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CHAPTER 11: Working with Faith-based
Organizations
CHAPTER 11 Appendices
The Special Role of Faith-Based Program in the Community Faith-based organizations hold a special place in most communities. Not only do they minister to the spiritual needs of the community, but they also minister to the physical, social, psychological, and economic needs. In addition, many conduct health programs or have incorporated health messages into their traditional programs. Faith-based institutions are a natural venue for health-related programs because they:
Walking programs at faith-based institutions can be a terrific way to reach community members with the campaign message and broaden the reach of the campaign. The campaign message can be incorporated into faith-based services, education classes, or other meetings. TopGaining Support of Faith-based leaders The first step is to seek support of several key leaders in the faith-based community. Their support will lend prestige to your campaign and may help recruit other faith-based leaders. Meet with the faith-based leaders to explain the campaign and gain their support. You can choose to meet with the leaders as a group or individually. Schedule this meeting approximately five months before the campaign begins. A long lead time for these programs is necessary because:
Leaders could help recruit other churches and synagogues by co-signing a letter to send to all pastors and rabbis in the community (see Appendix 11-a) or by talking directly with pastors and rabbis. Faith-based leaders are very busy, so it is important to carefully
plan and organize all meetings and requests, and to not ask too
much of their time. However, leaders’ support can help recruit
other faith-based organization to the campaign, making it worth
the time and effort. Recruiting Faith-Based Organizations’ Volunteers Individuals within the faith-based organizations should be recruited as volunteers. The success of your faith-based activities depends on dedicated volunteers. Involving Faith-based Volunteers
Getting the Congregation Involved There are a number of activities that can be conducted by faith-based organizations to promote the campaign message. There are six activities described below. Bulletin InsertsMany organizations have a weekly bulletin that is distributed to each person attending the service. An effective way to reach the group is with a message in the bulletin. The organization may create their own insert using the campaign message, or use a flyer or insert created by the campaign staff. (See Appendix 11-b) Church Newsletter An article about the campaign or a Calendar of Events can also be included in the church newsletter. Walking-Related Sermons or Announcements Ask faith-based leaders to incorporate a health message into a sermon. A sermon combining a spiritual and physical health message can be an effective way to motivate participants. For example: A Wheeling pastor presented a sermon on “Walking with Jesus”. This message was very effective and inspired the congregation to participate in a prayer walk immediately following the service. Speakers A guest speaker is another effective way to inform the congregation. Arrange for a speaker, from the campaign’s Speakers Bureau, to talk with a youth group, women’s group, or prayer group. Testimonials Many faith-based organizations have a tradition of personal testimonials from members. This is an especially effective way of encouraging others to make positive changes in their own lives. Encourage members of the congregation who walk regularly and have benefited from walking to share their experiences. Sign-up Drive Many of the churches that participated in WHEELING WALKS chose to have a sign-up drive. On a designated Sunday, all participating churches tried to recruit walkers to the campaign. One person within the church was designated to gather registration information and forward it to campaign staff.
Letter requesting Church’s Endorsement
February 24, 2003 Dear Sir or Madam: Walking was a daily event in Jesus’ life, and it should be one in ours as well. I have recently been asked to assist in a public health campaign for the Wheeling area to promote increased physical activity and reduce the burden of overweight, heart disease and diabetes. WHEELING WALKS is an intensive, eight-week, multimedia campaign aimed at communicating a simple but important health message: that regular walking can provide energy, help people feel better, give a person more time, and improve overall health. And it doesn’t take much time. We regularly see people in our congregations who are suffering many of these diseases. I feel that in an attempt to feel closer to the Lord we should take better care of our bodies. After all, they are gifts from God. I have agreed to assist with this campaign and in an effort to increase walking and knowledge of its benefits, I am planning a Prayer-Walk on Sunday, April 22, 2001. By walking with the congregation in prayer, I hope to encourage walking, praying, and meditating on the life Jesus, Our Saviour. Please join me in endorsing the WHEELING WALKS Campaign and participating in a Prayer-Walk on April 22nd. And remember, we live in a hurried, fast paced, running world. I don’t believe there is any passage of scripture where Jesus is said to be running. Even when people were trying to kill him, he walked. Even to his death on the cross, he walked. Please join us. Sincerely, Reverend Darrell Cummings TopCampaign Insert for Church Bulletin
Scientists now confirm that lack of physical activity contributes significantly to death and disability in the United States. It is estimated that physical inactivity alone annually accounts for approximately 200,000 deaths. In West Virginia, 68 percent of the adult population reported little or no physical activity in 1998 and ranked third worst among the 50 states for having no leisure-time physical exercise at all. To improve heart, brain, and other body functions at all ages, current public health guidelines recommend moderate physical activity (30 minutes or more) on almost every day. Successfully communicating this information to communities in ways that actually prompt individuals to put on their walking shoes and WALK requires a new approach and this is exactly what WHEELING WALKS is attempting to do. WHEELING WALKS is a campaign dedicated to the health and well being of all Americans. West Virginia University, Department of Community Medicine is pleased to be developing a model project to help all Americans get off the couch and out the door to take a walk. This serious research, being conducted by Bill Reger, Ed.D., will hopefully prove a model for physical activity not just for West Virginia and the United States, but for the world. This 8-week program beginning April 17, 2001 will educate the citizens of Wheeling to the benefits of walking through a powerful media campaign. Because we will be measuring the impact of this media campaign upon the citizens of Wheeling it is necessary to keep the general public unaware of this project until it actually begins. Several local clubs and civic organizations, along with our Advisory Committee made up of interested local citizens, have already been working hard to put this campaign together. So get ready, get set and let’s go - we’ll be keeping you informed of our progress and together I know that we can conduct a successful campaign that will lead to a healthier and more active Wheeling.
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