This project involved a programme of engagement and educational sessions specifically tailored to reach Black African-Caribbean church leaders to highlight the need for the church to be part of the solution towards prevention of avoidable chronic illnesses which are prevalent in the black community

The roadshows aimed at reaching 70-100 pastors / leaders over the three sessions.

Background

The idea that the church can be part of a tier 1 service for the prevention and health management of conditions is a tenable one. At the core of the ‘roadshows ethos’ is the belief that the church is part of the solution in the minimisation of risk factors for avoidable nutrition related illnesses and the prevention of ill health.

By informing and educating church leaders on the importance of the church’s roles in relation to balancing faith and health; the Food for Purpose team set out to be a ‘go between’ for churches and ‘link’ them in with local authorities as part of the holistic care of the congregation and bene t to their local community.

The roadshows comprised of specific talks about nutrition and wellbeing in African –Caribbean communities - focusing on eating healthier meals and food choices, and being more active with an appreciation of the cultural context.

The issue of faith and health was also raised as a discussion topic. In particular, Food for Purpose sought to raise the need for ‘balance’ between the Pentecostal beliefs around healing and accompanying this with taking personal responsibility followed by appropriate actions.

Food for Purpose purports that the church is one of the most stable and recognised organisations throughout the history of black people. The influence of the church on lifestyle choices indicates that it can also be part of the solution to health and wellbeing; as well as a key player in the prevention of morbidity and mortality. The roadshows aimed at reaching 70-100 pastors/leaders over the three sessions.

Round Table Discussions

What are the pros and cons of addressing health and nutrition in church?

• Sends doubt & fear about the power of prayer. People may doubt God’s power. Could be costly to run, in terms of  nance.

• Churches can get professional in to address issues in our community and discuss fasting and how to break etc...Church can “evangelise health!”

• Help balance current knowledge and raise awareness.

• Children and young people – they will adopt healthier habits

• People may feel shamed if they are obese or intimidated; or offended if health is not a priority for them

For future events, what other topics would you like us to cover?

More information of how we as churches will get involved in health research

• Children’s health – how we can affect health in out teens. They rely on junk food.

• Cooking our foods healthily. Classes need to be run by our own people who eat our foods.

• More education – a good look at Diabetes and other metabolic syndromes, blood pressure and heart disease

What should the church leaders do to influence health in church?

Stop separating spiritual from wellbeing. Church needs continuity in health training.

• Put health and wellbeing on church meeting agenda

• Convene a working group to deal with these issues

• Address mental health in simple terms – demystify this for congregants. Recognise that people do get sick. Leaders be less secretive

• Recognise limitations as leaders - we cannot do it all

• Leaders need to be able to signpost members to local services

The black Pentecostal church is part of the solution to lowering and avoiding ill health in South London

- Black church leaders and their teams are influential in affecting the lifestyle habits and choices of congregants

- The church is a positively powerful environment regularly attended by thousands of people across South London. It offers an ample opportunity for sharing balanced spiritual, emotional and physical health messages for both children and adults.

- There is a need for more ethnically and culturally diverse resources designed to reach the black community. There remains an inequality in terms of resources and access to treatments for both physical and mental health in South London

- Healthy cooking sessions which reflect the food and culture of BAME groups are needed. Sessions run by African and Caribbean people would appeal to the black community, these should be funded in proportion with the local demography.

- Black leaders would bene t from tools and education to help them to prioritise health in their congregations