Churches
Starting
Health
Ministries
At a
workshop
sponsored
by
GET
A
LIFE
on
January
26th,
teams
from
various
congregations
in
five
counties
gained
tremendous
information
and
encouragement
from
nationally
known
expert,
Rosetta
Swinton,
about
how
to
start
an
effective
Health
Ministry.
Churches
are
recognized
as
one
of
the
top
three
places
people
look
for
information
and
resources
for
their
lives.
Faith-based
Health
Ministries
connect
congregations
with
important
information
and
resources
to
address
a
broad
range
of
health
issues
and
serve
as
an
effective
means
to
reach
out into
their communities.
If
you
would
like
additional
information
about
starting
a
faith-based
Health
Ministry
at
your
church,
please
contact
us
at
662-298-0027
for
a
complete
packet
of
information
and
ideas.
10
STEPS
to
BEGINNING
A
HEALTH
MINISTRY
1.
LEARN
ALL
YOU
CAN
-
study
the
workshop
and
other
printed
materials,
talk
with
other health
ministries,
ask
local
medical
people
for
information,
etc.
2.
MAKE
SURE
YOUR
PASTOR
IS
SUPPORTIVE
-
you
will
need
the
Pastor's
support
to
reach
the congregation.
3.
FORM
A
HEALTH
TEAM
-
Invite
interested
members
of
your
congregation,
educators, medical
professionals,
school
nurses,
dieticians,
representatives
from
local health
care
providers,
and
others
who
have
an
interest
in
promoting
health
and
wellness.Look
for
people
your
congregation
will
trust
and
look
up
to.
4.
DEVELOP
A
PLAN
-
What
do
you
hope
to
accomplish
and
how
will
you
do
it?
5.
SURVEY
THE
CONGREGATION
-
What
do
people
in
the
congregation
feel
they
need
most?
6.
SET
UP A
SYSTEM
FOR
ORGANIZING
INFORMATION
-
Keep
accurate,
secure information
about
visits,
contacts,
etc?
7.
PLAN
A
RECOGNITION
&
COMMISSIONING
SERVICE
-
This
validates
the
health
ministry, affirms
its
spiritual
roots
and
raises
awareness
to
the
new
ministry.
8.
BEGIN
WITH
THE
NEEDS
YOUR
CONGREGATION
IDENTIFIED
-
Start
by
providing
information on
a
regular
basis
about
the
topics
people
say
are
most
important
to
them.
Team
members
make
brief
presentations
in
Sunday
School
classes
Put
a
"nugget"
of
health
information
in
the
bulletin
each
week
Ask
your
Pastor
to
deliver
a
message
emphasizing
the
need
to
maintain
good
health
Distribute
printed
information
about
topics
of
concern
to
people
9.
REPORTS
-
Keep
the
team
and
your
pastor
informed.
10.
GROW
-
Revise
your
plan,
broaden
your
goals
and
strengthen
your
team
as
you
grow!
Here
are
some
ideas
for
the
future:
Partner
with
other
churches
in a
weight
loss
contest
Hold
a
"Health
Fair"
Start
a
study
of
the
scriptures
about
good
health
Involve
kids
and
teens
in
the
ministry
(ask
them
what
will
work)
Develop
a
cookbook
of
healthy
recipes
for
your
congregation
Arrange
Family
Activity
Nights
once
a
month
(or
weekly)
Start
an
exercise
program
for
the
congregation
Partner
with
other
congregations
for
a
community
wide
outreach
