Two Decades of Helping Humanity Heal Baptist Community Ministries’Congregational Wellness ministry, celebrating its 20th year, continues to promote ongoing transformation of the faith community into a source of health and healing. This faith-based program collaborates with churches to educate members on healthy lifestyles using innovative and spiritually guided approaches. Three premier programs have been key within our community: • The Church Nurse Education Program • Congregational Health Promoter Program (formerly LHAP) • Strategies to Trim and Reduce (STAR) Project “Activities have increased to 350 annually, with 44,000 individuals touched through the Congregational Wellness ministry’s partnerships.” — Frances L. Hawkins, MN, RN BCM Vice President, Congregational Wellness Above, L to R: Vanessa County, Program Manager; Lisa Collins, Lay Health Program Coordinator; Frances Hawkins, BCM Vice President, Congregational Wellness; Damian Woods, Data Analyst; Sharon Burel, Nurse Manager Church Nurse Education Program (CNEP) CNEP trains registered nurses to begin health ministries in their churches. Through the Foundations of Faith Community Nurse (FCN) Curriculum, nurses learn: • Concepts of healing and wholeness of mind, body and spirit • The functions and roles necessary to promote health and wellbeing • The intentional care of the spirit as a core component Sixty-four churches have been led by registered nurses to complete the 38-hour course. They now stand equipped to provide health guidance and education within their churches, focusing on prevention, awareness, referrals and access to care. Congregational Health Promoter Program (CHPP) CHPP is a wellness training program for lay people who are not registered nurses. Church members, community health advocates, ministry leaders and social workers are given resources and techniques to teach others how to make CongregationalWellness Teaching Churches to Embrace Healthy Living 16