I received an e-mail from someone who was asked to coordinate a health ministry in her church and was looking for help.  I thought perhaps my response could benefit others. 

I’m not in the medical field and I have never been involved in a health ministry of a church.  So, right upfront, I need to say that I am not coming at this from an experience base.  I am looking at it from a biblical perspective for balance and observation of what churches have done.

Some churches do nothing, solely dealing with spiritual issues.  On the other side of the spectrum are churches that have a health and wellness program that is so focused on the physical that it could just as well be done by a secular group.  Then there are churches that “dabble” in it, perhaps providing blood pressure screening and having a nurse/doctor within the church recruited to be on-call for emergencies or first-aid.  And, some churches have a full program of services but keep focus on people’s whole being and not just the physical.

It would seem to me that if you are going to have a health ministry in a church, it should have some purpose other than purely attending to the physical being of people, a distinct purpose or emphasis that distinguishes it from what people can find elsewhere. 

Scriptural principles that can be considered are:

1. We are to be stewards of our bodies and so a church can train people to treat their bodies (“a temple of the Holy Spirit”) in ways that glorify Him. (1 Cor. 6:19-20)
2. We were made by God with a body, mind, soul, spirit.  The greatest command is to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mk. 12:30).  And so, a church can minister to the whole person, integrating physical, spiritual, emotional, mental, and social health and wellness.
3. We are told that Jesus came “that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10).  Might that not include the whole of our lives and not merely the spiritual?  And so, a church can help people experience that abundant life spiritually but also physically as is possible on this side of eternity by helping people learn to prevent problems physically that could affect the rest of their being.

The questions are:

How far should your church pursue and provide a health and wellness ministry?  How much of the church’s resources (time, volunteers, budget, facilities) should be devoted to it?  — I cannot provide answers for your church.  Prayer is integral to answering those questions.

How many of the following services should your church provide?  blood pressure and other health screening, fitness training, nutrition classes, scheduling medical personnel (nurse, doctor) to be on standby for emergencies or first aid during services, participation in a blood donation program, HIV/Aids awareness, making referrals, providing information & resources about health care, massages of head, neck, and shoulders for stress relief, CPR training, flu clinic, help for living with chronic illness, visitation, basic care for the elderly, basic care for pregnant women or new mothers, visitation, serving as a liaison or advocate, etc.

How far should your church go in instructing about health and wellness?  (health fair, classes, preaching, workshops, seminars, newsletters, support groups, counseling of options, etc.)

How far reaching should these services be extended?  (your church family only or also as a community outreach)

If you are getting involved on the ground level then you should:

Build a purpose/vision statement.  — why you will do what you do

Build a profile of your church members (age, sex, physical issues and needs they face).  –  where you will focus (start with greatest needs)

Build a team of qualified people and train them.  — who will implement the ministry

Build a plan.  — how to meet the needs with the time, budget, facilities, and volunteers you have to work with

Build a calendar of activities.  — when you will provide services, training, classes, etc.

Build an awareness among the congregation and/or community.  — what this ministry can do for them

If you are directing or coordinating a pre-existing health ministry in your church, then you would probably not do the first task listed above unless  it was never done.  The other tasks will be ongoing activities.  You will organize, schedule, plan, recruit, train, and supervise volunteers to achieve the ministry’s objectives.

For more specific help, let me suggest that you network with people from other churches who have implemented an effective holistic health ministry.