What is a Health Ministry?

Faith communities are vital centers for addressing the well-being of people in their communities. All religious traditions stress attention to health, care for the sick or marginalized, and positive living. Every neighborhood has a church, temple, or mosque that provides spiritual care. Often religious institutions are also engaged in outreach efforts that address the needs of the community at large.

Issues of health are basic to all people. We all struggle with illness, stress, injury and loss. We all want to be well and functioning to the best of our abilities. Broadly defined, a health ministry is anything a faith community is doing to promote the wholistic well-being of the people in its membership and/or in the community.

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 could range from visitation of the sick to worship and prayer to educational programs on specific health issues. Even a food pantry or program for the homeless could be a health ministry, as adequate nutrition and housing are basic elements of health. Health ministries may be highly organized or more fluid. Congregations are almost always already engaged in health ministry, whether they call it that or not. The point of a health emphasis is to make explicit the link between the commitments of the religious tradition, the activities of the congregation and the way this relates to people's overall well-being.