In November 2025, the Peterson Center hosted a dinner party. We rented the 623 event space in Grand Rapids and hired pastor/chef Mark Grapengater (Peterson Center Dmin Graduate 2024) who planned and prepared a four course meal for 36 pastors (including spouses). Our hope was to broaden the reach of the Peterson Center by inviting a few pastors who had either no connection to the Center or minimal interaction. Before each course was served, chef Mark told a story about the dish, how it was prepared and how food functions in his ministry setting in Denver, Colorado.