| Author |
Message |
Pegg
Registered user
Username: Pegg
Post Number: 12
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 7:25 am: |     |
Buzz
I am very impressed with the health ministry that is outlined on your church's website that you linked under the Anyone Still Bitter... thread! It is caring and practical and meeting peoples' needs right where they are.
When we were active in our SDA church I was very interested in the health ministry. (I'm a Dietitian - specializing in Weight Loss and Longterm Weight Management - assisting individuals in building healthy lifestyle skills is what I do best.) However, my nutrition message is too pragmatic and evidence-based for the brethren. There are many paths to good nutrition and good health. I refuse to espouse only vegetarianism. (I was taught this way at Atlantic Union College - can you believe it?! The Dietitecs Dept was small. We took a lot of heat. I understand it has since been closed.)
I believe any health message should be practical and doable. Most people won't be making 15 grain bread from flour that they grind themselves! What folks need is options for preparing healthy foods fast. And it has to taste good!
The SDA Health Message emphasis is on what NOT to do/eat. Instead, people need to learn the TO-DOs. When an individual increases healthy fruits, vegetables, lean proteins of all sorts, low fat dairy and grains in his/her diet the not-to-dos gradually decrease and take care of themselves as the lifestyle becomes more healthy overall, including the biggest to-do of all - increasing physical activity.
Must get out for a walk!
Pegg |
Buzz
Registered user
Username: Buzz
Post Number: 20
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 4:01 pm: | |
Have my blood pressure checked right after the 9:00 am service once a month. We went searching and never went further than this church. It really is a great church that really preaches the evangelistic christian walk straight from the bible. We have been going thru Matthew and the parables that Jesus told lately.
I have never heard "we are Baptist and we are right!" stuff like the old church. You need to be right in your own heart now! |
Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 2194
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 7:02 pm: | |
I had an elderly SDA person tell me recently that the SDA church is the only church that has a health ministry. I told her she only believed that because that is what she is told at the Adventist church and then I told her that the local Lutheran church where I attend has a very active health ministry. She was somewhat taken aback and then wondered what possible could a Lutheran church consider a health minister considering they don't teach alcohol is wrong or pork and other meats and one can actually become a member of the Lutheran church and smoke cigerettes, etc. I told her once a month after the service a nurse if there and takes blood pressure, they have AA meetings in the social hall several times per week and a Christian based weight-loos group. They also visit the ill and housebound, etc. She wasn't impressed. Still, other churches besides the SDA has a health ministry. Also, several times per year the mobil blood bank it at the church.
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Seekr777
Registered user
Username: Seekr777
Post Number: 517
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 2:38 pm: | |
Pegg,
First may I welcome you to the forum. I've been sort of inactive for awhile but trying to keep up with at least some of the posts and posters.
I wish you were closer so i could talk to you more about your healthy living advice. You sound like my kind of advice giver, PRACTICAL ! !!
Richard
rtruitt@mac.com
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Lynne
Registered user
Username: Lynne
Post Number: 412
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 4:59 pm: | |
The health message was what appealed to me because I have had health issues for years controlled by diet. I was in an Adventist hospital before becoming Adventist. I ate the vegetarian food while hospitalized and enjoyed it very much. I thought they did a great job helping meat eaters get away from meat with the food they offered. Like big franks, mashed potatoes with gravy and fake meat that tasted pretty good. I've always been a grateful person for food blessings.
But when I began going to the Adventist church, I was actually suprised by the fact that they weren't stricter about not eating meat. I met a lot of meat eaters and since I was skinny, even the pastor and his wife brought me meat (beef & chicken) when I was sick once.
I'm just glad our culture now is more open to being healthy. Not like many years ago when you had to become a Hari Krishna or join some sort of commune or something like that in order to try to eat well or not eat meat. But since I was more interested in being a mainstream Christian vegetarian at the time (20 years ago), what other group of Christians would I fit culturally?
The Adventists seemed Christian with a little hint of being different. I was normal with a hint of being different because of my health too. The rest became what seemed to be something of a test on my intellect.
Lynne
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Cathy2
Registered user
Username: Cathy2
Post Number: 136
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:53 am: | |
Pegg,
Would or could you email me? I am interested in what you have said about your profession as a Dietitian. It is exactly my own philosophy and vocation towards health; balanced, fitting to the individual's needs.
Thank you,if you can.
Cathy
choosier1@msn.com |
Susan_2
Registered user
Username: Susan_2
Post Number: 2200
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, May 23, 2006 - 5:06 pm: | |
Lynne, I lived several miles from a Hare Krishna commune and went to the gathering over there nearly every Sunday. The gibberish the geru spouted off never made two-bits worth of sense but the boogingdown part of the gathering was o.k. and I liked getting funky and dancing with all the little Krishna children and afterwords we would be served the totally best vegetarian feast one can immagine. Oh, those Krishna's make good tasting food and all the ingredients are so nutritious. The Krishna's are really nice people, but then I am one of those folks who think just about everyone is a good person if you will just give the person the time of day so you can see his or her goodness. Also, in my community was a raw foods commune and those folks were real nice too but they would only eat foods as it is grown so that left out a lot of things I like to eat that needs to be cooked like oatmeal, rice, etc. Also, close to where I lived was a Deadhead commune. They were a fun group of folks, having lots of baby Deadheads to carry on the Deadhead traditions. In my community we have the VIP club. VIP stands for 'vegetarian inclined people'. Each month they have a guest speeker and then a potluck. The food is all organic and contains no white flour, no dairy or eggs, no artifical color or flavor or additives and no white sugar. Even if honey is used it is labeled. Occassionally a SDA person will show up at the VIP meeting but the lecture and the food is so different than the SDA way of food and thinking that they usually don't come back. However, one of the local SDA churches does let the VIP's use their social hall for this monthly meeting for free and I think that is real nice of the Adventists to do that. |
Mwh
Registered user
Username: Mwh
Post Number: 43
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, May 31, 2006 - 2:53 pm: | |
Hello everybody!
I'm starting a health ministry in my church in Denmark and I was wondering about what you think such a ministry includes? And if you have some good links to other health ministries?
In my church we have a lot of doctors and nurses, how can they play an active role in this?
I can see that there is two parts of this ministry .. securing good physical/spiritual health for the flock and an outreach part (come an see how the christians are living a healthy life).
Anyone knows some good biblical references as well?
Jesus is life, how wonderfull!! |
Pegg
Registered user
Username: Pegg
Post Number: 21
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 - 9:00 am: | |
Hello Mwh:
I have enjoyed your posts, your insights and your passion for our Lord's gospel.
Assisting people in building healthy lifestyles is my passion. It is also part of my "religion".
I believe that the Bible makes it clear how important our health is to our Heavenly Father. 3 John 2 - "I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health..." Again, "Surely you know that you are the temple of God?" and again, "Therefore, whether ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of god". 1 Cor 3:16, 1 Cor. 10:31. Throughout the Old Testament the Bible makes clear that God is concerned for his people's good health.
Our God is depicted as a father. I am a parent myself. I know that my child's health (he's a man now) is on the very top of my hopes and wishes for him. In fact, in all honesty, if I had to make a direct choice about almost anything else in his life (other than his eternal salvation)I believe I would choose health for him most of all. I have thought of this often as I've tried to understand why God would wish for our health "above all things". I hope I would never need to, but in my heart of hearts I know that if it were to come to it, I would choose my son's health even over his love for me. I am certain that my parents would sacrifice the same. That realization has helped me to realize how God could care so deeply for my health.
I also believe that healthy people have more to give back to God, and without distraction. (I don't mean anything negative about unhealthy people.) I am sure, though that this is not the main reason why God wants us to be healthy. God is not selfish. He want's what is best for us because He loves us.
So the question is how can we best support God's children to build their health and make Him so very happy.
If your church family has members who have medical expertise, I believe that each can contribute in his/her own area of expertise. As I mentioned at the top of this thread, I am very impressed with the health program outlined in Buzz's church webpage, here - http://www.bhbconline.org/index.cfm?PAGE_ID=976 . (Sorry if the link doesn't work. - I'm a bit of a techno-dork!)
Our ministry should be designed to help members identify areas for improvement in their health and support simple small steps towards adding in healthy lifestyle behaviors. It should also support people in acquiring medical attention when indicated, and should never replace or hinder medical attention.
Medical professionals who are involved in a health ministry are ethically bound to work within the confined of thier own area of expertise. I am a dietitian. I would never think of giving advice about wound care or physical therapy, for example. I have found that this is not common practice, however, even amongst health professionals once they get outside of thier professional setting. It seems as if everyone thinks that he/she is an expert in every area in which they have a little knowledge or opinion. I believe this is a dangerous practice.
I could go on and on, and I would love to continue this conversation.
Let's all keep searching.
Pegg |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 4096
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 12:14 am: | |
Mwh, I really can't speak for others here, but I suspect that the reason you haven't gotten more response to your question is that we have just been so "burned out" by the Adventist "health message" being pushed as the "right arm of the message". We were taught that the Holy Spirit couldn't really communicate with us well if we didn't take care of our health and eat right (according to SDA standards), etc.
I'm glad Pegg answered youóshe has some good insights. I confess that when I think of starting a health ministry with a church, I just feel sort-of cold, and that's a reaction that is not helpful to you at all!
I believe it is possible for a church to have an effective health ministry, but I confess I have a visceral reaction to the idea that is not the least bit objective!
I do think, however, that such a ministry has great potential for good.
Colleen |
Pegg
Registered user
Username: Pegg
Post Number: 22
Registered: 2-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, June 04, 2006 - 6:56 am: | |
Hello Mwh:
I'd love to hear more about your church family. You mentioned nurses and doctors in your congregation. Have you spoken with these folks about your ideas?
Caution! Be careful how you choose people to work with you. You want a positive group attitude. When you find that a person's idea about health is all about what not-to-do, avoid giving that person a voice like the plague. (You will still find work for them to do, just make sure that it is in the background where they can work more quietly.)
I believe the what-not-to-do attitude is exactly what Colleen is reacting to above! This kind of approach has the ability to destroy peoples' desire for doing what it takes to acheive a healthy lifestyle faster than anything else! I know this. My own husband reacts this way because of longtime negative exposure to the "health message".
Instead, you are looking to partner with people whos' message is all about what TO DO to be healthy. Their TO-DO message should be simple and practical for the people in your culture.
To successfully change any behavior, one must focus on the positive. The TO-DOS! I thank God that He made the TO-DO principles of good health exceedingly simple. I believe they are well known to most people. The components of a healthy lifestyle are not rocket science! They include a nutritious variety of foods, regular moderate exercise, good rest, a positive outlook on life and a love of one's self. There are probably more, but not a lot. It's simple! In fact, I believe that part of the challenge of delivering an effective health message is finding a way to keep it interesting when most of your audience already has a pretty good idea of WHAT to do and the principles of good health do not change.
The challenge, and the magic, are in helping folks develop the behaviors of HOW to do this.
Let's all keep on searching!
Pegg |
Mwh
Registered user
Username: Mwh
Post Number: 48
Registered: 4-2006
| | Posted on Wednesday, June 07, 2006 - 6:25 am: | |
Hello Pegg
We have a homepage here: http://www.valgmenighed.dk, its very outdated though, we are working on a new one though.
Its part of the peoples church of Denmark, http://www.folkekirken.dk/ but its a particular section of this church which means more liberty .. buth with the same faith ie lutheran/protestant.
It was founded in 1990 by some young people from Youth for Christ and now has about 300 members and 500+ participants on sunday.
We are growing 12 new members last month and we have started to send out misionaries and receive misionaries as well.
At the moment I'm gathering material for 3 new ministries, 1. an outreach to SDA, 2. a ministry for the poor and 3. a health ministry. I have begun talking with one of my pastors about this and I'm going to get in contact with thoes who has the same calls asap.
I'm currently living in Spain, but I will return in the end of August to study nursing in Denmark.
The church consists mostly of young ones, but we are starting to have people of all ages.
If you have more ideas, examples and references let me know. |
Melissa
Registered user
Username: Melissa
Post Number: 1533
Registered: 7-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 10:05 am: | |
I think I'll stick this here. It's an irreverent look at 'diet.' I think it's quite funny... It is copied from an email chain ....
In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth and populated the Earth with broccoli, cauliflower and spinach, green and yellow and red vegetables of all kinds, so Man and Woman would live long and healthy lives.
Then using God's great gifts, Satan created Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream and Krispy Creme Donuts. And Satan said, "You want chocolate with that?"
And Man said, "Yes!" and Woman said, "and as long as you're at it, add some sprinkles." And they gained 10 pounds. And Satan smiled.
And God created the healthful yogurt that Woman might keep the figure that Man found so fair. And Satan brought forth white flour from the wheat, and sugar from the cane and combined them. And Woman went from size 6 to size 14.
So God said, "Try my fresh green salad." And Satan presented Thousand-Island Dressing, buttery croutons and garlic toast on the side. And Man and Woman unfastened their belts following the repast.
God then said, "I have sent you heart healthy vegetables and olive oil in which to cook them." And Satan brought forth deep fried fish and chicken-fried steak so big it needed its own platter. And Man gained more weight and his cholesterol went through the roof.
God then created a light, fluffy white cake, named it "Angel Food Cake," and said, "It is good." Satan then created chocolate cake and named it "Devil's Food."
God then brought forth running shoes so that His children might lose those extra pounds. And Satan gave cable TV with a remote control so Man would not have to toil changing the channels. And Man and Woman laughed and cried before the flickering blue light and gained pounds.
Then God brought forth the potato, naturally low in fat and brimming with nutrition. And Satan peeled off the healthful skin and sliced the starchy center into chips and deep-fried them. And Man gained pounds.
God then gave lean beef so that Man might consume fewer calories and still satisfy his appetite. And Satan created McDonald's and its 99-cent double cheeseburger. Then said, "You want fries with that?" And Man replied, "Yes! And super size them!" And Satan said, "It is good." And Man went into cardiac arrest.
God sighed and created quadruple bypass surgery.
Then Satan created HMOs.
(Message edited by melissa on January 19, 2007) |
Honestwitness
Registered user
Username: Honestwitness
Post Number: 211
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 10:29 am: | |
Melissa, that is a hoot! Thanks for sharing!
Honestwitness |
Colleentinker
Registered user
Username: Colleentinker
Post Number: 5286
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 19, 2007 - 3:11 pm: | |
Ha! I'm laughing too, Melissa!! Thanks!
Colleen |
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