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Church members search for healthy lifestyles; April is Minority Health Month
Members of three local churches are being asked to search their hearts and change their ways - and it's working.
Coordinators of the Search Your Heart program reported that people in their churches are learning about heart health, the importance of exercise and heart-smart food choices.
The Search Your Heart curriculum was developed by the American Heart Association and made available to African-American churches in rural West Tennessee by the Tennessee Department of Health and the Delta Rural Health Initiative.
The program focuses on six components:
* Check For Life - Cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure education materials and how to conduct screenings.
* Activities For Life - Education on fitness, how to start a walking club and/or other physical fitness activities that reduce obesity.
* Bread of Life - Healthy nutrition education, food selection and preparation, and eating on the run.
* Stress Reduction - Examines what causes stress as well as ways to reduce stress.
* Lift Every Voice (advocacy) - Teaches people how to become advocates for health in their own communities.
* Stomp Out Stroke - Stroke prevention and how to conduct stroke screenings.
At Tabernacle Baptist Church, coordinator Mary Jaycox said about 30 church members participated in free medical screenings last August. They're learning about various health topics each month and being encouraged to exercise and eat right. They'll repeat the medical screenings this summer to see if members have improved their health standings.
Jaycox said she has included health information in each monthly newsletter and on a bulletin board in the church. Members have been encouraged to get involved in some type of physical exercise. The church even plans to buy a couple of pieces of exercise equipment to create an exercise facility in the church. "A lot of people don't go to the Y or the Dyersburg Activity Center," she said.
Now, the church members are attempting to tackle nutrition, which will be difficult in a church that holds many church dinners. Jaycox said church dinners usually consist of fried chicken, maybe one vegetable, rolls and an array of cakes and pies.
Vernita Turner of Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church said she's taking the message to all church members, and the children seem to be the most excited. The Kids for Christ program, a group a 7- and 8-year-olds who sing together in the Angel Choir and play sports together, formed a walking team and participated in the recent Walk Across Tennessee. Turner said she meets periodically with the children to discuss the food pyramid and the importance of preparing healthy meals and eating breakfast. She said she believes the children are now eating more fresh fruit instead of candy.
Nancy Deere, the health department's director of health promotion for West Tennessee, said the children's healthy habits are likely to spread to their parents and siblings. "Sometimes, the best way to get to the family is through the kids," she said.
While the children are the most enthusiastic group, Turner said adults also reluctantly joined the Walk Across Tennessee and then discovered that they enjoyed walking together. "They realized how it helped their health with weight reduction and better sleep," she said. "After they got involved, they said, 'This is fun.'"
Eva Kindle of Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church said the church is making room in the activity/dining area for an exercise program.
The church's Friends and Family Day, held on the third Sunday of each month, may be next in line for a makeover. Kindle said the church dinner is known for having soul food and comfort food. Kindle said she and a few other church members are looking for new recipes in a heart-healthy cookbook supplied by the American Heart Association.
Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church has developed a health ministry and sponsored three teams in the recent Walk Across Tennessee. The team members praised the walking program, saying that it provided a fellowship opportunity outside of the church. "One man said he made some friendships and got involved in an aerobics class in Newbern," she said. On April 3, the walkers were recognized during a church service.
Kindle said her pastor, Anthony Kemp, is young and very health conscious. He includes health information in his sermon and searches for Scripture validating the link between spirituality and a healthy mind and body.
On the third Sunday in February, church members were encouraged to wear red in support of heart health. She said the entire congregation came to church dressed in red garments; some of the men even wore red suits.
"This was a great endeavor," she said. "I got so much information. Probably the most rewarding thing for me was working with the experts, like Nancy (Deere) and the people we met in Jackson (during an introductory session last summer).
"Now, we're looking forward to this April campaign," she said, referring to the fact that April is National Minority Health Month. Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Minority Health, the month-long observance is intended to raise awareness of health issues affecting minority populations.
"The burden of health disparities continues to cripple and take the lives of far too many Tennesseans," said Tennessee Health Commissioner Kenneth Robinson, M.D. "These are lives that we, as a state, cannot afford to lose. This month represents a tremendous opportunity for all of us to work together to improve the health status of racial and ethnic minority Tennesseans."
African-Americans, Hispanics/Latin Americans, Native Americans and other minority populations are more likely than whites to have poor health and to die prematurely from chronic conditions, communicable disease and injuries. These populations also are less likely to have health insurance coverage or receive preventive care, and are more likely to report unmet health care needs.
"Improving the health status of minority populations requires providing culturally appropriate and community-driven efforts that build on the assets of racial and ethnic-minority communities," Robinson said. "As a department, we are committed to improving service delivery and engaging communities to increase years and quality of life for all Tennesseans."
A listing of events planned around the state can be found on the health department's Web site at www.tennessee.gov/health. For more information on Minority Health Month in Tennessee, contact the Office of Minority Health at 615-741-9443 or toll free 1-877-606-0089.