on a dirt road, very difficult to find and far from an interstate or airport — was by now running out of room and there was no more buildable land on that mountaintop. So we started a search for a new location.

A businessman from Shelby, North Carolina attended one of my seminars in Tennessee and shared that he had a building in Shelby that he owned that would be perfect for our ministry. It had been built for a Christian school, which had closed its doors and become the campus of Ambassador College.

Ambassador College had outgrown the facility and it was available. Bud Mims, the owner, knew that we didn’t have much financially to purchase the building so he allowed us to move into the building while he held the mortgage and allowed us to pay off the mortgage as finances allowed.

The location was ideal! It was only 45 minutes from the Charlotte international airport and within an hour or less drive of four interstate highways. Shelby was small enough to have the small town appeal without a lot of traffic, but large enough to provide all basic needs and less than an hour away from Charlotte, the largest city in North Carolina.

We turned the gym into a 400-seat auditorium, the classrooms into offices for our rapidly expanding staff, the basement into warehousing of product and shipping, two of the offices into our call center, and the library into our store. We moved into our new facility on November 1, 1997.

On February 4, 2012, at my first-Saturday-of-the-month “God’s Way to Ultimate Health” seminar here at Hallelujah Acres, we will celebrate the ministry’s 20th Anniversary! In addition to the seminar, many special things are planned for that day including a healthy birthday cake for the enjoyment of all those at the seminar. Y’all come!

Next week, the good Lord willing and if the creeks don’t rise too high, we will pick up where we have left off here with our move to Shelby, North Carolina. We will share how Hallelujah Acres has grown in this new location (now 58 full time employees) and how we are building a village. I trust you will join us next week as we continue to share the rest of the story.