In 2014 FaithHealthNC staff and volunteers have been busy! Our vision of improved health depends on many partnerships, built on webs of trust, that combine the caring strengths of congregations, the clinical expertise of health providers and a network of community resources.
To date, almost 130 North Carolina congregations have partnered or engaged with FaithHealthNC. And more than 200 people have participated in at least one training session with 55 having completed all of the basic training sessions.
Work continues a grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation, expanding the FHNC movement into western NC counties including McDowell, Wilkes, Ashe, B urke, Randolph, and other locations. Training for FaithHealth Specialists/Consultants were held this fall and the FaithHealth Fellows program began with the first cohort group meeting in November.
New team members
FaithHealthNC Connectors now include the following:
- Bob Hunter (Moravians), Forsyth County and region
- Donna Cooke (United Methodists), Forsyth County and region
- Diane Dixon (NC Baptist), Ashe County and region
- Gail Mitchell (NC Baptists), Wilkes, Yadkin and region
- Tony Brown, (NC Baptists) Forsyth County and Pilot Mt. Baptist Association
- McDowell County (selection in process)
- Dorothy Greene and Tim Murphy, Wilkes County
Additionally, Julie Scott has joined as a part-time Healthcare Liaison for Wilkes County, with funding provided by a grant from the Wilkes Health Foundation.
Connecting with partners
In September we held a Pastor’s Appreciation Dinner for ministers affiliated with the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association. Dr. John McConnell addressed the group and Baptist State Convention of North Carolina Executive Director, Milton Hollifield, was the keynote speaker. Approximately 50 area ministers attended. The purpose of the event was to thank them for their support of the hospital’s ministry through their giving to the Cooperative Program of the Baptist State Convention of NC and through the annual Mother’s Day offering. The group was also introduced to the work of FaithHealthNC.
In early October, FaithHealthNC celebrated its one-year anniversary in the Davidson County region with an event at First Baptist Church of Lexington. A highlight of the meeting was stories of helping from community members who had received assistance through FaithHealthNC.
Members of the FaithHealthNC team have been working on the development of a new database system that will enable easier and more efficient method of tracking the work of FaithHealthNC. Implementation will begin in November 2014.
