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Congregations serve as catalyst for healthy change

United Methodist Health Ministry Fund President Kim Moore, right, with Dr. Jerald Starkey, member of the Kansas Area Healthy Lifestyles Committee, at the celebration for participants in the Healthy Congregations in Action Pilot Initiative. (photo by Lisa Elliott Diehl)

Written: 10/18/2007

By Lisa Elliott Diehl
Marketing and Communications director
Kansas Area United Methodist congregations are leading the way as catalysts for change in community health through the Healthy Congregations in Action Pilot Initiative. Started nearly two years ago, the initiative is a partnership between the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, the Kansas East and Kansas West conferences and the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Wichita.

To celebrate the successful completion of the pilot project, the Health Ministry Fund and KU researchers had a celebration Sept. 8 at First United Methodist Church in Wichita. The event featured a presentation by Kim Moore, president of the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Judy Johnston of the KU School of Medicine, and members of the Healthy Lifestyles Committee. The keynote speech was given by Bishop Scott Jones.

�This project was really a new beginning for the Health Ministry Fund,� Moore said. �We�d never taken on a project of this size and scope before.�

The 2004 Kansas East and Kansas West annual conferences adopted a resolution creating the Kansas Area Healthy Lifestyles Committee and directing it to work with churches on environmental changes to improve health.

�The United Methodist Church in Kansas is right at the front of this work,� Johnston said. �Other states are now looking at [Kansas] because no one else has ever done anything like this.�

The committee�s answer to the challenge is Healthy Congregations in Action. Created through the work of the Kansas Area Healthy Lifestyles Committee, HCIA brings together four aspects of health�social, physical, mental and spiritual�and challenges churches to establish ministries that positively impact these aspects of health. Pilot-project congregations received funding to begin or enhance church and community ministries that seek to improve the health of the whole person and create change at the grassroots level across the state.

�Thirty-one churches started the process, and 27 have come this far,� Moore said. �Sixteen of the churches have plans to extend their work time with new plans. The churches have worked to develop church and community in-kind resources for these ministries. We know the work has been challenging.�

Participating congregations partnered with other churches, organizations and businesses in their communities for health events that provided opportunities to improve one or more of the four elements of health.

�When we started out, we wanted to find out two things,� Moore said. �First, how do we help churches build their capacity to do health ministry? Second, can church-based health ministry result in real change?�

Shirley Nelson, member of First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson, looks at posters with photographs and descriptions of local churches' health ministries. The posters were on display throughout the healthy congregations celebration Sept. 8 at First United Methodist Church in Wichita. (photo by Lisa Elliott Diehl)

�The purpose was not just to do this initiative, but to create capacity for ongoing health ministry,� Johnston said.

Throughout the process, researchers from the KU Medical School in Wichita have guided churches through a response process that enables the research team to demonstrate real changes in health through participation in the various church projects. These results will be key for other states and organizations looking for successful models for impacting overall health.

�The reports reflect that we�ve done our work well,� Moore said.

The initial reports are showing that participants are experiencing health improvements.
Johnston and Healthy Lifestyles Committee members lifted up a number of example ministries during the celebration.

Eleven congregations in the Kansas Area conducted Self-Care Workshops with training provided by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund and scheduled through the KU School of Medicine office. Participants in the workshop learn about the aspects of health and enter into self-care covenants. Each participant identifies a self-care partner to help them stay on track with their plan.

Hope House, a ministry at First United Methodist Church in Ottawa in the Kansas East Conference, addresses all four aspects of health. The church wanted to engage families in the community, so members decided to target families receiving food through the community food ministry, Hope House. Families were invited to the church�s Wednesday night family activities that offer both spiritual growth and social support. Classes in preparing balanced meals with the food they receive at Hope House were offered, with child care provided.

In the Kansas West Conference, Copeland United Methodist Church had a sermon series focusing on the relationship between faith and health, giving the congregation a better understanding of how the spirit, mind and body are connected.

Rose Hill United Methodist Church conducted a Health Skills Fair, offering workshops and presentations on all aspects of health in addition to the usual health-screening booths of a traditional health fair. Workshops included �Starting a Walking Program� and �Humor for Health.�

First United Methodist Church in Hoisington worked on spiritual health through intentional attention to prayer. Each small group in the church, including the choir, Sunday school classes, youth group and United Methodist Women, was involved. The result was members became more comfortable with prayer and more disciplined in their prayer lives.The church now has an active prayer chain.

Trinity United Methodist Church in Salina is planning a service in mid-December that is intended to be a means of spiritual healing for people who find the holidays difficult. A counselor and pastors will be in attendance for those who might wish to visit following the service.

At University United Methodist Church in Salina, social health was the focus of the Covenant Buddies program, pairing children and youth with adults in the congregation. The children and youth receive a box with gifts from their buddy and have opportunities to interact with each other.

Tecumseh United Methodist Church chose a different demographic for its social health ministry. Partnering with two local nursing homes and a local flower wholesaler, the HCIA Team established a flower ministry. Participants in the church�s after-school program put the flowers in bud vases and deliver them to residents in the two nursing homes.

Trinity United Methodist Church in Russell started supper clubs to improve social health among various groups within the church. Members of the supper clubs rotate responsibilities for hosting and planning the dinners quarterly. To entice participants, members of the HCIA team put on skits during both worship services allowing church members to learn more about the supper clubs. The idea has been so successful that the clubs are starting to create their own versions�one is just for families, and another does after-church brunches.

First United Methodist Church in Dodge City focused on physical health with their walking program, �Just Walk.� The program specifically targeted men as well as women. It started with 97 participants, and parties were held as the group reached milestones.

First United Methodist Church in Hutchinson took a big step when it set out to change the traditional coffee and donuts offered between Sunday services. Through careful planning, delegation of responsibility and marketing, the team created a new norm for the break between services, offering healthy options next to the usual high-sugar, high-fat foods.

Kansas East�s Columbus United Methodist Church expanded their walking program, �Happy Hikers Walking Club,� to the community. The project started in Fall 2005 and targeted improvements in fitness and physical health. A bonus is that the Happy Hikers have experienced a real sense of fellowship and accountability to one another.

Participants at the Sept. 8 event received a book containing the ministry plans all the participants submitted.

Jill Cherry Walker, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health DELPHI Center coordinator, also prepared posters from photographs and descriptions churches sent about their health ministries. The posters were on display throughout the event.

For information on Healthy Congregations in Action, visit www.healthfund.org.