5 Reasons Your Church Needs a Health and Wellness Ministry

Health and wellness is not just what I specialize in for pay to earn a living. It is also what I'm passionate about and the area in which I've been privileged to minister to others. I have chosen to share the valuable information I've learned through my experiences as a Health and Wellness ministry leader as a way to encourage others to do the same. This article is the first of many on the topic with several related pieces to follow.

1. We are three-part beings; mind, body, and spirit.

Today's church spends a great deal of time focusing on the mind and spirit, but not the body. God favors balance, and when one part of a person is sick, the whole person is sick.

2. God desires that His people be well.

We know this for several reasons. One reason involves the fact that he is a loving and good parent. What good parent desires for their child to be in poor health? Also, recall from 3 John 1:2, "Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers".

Also recall in John 10:10 how Jesus told us that he came that we might have abundant life. It's very hard to have an abundant life and be of good service to the Lord here on earth if our bodies are ridden with disease from neglecting its upkeep. Our body is the temple of the Lord and we're supposed to maintain it.

3. A large part of the ministry of Jesus was healing sick bodies, not just sick souls.

Why shouldn't the church be a resource for this comprehensive approach to ministry? People certainly benefit from our prayers but sometimes they need more tangible help. We were cautioned not to be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.

4. Being sick is expensive.

People can't afford their medications these days. Do you know how many seniors in your congregation have to choose between food, utility bills, and medicine? Often, chronic illnesses can be controlled with diet and exercise. People find that they don't need as many medications when they help their body heal itself.
Of course, you should always follow the plan of care set forth by your doctor, but a good doctor should be encouraging you to take good care of yourself.

5. Many people don't know they're sick.

My grandmother discovered she had diabetes during a random screening in her senior apartment building She didn't suspect she was sick but stopping in for that screening saved her life. The fact is that a normal blood sugar reading is no higher than about 120. Hers was around 300! She was rushed to the hospital immediately. How many people are walking around in your church with the silent killer, high blood pressure (hypertension)? Whose life might you save during a simple, inexpensive blood sugar or blood pressure screening after church one day?