Health Ministry

The Health Ministry is an idea born out of the understanding of the healing ministry of the church and the need to return to health care that focuses on the whole person to emphasize wellness, disease prevention, and health promotion. The team does not provide direct care. Members of the Health Ministry Team serve as an advocate or counselor for helping those who need information and resources. They emphasize the importance of the relationship between faith and health issues. They may also plan blood pressure screenings, flu shot clinics and other events at the church that reach out to our congregation and community on a spiritual and health basis.

As the Health Ministry becomes an integral part of pastoral care, it allows the church to take more seriously its role of healing. By enabling better understanding and better cooperation within our congregation and the community, the health ministry provides the human context that allays fears, frustrations, and confusion that sometimes is a detriment to the optimal health of an individual or congregation.

The Health Ministry Team is committed to:

• Sharing Our Faith



• Promoting Good Health through Education



• Preventing and or Controlling Disease through Knowledge and Support

Who makes up our Health Ministry Team? We are fortunate in having a wide range of Team members with God given talents to serve on our Health Ministry. Many are experienced registered nurses or other health care professionals, who utilize their clinical and spiritual commitment in a healing ministry. Educated both in the business, sciences and human services, they act as catalysts between health institutions and congregations. The Health Ministry Team takes an active, visible role in the congregation. They are all volunteers and serve as part of the ministerial team. They promote an atmosphere within the church community that enhances each individual's desire to be responsible for his or her own mental, physical, and spiritual health and wellness.

The Health Ministry has four programs to help our spiritual and health wellness needs.

• Primary Prevention Team will focus on health prevention programs and helping people maintain good health.



• Caring Hands Team responds to needs of our congregation and families when a loved one is hospitalized or scheduled for undergoing treatment, offering support and serving as an advocate.



• Teen Health Team will focus on our teens and young adults with health prevention programs in substance abuse, sexuality and reinforce the abstinence message.



• Medical Equipment Loan Program - Loan medical equipment upon request at no charge such as: Walkers, canes, crutches, bedside commodes, wheel chairs, shower benches available. Let us know if you have medical equipment to donate.

The roles of the Health Ministry Team may include the following:

Free Blood Pressure Screening – First Sunday every month

Health Educator - Provides information to raise the health awareness of the church community through a variety of options that include classes, workshops, information, seminars, support groups, blood drives, on site Mamograms and health fairs.

Personal Health Counselor - Advocates for individuals by offering knowledge of options for health and a supportive presence as members of the church make choices for their lives. Reinforces physician's plan of care.

Advocate - Helps navigate their way through managed care and helps them articulate their concerns to the health care community.

Teen Health - Substance use among youth: alcohol, tobacco, & other drugs. Reinforce the abstinence message in school and at home.

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. (3 John 1:2)

Contact the Church Office at 345-3477 for information or assistance from the Health Ministry Team.