For the Christian, seeking health and healing is centered in mind-body-spirit wholeness for self and community. This is a continuing journey of the self and the community of faith toward health and wholeness. Factors affecting health include hope, belonging, meaning, purpose, values. Faith in Christ provides the ultimate hope and meaning in our lives.

   Within all congregations are people longing for mutual caring and support. When we stand by each other in bad times and good, health is promoted. When we create a safe place to tell each other our stories of pain and brokenness, we become healing communities.

In promoting health, education is not enough. People must also be given motivation to practice what is learned. This requires individual transformation, which is a role of the church. People need to be empowered to assume responsibility for their own health. The real healer is the healer within--God, who created our bodies.

Lafiya

   Lafiya is one program of a congregational-based, whole-person health ministry that helps people assume responsibility for their own health within a caring community. Lafiya encourages people and congregations to:

• Become aware of healing and health needs.
• Discover resources to meet those needs.
• Make healthy, life-giving choices.
• Nuture all persons in health, healing and wholeness.

   Central to the Lafiya program is the formation of groups that provide mutual caring, nurture, and suport, based on the core principles or listening, empowering, and resourcing. Using these principles, congregations can become places of health and healing.

   Members of a congregation can grow together in health ministry through:

• Organizing a Bible study on health, healing, and wholeness.
• Facilitating self-discovery of causes for ill health.
• Providing practical health education.
• Studying questions of biomedical ethics.
• Learning to take personal responsibility for their own health and supporting others.

   For more information, contact:
Lafiya: A Whole-Person Health Ministry
Association of Brethren Caregivers
1451 Dundee Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
Phone: 800-323-8039