Broadly defined a Health Ministry is anything a faith community is doing to promote the well-being of its membership and the community in general. The purpose of the Health Ministry at SUMC is to help the congregation care for one another. Through programs and activities, this group helps to promote the spiritual, social, mental and physical well-being of the individual, congregation, and community. Some of the groups already doing this at SUMC are Stephen Ministry, the Caring Network, and support groups.

Using Jesus’ ministry as a model and following the tradition of John Wesley, the Health Ministry group at SUMC seeks to promote the wholistic well-being of this community of faith. Issues of health are basic to all people. We struggle with illness, stress, injuries, and loss.

There are many ways to do health ministries. Each congregation is unique and has its own set of resources and needs. Examples of health ministries include visitation of the sick, worship and prayer, educational programs on specific health issues, a food pantry, and help for the homeless. Congregations are almost always already engaged in health ministry, whether they call it that or not. The point of a health emphasis at SUMC is to make explicitly the link between the commitments of a religious tradition, the activities of the congregation, and the way this relates to people’s overall well-being.

This is a fairly new group at SUMC. Recent activities sponsored by Health Ministry include making Prayer Shawls to be given to those needing comfort and a support group for those with or dealing with people with physical and mental health issues. A walking club and programs on health issues are being considered for the future.

Recognizing the importance of addressing the needs of the people to be served, the Health Ministry group intends to distribute a questionnaire asking congregation members to help identify their needs and concerns to help guide them in developing appropriate activities and programs.