MCC's work around the world has taught us over the decades that spiritual and physical health are intertwined and inseparable. A pastor in Burkina Faso put it this way: "If you speak only to my body, and ignore my soul, the relief you bring will be fleeting and unsatisfying". He went on to conclude: "The only time you can truly speak to one part of me (body or soul) with out the other interfering, is if you follow me to the graveyard."

In North American society we still tend to separate our physical health for the spiritual. Hospitals and doctors take care of physical needs and churches and pastors take care of us spiritually. Chaplains try to provide spiritual care in hospital settings, but usually little is done in terms of providing physical care from within a church setting. Congregations often want to care for their members and those around them, but don't know how.

MCC, through HealthLink, has encouraged churches to take up this challenge. One possible approach is that of creating a formal Parish (or Congregational) Nurse program. A trained, registered nurse is made available to work within the congregation and as an outreach of the congregation, work at integrating faith and health, providing health education, being a personal health counselor/advisor/advocate and facilitating support groups. More specifically, this could mean activities such as planning health fairs, visiting those who are sick, at home or in hospital, counseling/advising on spiritual/health related issues and addressing specific needs of grieving families.

Another option is to create a less formal program with a volunteer committee entrusted to working at some or all of the same objectives. Smaller congregations might want to think in terms of cooperating with nearby churches, either of the same denomination or with a group of community churches, to address this issue. In some cases churches working closely with community organizations or service providers is the best option.

Congregations who find themselves ministering to communities under stress, be it because of poverty, economic decline or population shifts will often be called on to minister to the whole person. Today many of us learn of neighbors who are hurting. Is your congregation ready to consider a Health and Wellness Ministry?

For further information, resources and encouragement contact Laura Kroeger, MCCSaskatchewan #306 665 2555 or Judy Johnson, Parish Nurse # 306 933 2266