Transforming Lives : Health Initiatives in Faith Communities

In Transforming Lives, Alexander Rödlach highlights the essential role that faith community nursing and health ministries play in local health and well-being. Rödlach argues that health systems and governments should partner with these programs in public health outreach efforts.

Faith community nursing and health ministry programs in congregations have increasingly been recognized as having a significant impact on the health and well-being of individuals. Based on a case study in Omaha, Nebraska, Transforming Lives: Health Initiatives in Faith Communities documents how nurses and health ministers touch and transform in multiple ways the lives of the recipients of their services and the participants in activities they organize. It argues that much of their success is due to their ability to collaborate with each other, with the leadership in congregations, and with health systems; that nurses’ and health ministers’ understanding of public health is broad in scope and application; and that faith community nurses are the core and heart of this ministry. Rödlach contends that the ability of nurses and health ministers to create relationships with clients and participants is the main factor in how they touch and transform their lives. Considering the increased recognition of the value of faith community nursing and health ministries, these programs have the potential to become significant partners with health systems and governments in providing health services to communities.