Himmelsg\u00e5va<\/a>\u2014in Swedish, \u201cgift of heaven\u201d\u2014is a family-run health food store ministry situated in the \u00c5land Islands, a peaceful archipelago comprising thousands of small islands located between Finland and Sweden. The \u00c5land Islands are an autonomous, demilitarised, Swedish-speaking region of Finland.<\/p>\n The islands have 30,000 residents and 2.2 million visitors every year. \u201cThe potential is immense!\u201d said the family behind Himmelsg\u00e5va, which opened in 2020. \u201cIt is a great joy to contribute to improved health in different ways. Regardless of whether it is physical, emotional, social, or spiritual. Himmelsg\u00e5va desires to be a taste of heaven for young and old.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Himmelsg\u00e5va is ecologically certified to grow vegetables, fruits, berries, artisan food, eggs, and honey. Products are sold mainly on markets and in local stores. \u201cWe also offer massage therapy, and handicraft embroidery from ADRA which started importing items from Pollywog in Bangladesh. Currently, we are building a log house to make overnight stays possible for guests in the future,\u201d they shared.<\/p>\n In the southwest region of Western Europe, in Penela, Coimbra, Portugal, the\u00a0VitaSalus\u00ae Wellness Centre<\/a> offers clinical services and health education programs. The ministry is the brainchild of the Association to Promote Preventive Medicine (APPM), established in 2003, to improve the health of individuals and communities by promoting healthy lifestyle habits.<\/p>\n \u201cHealth is a state of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness,\u201d VitaSalus leaders explain. \u201cWe recognise that health does not depend only on genetics or physical constitution. Factors such as lifestyle habits, socioeconomic conditions, and accessibility to health services contribute to the health of individuals and communities.\u201d<\/p>\n APPM also participates in humanitarian projects, providing medical services and health education to disadvantaged communities, including refugee groups, predominantly outside of Portugal.<\/p>\n Almost 2,000 miles east is Biosalute<\/a>, a family ministry located around the vineyards of the hills of Predappio, in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. Biosalute\u2019s main initiative is an online wholesale health food store, providing the primary source of income for the ministry\u2019s mission activities.<\/p>\n In cooperation with local churches and communities, Biosalute organises various lifestyle-changing programs, educational activities, and produces health and educational programs for Hope Channel in Italy. The family also receives health guests for weekly health sessions during the summer months.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal at Biosalute is to produce more programs for Hope Channel and Voice of Hope radio in Italy,\u201d Penelope Franchetto, ministry leader, shared. \u201cThe team has received open doors to impact the whole Italian vegan community, which is growing quickly, by sponsoring famous vegan chefs with their products and connecting with the network of vegan restaurants and pizzerias throughout the country.\u201d<\/p>\n Another health retreat and centre of lifestyle medicine, called\u00a0Landhaus DIE ARCHE<\/a>, this time located in northeastern Germany, caters to 700-1,000 guests annually, offering programs to combat addictions, recover from depression, and lead<\/span> a healthier life. Health seminars and organic agriculture complement the centre’s offerings.<\/p>\n \u201cMost people know that a change is good, and they long for change, but they don\u2019t know how to,\u201d centre cofounder Gunther Hanke explained. \u201cOur centre aims to be a specialist in change.\u201d<\/p>\n Up in the Mountains<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Seven hours northwest of Biosalute is\u00a0Sonnmatt and Gesundheitszentrum<\/a>, a mountain guest house and health centre in the Swiss Alps.\u00a0Advertised as \u201ca wonderful place to relax and recharge your batteries,\u201d Sonnmatt offers \u201cnature, silence, relaxation, and activity\u201d at the same time.<\/p>\n The guest house, which is featured on popular accommodation booking sites, offers its guests \u201ctasty and healthy\u201d vegetarian food that is \u201cdigestible, meatless, wholefood, and fresh,\u201d as well as mountain hikes and massages.<\/p>\n Again, seven hours away, but this time east of Sonnmatt, is\u00a0Country Life Health Centre Mattersdorferhof<\/a>, near the Italian-Slovenian border in Austria, which is advertised as a \u201choliday for soul, body, and spirit.\u201d The Mattersdorferhof, as it is known, is \u201ca small country house in the middle of a green oasis of peace, nestled in forests and meadows.\u201d<\/p>\n Ministry leaders want their guests to know that health and happiness in life are no coincidence. \u201cWe are convinced that our Creator has made provision for the healing powers of plants and food, following a balanced lifestyle, using natural remedies, and trusting in God.\u201d Unapologetically Christian, the centre’s website explains that its \u201cemployees lead a life close to nature with a vegetarian diet, horticulture, [and] spiritual and physical activity to cultivate balance and joy.\u201d<\/p>\n The centre also conducts biblically-oriented health education for young people locally, focusing on reflection, education, manual work, and health, as reported by ministry leaders. \u201cThis holistic offer is intended to bring body, soul, and spirit,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/ted.adventist.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/A-Taste-of-Heaven.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHealth Centres as Teaching Ministries<\/h3>\n
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