What normally comes to mind when you think about most churches? Choirs singing, ministers preaching?
Spiritual health is always a top priority, but more churches are also focusing on physical and mental health as well, like with this Faith and Fitness program at New United Missionary Baptist Church.
Johnequia Stormer, New United MBC says “We have to realize that, you know, we it’s a holistic thing. We want to do a body, mind and soul, and just open it up to the public and let them know that it’s not just about, you know, spiritual. It’s very important to have physical, if we are not physically able to study you know.”
This is the third annual Faith and Fitness program. Members of the Health and Wellness Ministry say it continues to grow as they reach outside the church walls to help build a stronger and healthier community.
Debbie Johnson says “It has a nutrition component, it has chair aerobics and it has a faith-based building program, which includes 30 minutes of exercise.”
Johnson says the program is for children and adults of all ages. By empowering and educating people to take control of their health, they are building stronger families and stronger communities.
“That’s one of the things our pastor definitely keen in on, as far as being the holistic person for our community, and that’s what we’re trying to reach our community,” Stormer says.
