Story # Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits: A new pathway to a healthier West Virginia Are you tired of seeing West Virginia on top of the national worst health lists? Are you ready to something about it? West Virginia churches have joined forces across denominations to form the new Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits Network (www.wvhealthyfaith.com) Dallas Seminary graduate and Cabell County native Joshua Sowards has been hired to coordinate it During January services at the First Baptist Church of Kenova, Sowards signed up 87 people by asking them to pull out their cell phones and go to www.wvhealthyfaith.com In just four minutes, using an overhead powerpoint presentation, he led the entire congregation through the sign-up process right on their cell phones He urges us all to the same His powerpoint can be found at www.wvhealthyfaith.com People who sign up for the network will receive faith-based health and wellness “how-to” materials to use in their churches The network is making short videos of outstanding WV church programs, ‘so people in Gassaway can say, ‘Hey look what they’re doing in Delbarton! We could that too!” “This is literally a lifesaving mission,” said First Kenova’s Pastor, Steve Willis, a member of the steering committee of the new networkWillis is lead pastor at FBC Kenova, author of Winning the Food Fight and contributing author of the national best-selling Daniel Plan “We need to set a good example for our kids,” he said The network is partnering with Try This West Virginia, a statewide healthy-communities resource network The Try This Web site, www.trythiswv.com, is literally a “how-to” resource guide to hundreds of healthy projects churches can choose from Churches can lead the way on this, Sowards said People who sign up for the network will receive – free of obligation - faith-based opportunities, programs, resources, and funding possibilities The network will spread West Virginia success stories They hope to have 2,500 people signed up by the end of 2016 “We think we can better than that!” Sowards said This summer, the network will offer regional workshops on subjects like healthy church cooking and healthy childcare In a pilot project, ten Huntington-area churches are already being trained to lead an eight-week Daniel Plan healthy living campaign in their churches “Taking care of our bodies is service to God,” said Nazarene Rev Lynn Keener, chair of the network steering committee ‘Too many West Virginians are dying before their time One in four of our eleven-year-olds has high blood pressure, West Virginia University studies tell us Churches can help change that.” To register and sign up, go to www.wvhealthyfaith.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Story # Churches unite across denominations for a healthier West Virginia March to be Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirit month West Virginians from 15 different denominations have joined hands in a healthy-faith network to help knock West Virginia off the top of the worst health lists “This network has the potential to make a big difference, community by community, church by church,” said Rev Jeff Allen, Methodist pastor and Executive Director of the West Virginia Council of Churches The new West Virginia Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits network was launched at West Virginia Wesleyan in October “We look forward to working to make this network a success,” said United Methodist Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball “I am deeply concerned about moving our communities toward more healthy living.” "West Virginia University studies tell us that almost one in four eleven-year-olds already has high blood pressure,” said Morgantown Nazarene pastor Lynn Keener, who chairs the network’s steering committee “There are many problems that we can't change, but we can something about this one." “Churches are a powerful social force in our communities,” said Catholic Charities West Virginia director, Mark Sliter, “and together, we can change our behaviors and habits by exercising and eating right.” The network has convinced Gov Earl Ray Tomblin to declare March Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits month The network is also partnering with Try This West Virginia, so churches can link to the extensive Try This “how to create healthy community projects” resources Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits coordinator Josh Sowards, an American Baptist worship leader, urges interested people to sign up at www.wvhealthyfaith.com for one-stop shopping for healthychurch and healthy-Lent programs The network is already producing videos of outstanding West Virginia church programs, suitable for church group discussion Workshops start next summer “Sign up, get in the loop, and help the network grow,” Sowards said The United Methodist Conference is represented on the network steering committee by Jeff Allen, Rev Alicia Rapking, director of Buckhannon’s Upshur Parish House, and Rev Timothy Allen, pastor of Morgantown’s Spruce Street United Methodist Church The American Heart Association also supports the network, represented by Rev Claire Butler, a Presbyterian pastor assigned to the Heart Association More information and signup at www.wvhealthyfaith.com >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Story # For release: January 5, 2015 For more information, contact: Rev Lynn Keener: lkeener@hospicecarecorp.org, (304) 290-6547 Joshua Sowards, Try This coordinator: Joshua@ourfuturewv.org, (304) 544-6948 West Virginia churches join grassroots healthy living movement New faith network joins effort to knock state off worst health lists West Virginia churches are joining a growing grassroots movement aimed at knocking the state off the top of the national worst health lists The new West Virginia Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits network is joining forces with Try This West Virginia, a statewide healthy communities movement “If we can get churches on board, we will have a potentially very powerful grassroots movement,” said West Virginia Council of Churches Executive Director Jeff Allen “The faith network gives us a way to connect Try This resources with our faith.” “Our state is plagued with poverty and poor health, but the good news is that change can happen,” said Catholic Charities West Virginia director, Mark Sliter “Churches are a powerful social force in our communities, and together, we can change our behaviors and habits by exercising and eating right We look forward to being part of the Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits network Together, we can share information and best practices.” “We look forward to working to make this network a success,” said United Methodist Bishop Sandra Steiner Ball “I am deeply concerned about moving our communities toward more healthy living This kind of effort is especially important for the children.” "West Virginia University studies tell us that almost one in four eleven-year-olds already has high blood pressure,” said Morgantown Nazarene pastor Rev Lynn Keener, who chairs the network steering committee “There are many problems in the world today that we can't change, but we can something about this one." The new network is declaring March Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirit month The network Web site, www.wvhealthyfaith.com, is filled with resources churches can use to create healthy projects The network is sponsoring a “healthy Lent” campaign Regional healthy-community workshops are planned for the summer “Try This West Virginia gives churches access to ‘how-to’ resources about hundreds of affordable, practical projects they can to create healthier churches and communities,” said Joshua Sowards, Try This coordinator Try This (www.trythiswv.com) is a coalition of 20+ statewide organizations, including the state Office of Child Nutrition, the Bureau for Public Health, WVU Extension, the Council of Churches, the WV Community Development Hub, the WV Association of Counties and many others In the past two years, Try This has given 99 community teams grants to start healthy community projects An extensive “howto” Web site provides 24/7 resources and advice “The churches put those resources and projects in a spiritual context,” said Pastor Steve Willis of the Kenova First Baptist Church “Taking care of our God-given bodies is service to God.” The American Heart Association and the West Virginia Arthritis Foundation are also supporting the new network “The Heart Association sees that many West Virginians already have a passion for creating healthier communities,” said Rev Claire Butler, a Presbyterian pastor assigned to the AHA “We see this network and the partnership with Try This as a way to give them the means to what they already want to do.”