In 2017 Rouzerville UMC and Wesley Chapel UMC, Rouzerville Charge, each received a $500 Health Ministries Grant from Susquehanna Conference Congregational Health Ministries.
Rouzerville UMC
Rouzerville UMC joined the Global Ministries Abundant Health Initiative’s 10,000 church challenge, committing to promote activities in areas of health as a practice of their congregation, such as:- Providing opportunities for physical activity
- Promoting healthy diet and nutrition
- Supporting those who are dependent on or impacted by addictive substances to quit or recover
- Promoting mental well-being of our congregants and community.
Their efforts started with a drug prevention program for youth from the two charge churches, plus another United Methodist youth group in the area. Eighteen youth attended. The presenter was a health advocate from the Charge Health Ministries Team who is also the mother of a drug-addicted child. The youth really engaged with what she had to say. They received drug awareness pamphlets (purchased with grant money) and information that should not only help them, but perhaps their friends, too.
The Health Ministries Team then challenged 23 youth from the three churches to a Pedometer Challenge. Each youth received their own pedometer (purchased with grant money) for the challenge. The purpose of this program was to increase each youth’s activity and awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The Pedometer Challenge included presentations on the following topics:
- Healthy eating - Cynde Overholtzer, RN parish nurse
- Importance of exercise - Rita Caviness, RN parish nurse
- Importance of water/fluid intake - Becky Buffington, RN parish nurse
- Spiritual health - Missy Miller, health advocate
- How to keep track of your steps - Susan Barlup, health advocate
- How to use the pedometer - Donna Beard, health advocate
The winners of the Pedometer Challenge were announced at the youth Christmas party in December. The first place winner received a FitBit, the second and third place winners received a $25 gift card. The prizes were purchased with grant money.
“We hope the youth have a better awareness of a healthy lifestyle physically, mentally, and spiritually,” said Becky Buffinton, RN parish nurse. “We hope they can be disciples of Jesus and share the information they’ve learned with other youth in the community.”
In an effort to “create a healthy society where children … experience abundant health,” they participated in Waynesboro Market Days in October 2017. With a “Drink Less Sugar” display and a game, they educated children in the community about healthy eating and drinking choices, and also about Jesus. After the game each child received healthy snacks, water, and ‘spiritual’ gifts.
Wesley Chapel UMC
As part of the Health Ministries Team of the Rouzerville Charge, Wesley Chapel UMC strives to educate and inform their members and the community about health and wellness.Their recent three-year focus was disaster preparedness. In 2015 they focused on personal preparedness. In 2016 they taught about church preparedness. Their goal in 2017 was to reach out to the community with disaster preparedness education.
The funds from the Health Ministries Grant allowed Wesley Chapel to provide information and programs to help both charge churches and the community be better prepared for a disaster.
They participated in a health fair in March 2017, sponsored by the local hospital, with a booth that promoted disaster preparedness for the home and the community, and interacted with more than 250 of the 1,400 people who attended.
They also participated in Waynesboro Market Days in October 2017, where they had a booth to promote information about disaster preparedness, plus information about the churches and how they are trying to be disciples of Jesus.
The Health Ministries grant money was used to purchase:
- Scripture cards and action Bible cards that are in the churches’ disaster-preparedness bins, to be used by members and children for spiritual comfort during a disaster.
- “Making Sense of Suffering” pamphlets for both churches, which will be used in the churches and community in the wake of a disaster.
- Medical supplies for disaster preparedness bins for both churches
- Materials to educate the community on disaster preparedness as part of the 2017 outreach. These materials were used at both the health fair and Waynesboro Market Days booths.
“Our Health Ministries Team has been such an exciting mission. We know our Lord led us in this direction,” said Buffington.
Find out more about Susquehanna Conference Congregational Health Ministries at tinyurl.com/susconfCHM and Mental Health Ministries at
tinyurl.com/susconfMHM
