IS YOUR CHURCH READY TO BE A LIVING WELL MODEL?
In recent years there has been a drastic drop in Church attendance and the average age of those attending services regularly is 60 years of age.
Churches of all denominations are spending millions of dollars on marketing in an attempt to attract younger people and families.
Numerous polls have been conducted and the results are that the majority of people now classify themselves as Spiritual rather than attaching to a Religion.
They are looking for interaction and information that will support their lives rather than judgment or criticism or control. They are looking to live and survive now rather than waiting on the promise of an eternal life.
In the midst of this moving away from the traditional idea of “Church” there are Spiritual Leaders whose Churches have expanded internationally. These Churches and Spiritual Leaders have become role models of support for Living Well.
Before your Church and Spiritual Leaders are ready to become Living Well Support for the members, they must take personal inventory of the building and beliefs to see if they are compatible with Living Well. Are the Board Members and Leaders ready to let go of that which is toxic and become role models?
What is real and what is artificial in your Church. What positive influences in your Church support life and what are there just to keep up appearances? An example is plants. Real plants take up carbon dioxide and give off oxygen. Artificial plants collect dust and promote allergens.
Look at the cleaning supplies…are they safe enough to drink? Look at the kitchen utensils…are they real or styrofoam and plastic? What type of clean water filtration system do you have or do you serve toxic drinks which contain chemicals, artificial sweeteners and dyes (soda, Kool-Aid, decaf coffee, crystal light, etc).
Look at the vendors that do service work for your Church…do you hire a landscaper that uses toxic chemicals to kill weeds and keep away undesirable life from your Church?
Have you considered edible landscaping that welcomes member participation and replacing lawns with usable paths, benches and organic garden beds? Have you considered using you parking lot one day per week or month as a “Real” Market where venders can sell their natural locally grown and produced foods and wares?
It is of utmost importance for a Church to have a clear understanding and commitment to wellness before sponsoring a group otherwise it will be like a “diet” which begins with gusto and ends in failure.
The facilitator position is a wellness professional without a personal agenda other than coaching and assisting others in changing the wellness of the world. The coach does market the group out in the community and usually facilitates a number of different groups within a city.
Everyone is welcome at the Living Well Support Group meeting which is presented on a love offering basis. There is never a charge or fee for attending meetings which are at a set time each week. All materials and handouts are provided by the facilitator.
There are three equal balanced elements to Wellness, which I call the Wellness Trinity…Environmental Sustainability, Social Justice and Spiritual Fulfillment. Wellness of the physical body is dependent on all of the above and each element is dependent on the other two.
Is Your Church ready to start Living Well?
For more information email joa@joacarter.com or call 913-710-3369.
