Hello! My name is Jill Ellington.

I’m a Seventh-Day Adventist (SDA) Christian, wife, mother, and grandmother, with 15 years of experience as a natural health and wellness educator and raw, plant-based, gluten-free chef. I also have 22 years of experience as a healthy relationships consultant and matchmaker bringing people together for marriage. I currently live in southern California.

My Story

I was raised in a Christian home by a single mother with three siblings. My mother did her best to raise us and always took us to church. I eventually was married at a young age and joined the SDA church after learning many Bible truths including their health message. This would be my first exposure to learning about a healthy lifestyle and the first time I had heard a church give this message. I immediately embraced the lifestyle and made a few changes to our diets. Changes took time and were made gradually.

Eventually, I began having a series of health problems and started searching to find the answer to what could make me well. I prayed, read books, Bible scriptures, listened to videos, and visited natural wellness businesses, especially for colon therapy. That is where I met someone who would eventually become a life-long friend. Her name is Janice. Janice was not only a colon therapist but a raw food chef. We spent a lot of time together and she taught me how to make “raw food” and the health benefits that come from eating a raw, plant-based diet. This diet made so much sense to me as the diet in the Garden of Eden was most likely an organic, raw, plant-based diet. I embraced the raw diet and began learning how to make most of what I ate raw. This was a game changer for me. My health improved immensely, and I was learning how to help others do the same. This led me on a journey to learn more, so I took several courses and began giving health and wellness classes and food demonstrations at my church beginning in 2009. In 2012 we moved to Loma Linda, CA and after getting settled, I saw a need in the community and began to hold raw food classes at the club house where we lived. I eventually met Minda, the owner of Vegan Korner Restaurant near Loma Linda and we became good friends. We began holding health and wellness classes at the restaurant weekly, which we continued doing for three years until Covid began. We had quite a following and many were disappointed when we could no longer hold classes regularly. After that, classes were sporadic, upon request.

You may be wondering, how does Friendship Exchange fit into this? Well, in 1986, I became a single mom and found it difficult to meet other singles, especially good Christian men. This spurred my interest in starting a matchmaking service. I began Friendship Exchange in June 1991 and ran that business for twenty-two years in the Midwest area. As my interest in my faith and health grew, I began sharing this information with clients and even holding health events to help my single clients be healthier too. Through 2013, Friendship Exchange was responsible for more than 500+ marriages, including my own! I met my match my first year in business—Bruce Ellington. We have been married for more than 30 years!

Now that I am living in California, I see the need for both a Christian matchmaker and wellness consultant to help others become healthy in all areas of their lives!

Current Roles

Natural Health Consultant

May 2009 to Present

I have a “Medical Missionary Health Evangelism” certificate, and have knowledge and skills in:

• Hydrotherapy
• Massage Basics
• Health Evangelism
• Health Talks
• Nutrition
• Common Diseases
• Christian Living

I teach a Fundamentals of Natural Hygiene course that covers a broad spectrum of health information and instruction including nutrition, disease, its causes, prevention and cure.

I have been holding classes regularly teaching attendees this information as well as natural remedies and the eight laws of health (nutrition, exercise, water, sunshine, temperance, fresh air, rest, trust in God). My main focus is on teaching and demonstrating to my audience how to make healthy, plant-based foods and beverages.

Matchmaker and Relationship Mentor

June 1991 to Present

As a seasoned matchmaker with 22+ years of experience and 500+ successful marriages, I consult with my clients personally through my service, Friendship Exchange.