The conference health ministry team recently awarded five health ministry mini-grants to encourage health ministry within the NC Conference of the UMC.
Recipients include:
- $1,000 to the non-profit Care4Carolina to aid in their mission to ensure quality, affordable healthcare for all North Carolinians.
- $1,000 to Walnut Grove UMC (Corridor District) to provide health ministry workshops on caregiving, CPR, parenting, living wills, healthy habits, and mindfulness/stress reduction. In addition, blood pressure checks and a vaccination clinic will be offered to local residents.
- $1,000 to Pinehurst UMC (Fairway District) to assist their parish nurse in providing health ministry workshops on self-defense, CPR/first aid, health cooking, end-of-life planning, respite care, and general fitness, such as stretching and beginner’s yoga.
- $800 to Carthage UMC (Fairway District) for Yoga for All in a series of eight sessions of yoga for the whole family. This is meeting the need of an area that lacks a gym and recreational sports. Participants will also be given information on exercises that they can complete at home and other helpful information regarding better health. At the end of the camp, participants will be given tools to help them continue the practice of yoga.
- $1,000 to Hope Recovery Church (Harbor District) – Since June 2021, the church has hosted six vaccine clinics. Over the course of the clinics, they have partnered with UNCW Latino Alliance, Med North Health Clinic, Nourish NC, the Diaper Bank of NC, NC Counts, and On Your Side Health. At a recent clinic, students from UNC-W conducted a survey and discovered 35% of neighbors were interested in the church’s 18 bed community garden. The grant money will be used to reorganize and improve the church’s community garden.
The conference health ministry team’s goal is to resource churches for health ministry and identify and overcome barriers to this ministry.
Health Ministry mini-grants are designed to facilitate and encourage United Methodist congregations of the NC Conference in health ministry. These Health Ministry mini-grants are provided to help the church engage in health ministry that is transformative for the world and the church. Examples of health ministry include:
- Health Screenings: taking basic vitals (blood pressure, weight, height, etc.) and providing participants with a printed report
- Health Fair: hosting vendors and workshops, and providing educational resources to raise awareness related to important health issues
- Classes/Seminars/Workshops: hosting a short workshop/seminar and/or educational course spanning several weeks
- Invite health professionals and/or other experts who can speak on health issues and connect them back to faith
- Fitness Group Initiatives: hosting fitness classes led by trained professionals, forming walking groups, creating fun obstacle courses for kids, or organizing a 5K
- Provide Mental Health Education and Resources: hosting workshops/courses, posting bulletin board(s) with resources near area where many gather, or including in bulletin
- Host a Mental Health First Aid Course: in partnership with a certified trainer, offering a mental health first aid certification course
- Host a CPR Certification and First Aid Training
- Become a COVID-19 Vaccination Host Site
- Host a workshop or town hall educating your community about the COVID-19 vaccination (we can help you locate a speaker)
- Suicide prevention: hosting a workshop educating your community on this topic (we can help you locate a speaker)
To learn more contact: Rev. Jaye White, Director of Outreach Ministry or Rev. Lindsay Collins, Chairperson of the NC Conference Health Ministry Team.