“Your Body is Your Temple”: Facilitating the Involvement of Faith Organizations in Health Promotion Efforts

Background: Faith-based organizations are increasingly involved in health promotion. Bronx Health REACH, a coalition of over 70 community-based organizations, utilized a CBPR approach to develop and implement a Faith-Based Outreach Initiative (FBOI) to reduce racial/ethnic disparities among Black and Latino New Yorkers. With funding from NIMHD, FBOI is guided by a Community Research Committee (CRC) made up of pastors, community members, health professionals, and researchers. The CRC meets regularly to select and assess research tools and methodologies. Methods: 47 churches are members of REACH; of these, 20 are participating in the FBOI study. As part of the FBOI, qualitative interviews were conducted with pastors and health coordinators at 17 churches. Interviews focused on health issues faced by members and Church motivations for involvement in REACH. Participants were asked about the relevance of spirituality and church setting to health-related activities and outcomes. Results: Respondents noted high rates of obesity and unhealthy behaviors among congregants and recognized the implications with respect to morbidity and mortality. Their motivation to action was commonly described in terms of religious philosophy, drawing connections between spirituality, health, and community engagement. The effectiveness of faith-based interventions was partially attributed to the moral and social support provided by scripture, church leadership and the larger congregation. Conclusions: Faith-based health promotion activities can be an important vehicle for reaching urban minority populations. Use of CBPR methods in program development and implementation may ensure that messages that resonate with faith communities, including those that incorporate religious teachings, are clearly identified and utilized.