Tag: Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits Month

Faith Network Launches WV Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits Month

In partnership with Try This West Virginia, the West Virginia Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits network held a press conference today to highlight March as “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits” month.

Joshua Sowards, the Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits/Try This coordinator, explains. “Healthy Bodies, Healthy Spirits network is about collaborating on the ground, with projects that are available and resources to get churches and faith-based organizations to help lead the way in making West Virginia healthy,” he says.

At the press conference, representatives from various faith organizations shared initiatives they are offering in the community such as cooking classes, nutrition plans and physical activity groups.

“West Virginia churches and faith-based organizations are powerful centers for change,” he says. “It’s always said that West Virginia is on the buckle of the Bible Belt. And so the church still has a lot of influence.

“If people within the church are on board with taking care of their bodies and being able to serve their communities, then the community will get involved with that automatically because they are such a huge part of what creates the bodies of believers in our congregations.”

The network currently has over 720 members. They hope to double that number by the end of March.

Appalachia Health News is a project of West Virginia Public Broadcasting, with support from the Benedum Foundation.

Religious Groups Tackle West Virginia Health Problems

West Virginians from nine denominations will make a push next month to sign up hundreds of people in their campaign to improve people’s health.

The religious groups are working with Try This West Virginia, a statewide healthy community program. The WV Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits network will launch the month of activity on Tuesday in the secretary of state’s conference room.

At the group’s request, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared March “Healthy Bodies Healthy Spirits Month.”

Catholic Charities West Virginia Director Mark Sliter said in a news release from the campaign that churches can work together to help change unhealthy habits and behaviors.

The Rev. Lynn Keener, a Nazarene pastor from Morgantown, said many problems in today’s world can’t be changed, but something can be done about the health of West Virginians.

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