Church Wellness

The three pillars of wellness are nutritional, spiritual and physical balance. The spiritual foundation in a person's life is a requirement for total wellness. When I visit different churches I am amazed that churches do not promote as strongly as possible the aspect of wellness through a healthy lifestyle, after all the body is revered as a temple of the Holy Spirit. To not keep the body clean and healthy seems to me to be spiritually negligent.

The church has great influence on family foundations. Young families are influenced by the guidance of the church. This makes church a perfect place to begin teaching youth and young families the principles of healthy living helping to prevent the onset of disease and illness.

The fact is our nation's population has reached its lowest level of wellness in decades. We are in a health crisis. Of all the civilized nations ours suffers the highest percentage of disease and illness due to diet and lifestyle. An unhealthy Church cannot be as effective in its ministry as it could with a vibrant and healthy congregation.

Even though part of the churches responsibility is to provide care to its members and others in the community, many times much of those funds could be saved if the congregation were living a lifestyle of wellness which is health building, preventing the onset of some illness and disease. The saved funds could be used for church activities for the youth and seniors, teaching materials, missionary work and community outreach programs. Furthermore a sick congregation cannot provide physical support when the church needs someone to clean or repair facilities putting more duties on the remaining few healthy parishioners.

Should we not be treating our bodies as a temple of Christ?

The church can benefit greatly from a healthy congregation.

• A healthy congregation is a happy and involved in church functions.

• A healthy congregation is one that is working earning money that can boost tithes.

• A healthy congregation can devote time and money to fund raising events.

• A healthy congregation is enthusiastic to promote the causes of the Church.

• A healthy congregation is better able to contribute to their community.

• A healthy congregation is less of a strain on the finances of the Church because there are less sick for the church to support.

• A healthy congregation can do more to support missionary causes.

• A healthy congregation allows the pastor to do more spiritual work because less time is spent at hospitals, nursing homes and visiting many of the shut-ins.

What are health organizations saying about healthy living?

“Eating more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet is associated with a reduced risk of stroke and possibly other cardiovascular diseases as well as a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and certain cancers (cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, larynx, lung, esophagus, stomach and colon-rectum). Fruit and vegetable consumption can also give you a feeling of fullness and help you eat fewer calories. In these ways, fruits and vegetables may help with weight control.”
-From Nutrition.Gov (Health and Human Services, National Institute of Health)

“The foods you choose each day are one of the most important factors in protecting you against cancer. Most Americans eat a diet that is far too high in fat and calories. Even more important is what the average U.S. diet lacks: a variety of vegetables, fruits, beans and other plant-based foods.

Eating a healthier diet, one that not only can help protect against cancer, but also against heart disease, stroke and a variety of other health problems, is easier to do than you may think, start with 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day.”
-From the American Institute for Cancer Research

Optimal health requires proper nutrition and adequate physical activity.

At WebND we want to help your church develop wellness programs to drive health in your congregation.