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Matthew936Iwastalkingtoapastoronceandhetoldmehisconcernaboutthehealthofpeopleinhiscongregation.Hesaidthattoomanymembersofhischurchwereoldandsick.Hefeltabitfrus-tratedandupsetatthesufferinggoingoninhischurch.Hewaswishinghecoulddosomethingtohelphiscongre-gationbutwhatcouldhedoHehadnohealthprofessionalsinhiscongre-gationtohelpoutandthispastordidnothaveanymedicaltraining.Itisnotsurprisingthatthereisapaucityofhealthprofessionalsespe-ciallyinAfricanAmericanchurches.Afterallonlyabout4ofdoctorsnationwideareAfricanAmericansandabout5ofnursesareAfricanAmerican.Thesemaybethepeoplewhomaymakethemostmeaningfulcontributiontoacongregationshealthalthoughnotexclusively.AtanyrateweneedtothinkaboutthequestionastowhataconcernedmemberorchurchpastorcandoAsamatteroffactthereisasignificantcontributionaconcernedchurchleadercanmakeinhavingahealthiercongregationevenifheorshehasnomedicaltrain-ing.Wedonothavetofeelpowerlessinhelpingthemembersofourchurchestolivehealthierlives.IwouldjustliketogiveyounowalistofthingsonecandotomakeyourchurchaplaceofhealingandbetterhealthConsideryourchurchregardlessofitssizetobeaplacewheremem-berscanfindspiritualphysicalandmentalhealing.BythecontentofyourministryaskthosewhoattendyourchurchthesamequestionJesusaskedtheinfirmmanatthePoolofBethesdaWiltthoubemadewholeJohn56PreachsermonsonhealthfromtimetotimewithathemesuchasthestatementbyPaulthatourbodiesarethetempleoftheHolyGhostwhichisinyouwhichyehaveofGodandyearenotyourownICorinthians619ThismeanswearetobegoodstewardsofourbodiesandtotakecareofthemliketheydonotbelongtousbuttoGod.TreatthebodykindlyHelpyourmemberscopewithstressanddepressionbyunderstand-ingandrememberingthenumer-ouspromisesofGodwefindintheScriptures.Combinethiswiththepowerofintercessoryprayer.MembersmaylookfinebuttheymayactuallybestressedouttothemaxBearolemodelofgoodhealth.Youdonothavetolivelikeaprofessionalathletebutitwillhelpyourcongrega-tioniftheyseeleadersinthechurchlivingahealthylifestyle.Beawareofthefactthatalargeamountoftheillnessweseeinoursocietyiscausedbythingssuchassmokingalcoholabusedruguseunhealthydietobesitysedentaryliv-inghighbloodsugarhighcholesterolandhighbloodpressure.Becauseofthistoomanyofushaveverypre-ventableillnessandsuffering.Haveastrongprogramofvisitationforthesickbutalsopurposeinyourheartthatyouaregoingtodothingstotrytopreventyourfellowchurchmembersfromgettingsick.Getastepcounteranduseit.IwouldchallengeyoutothenholditupbeforethemembersofyourchurchandhavethemtogetoneaswellThiscanhelpeveryonetoavoidlivingasedentarylifestyle.Rememberased-nnnnnnMakingYourChurchaPlaceofHealingThereisasignificantcontributionaconcernedchurchleadercanmakeinhavingahealthiercongregationevenifheorshehasnomedicaltraining.Wedonothavetofeelpowerlessinhelpingthemembersofourchurchestolivehealthierlives.5MAY2011BODYOFCHRISTNEWSButwhenhesawthemultitudeshewasmovedwithcompassiononthembecausetheyfaintedandwerescatteredabroadassheephavingnoshepherd.Dr.ConnerByByronE.ConnerM.D.HEALTHContinuedonPage6