Kindred Life Ministries hosted two Chili Cook Off events this year, one at Gurnee Community Church on October 24th and a second one at Our Saviour Evangelical Free Church in Wheeling on November 7th. We are so thankful to the many volunteers, contestants and attendees that made both of our Chili Cook Off events a huge success!
Nearly 300 attendees sampled roughly 20 different chili recipes made by local contestants. Our judges and guests picked their favorites. Prizes went to People’s Choice and Judge’s 1st and 2nd place winners. Congratulations to the following contestants:
Gurnee
People’s Choice – Len Yates, Texas Gourmet Chili, Village Church of Gurnee
Judge’s 1st place – Jesse Kalinowski, This Ain’t No Crazy Chili, Lakeland Church
Judge’s 2nd place – Ken & Cheryl Roscher, Meat Chili, Gurnee Community Church
Wheeling
People’s Choice & Judges 1st place – Eryn Bee, Bee’s Smokey Chili, Meadows Christian Fellowship
Judge’s 2nd place – Mark Heberling, The One and Only Chili, The Chapel Palatine
We were introduced to five of our teen moms and three of them competed in the messy, but fun pie eating contest! They explained what their goals are for the year and what Kindred Life means to them.
Kindred Life thanks all of our contestants, judges, volunteers and sponsors. We invite you to browse our slideshow as well as the list of participants below:
Special thanks to:
Gurnee Community Church
Our Saviour Evangelical Free Church in Wheeling
The Chapel Palatine
Meadows Christian Fellowship
Village Church of Gurnee
Lakeland Church
Matt Bellito – Wheeling Emcee
Stephen Hinkle – Gurnee Emcee
Gary Elsbury – Sound at the Gurnee Chili Cook Off
Stacy Hartman – Decorations
Chick-Fil-A Restaurant – Mt. Prospect, IL
Wheeling Chili Judges
- Pastor Andrew Bee, Meadows Christian Fellowship
- Pastor Adam Fix, Our Saviour Evangelical Free Church
- Tom Hayes, Mayor of Arlington Heights
- Chris Hilgers, Mt. Prospect Park District
- Regina Stremich, Kindred Life Volunteer Extraordinaire
Gurnee Chili Judges:
- Chief Fred Friedl, Gurnee Fire Department
- Mayor Rhett Taylor, Grayslake
- Pastor Brandon Smith, Village Church of Gurnee
- Sarah VanDerLip, Executive Director of Informed Choices
- Cheryl Hansen, Grayslake Center Director of Informed Choices
- Jon Hemmer, Moody Radio Host
- Elmer Fallos, Gurnee Exchange Club Board President
- Pastor Chris Stephens, Gurnee Community Church
- Pastor Brian Walter, Gurnee Community Church
Wheeling Pie Eating Contestants
- Andy Lehmann, Skokie Police Officer
- Fatima Ruiz, Teen Mom, Kindred Life Ministries
- Tim Schiek, OSEFC Associate Pastor
Gurnee Pie Eating Contestants
- Lara Archibald, Campus Staff Member of Intervarsity at College of Lake County
- Ryan Finnelly, Director of Development for Lydia Home
- Daniel Fitch, Petty Officer Second Class of the U.S. Navy
- Michelle, Teen Mom, Kindred Life Ministries
- Fatima, Teen Mom, Kindred Life Ministries
Wheeling Prizes and Raffle
- Maggie Burton – Palatine, IL
- Chili’s Restaurants – Arlington Heights, IL
- Amanda Granlienard, Arbonne – Palatine, IL
- Amy Helms – Palatine, IL
- Melanie Hurley, Juice Plus – Mount Prospect, IL
- Vivian Lehmann, Prizes – Morton, IL
- Peter and Georgene Luneckas – Huntley, IL
- Lisa Rudy – Arlington Heights, IL
- Salt Creek Park District – Palatine, IL
- Julie Wager, Thirty-One – Cary, IL
- Stephanie Young – Palatine, IL
Gurnee Prizes and Raffle
- Lisa Anderson, Scentsy, Round Lake, IL
- Brogans, Gurnee, IL
- Chili’s Restaurant, Gurnee, IL
- Stacey Griffin, Lulu Avenue, Gurnee, IL
- Amanda Marshall, Norwex, Round Lake, IL
- Joyce Ormond, Premier Design, Gurnee, IL
- Starbucks, Grayslake, IL
- Suzy’s Swirl, Gurnee, IL
- Friends of the Ministry
If you couldn’t join us this year we hope to see you next year! Thank you!