Get Ready to Come Alive I came that they may have life and have it abundantly John 1010 NRSV 2 Living Abundantly Ministries Vision A Center of Excellence for Faith Health Based in Wheaton Illinois were a 501c3 non profit ministry working to strengthen the capabilities of churches ID: 762703
Download Presentation The PPT/PDF document "Get Ready to Come Alive! I came that the..." is the property of its rightful owner. Permission is granted to download and print the materials on this web site for personal, non-commercial use only, and to display it on your personal computer provided you do not modify the materials and that you retain all copyright notices contained in the materials. By downloading content from our website, you accept the terms of this agreement.
Get Ready to Come Alive!I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ~ John 10:10 (NRSV) ®
2 Living Abundantly Ministries Vision: A Center of Excellence for Faith + Health Based in Wheaton, Illinois, we’re a 501c3 non profit ministry working to strengthen the capabilities of churches and colleges to create a Christ-centered culture of healthy living in their congregations, campuses & neighborhoods.
3Our Mission To activate Christians to live abundantly (John 10:10) We foster small group experiences that share God’s love and build community in a way that strengthens spiritual and physical health
4 Health in America Today Alarming rates of obesity, chronic disease, mental illness U.S. Health Care System is designed to treat the sick No organized approach for prevention, wellness & behavior change Among American Adults… 3/4ths are overweight or obese 1 ≈ 50% have at least 1 chronic disease 1 1 in 5 diagnosed with mental illness each year 2 77% regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress 3 1 CDC 2 Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration 3 American Psychological Association
5 Opportunity: Unprecedented Reach of Faith Communities 78% of Americans affiliate with a Christian faith 1 39% of Americans report attending religious services at least weekly 1 350,000 congregations in America 2 150 Christian Colleges³ Serve people from all walks of life Most with small group ministries 1 Pew Research 2 Hartford Institute estimate ³ Council for Christian Colleges and Universities
6 Church and College Small Groups Uniquely powerful setting to support lasting change Connection with God Shared values, faith-centered prayer and social support A safe place to explore relationships between spiritual, emotional, social & physical wellbeing
7 Are there gaps that you see in faith-based resources or programs for people you serve in any of the following health topics? Gaps in Faith-Based Resources % Access to Care 35% Weight Loss/Obesity Prevention 29% Childhood Obesity 28% Mental Health 28% Addictions/Substance Abuse 28% Adolescent Health 25%Dental Health 24% Environmental Issues 24% Policy and Advocacy 22% Nutrition/Healthy Eating 22% Men's Health 21% Children's Health 21% Chronic Disease Prevention 21% Research 13% Health Ministry13%Cancer13%Chaplaincy/Spiritual Care13%Immigrant Health13%Flu Clinic or Prevention12%HIV/AIDS12%Maternal and Child Health11%Primary Care9%Health Fair9%Immunizations9%Recreation & Outdoor Life8% Faith communities seek resources to address healthy lifestylesObesity & Childhood Obesity ranked #2 and #3 among 25 health topics as having the greatest gaps in faith-based resources & programs1 Faith Communities are Interested 1 Building a Healthier Chicago Survey of Chicago-area faith communities, Jan. 2014
8 We rely on our own will-power instead of trusting God first. The health of our body, mind, spirit & community are intertwined; yet we tend to each separately, if at all. We try to change in isolation; when safe support & accountability is needed. Education is confused with behavior change. They are radically different. Diets are short-term and do not result in lasting change. There’s a better way… We all Want to Live Healthier Why is changing behavior so hard?
9 A new program for Christian small groups Introducing Come Alive! Become more aware of God’s presence and plans for your life Establish a daily rhythm that draws you closer to God and honors God Encourage each other as Christian believers Create new habits that bring enjoyment to healthy eating & activity
10 Bible-based to help us live differently 3 Guiding Principles Seek God First Love & Be Loved Honor God with My Body
11 Seek God First Desiring to please God with all my heart Seek God in the rhythm of each day Use God’s priorities to shape the rhythm of your day Create time to be alone with God and talk with God throughout the day Become ready to let God change you: joyfully welcome new perspectives of God’s plans for you
12 Love & Be Loved Accepting God’s love and letting it flow in me and through me Accepting God’s love for you exactly as you are Sharing in Christian relationship: accepting, loving, and holding one another accountable Listening: slowing down to truly pay attention and be present with each other Learning to play , have fun, and laugh at ourselves
13 Honor God with My Body Nurturing and caring for the gift of my body Evidence-based strategies for balanced, healthy living Eat Delicious Whole Foods that are naturally anti-inflammatory, high in fiber, phytonutrients, and omega-3 fats Drink Water throughout your day. Create a Mindful Approach to Eating. Move More in ways that get your heart pumping. Practice an Intentional Rhythm of work, play and rest.
14Data collected in pre-and post program assessments Measurable Impact Holistic view of participant’s attitudes, daily habits, personal goals, and physical health: Relationship with God Relationships with others Self Care Supports participants with information about themselves to create awareness, reflect, set goals and assess progress. Aggregate participant data available for organizations to measure program impact and as a source of learning and insights.
15 How It Works Come Alive! fits easily into any small group ministry Familiar Christian small group format, 8 sessions, 90-minutes each. Bible-based curriculum appropriate for any Christian faith. No special training required for facilitator. Anyone can lead by following the instructions in the Facilitator Guide. The Participant Guide contains pre-reading for each session, guided interactive sessions, handy anti-inflammatory shopping lists, recipes, tips & helpful resources. Each participant completes an online Come Alive! Personal Assessment before and after the program as a tool to set goals, assess progress and reflect. Participants are supported by their small group, the Come Alive! team, social media and on-line resources.
16 A successful study of our church pilot program was published in CDC’s Preventing Chronic Disease Journal 1 Proven Results 1 Effect of a Multifaceted, Church-Based Wellness Program on Metabolic Syndrome; Center for Disease Control’s Preventing Chronic Disease Journal, Volume 7: No. 4, July 2010 Strong engagement during & after program 90% of participants completed the 8-week program Nearly ¾ continued to maintain or lose weight in a 10 week follow up Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes Incidence of Metabolic Syndrome reduced from 44% to 24% of participants Safe & effective weight loss Women & Men lost an average of 1.3 & 1.6 lbs. per week respectively Enhanced wellness and quality of life Reduced Stress Improved Emotional Well-being
Starts with our relationship with God. Faith is not just a component, but the foundation for positive change in all areas of life. Evidence-based : successful health outcomes validated in a published church-based pilot study. Focuses on the whole person: spirit, body, mind, emotions, motivation and relationships. Integrates spiritual & physical practices applied to the rhythm of one’s day. Prioritizes simple practices & new habits over education & extensive “to do” lists. 17 Unique Approach Not a “diet for churches” but a small group program that connects spiritual & physical well-being
18 Small Group Guides Participant Guide $25 each Facilitator Guide $25 each * Facilitators: order one of each guide type Available at www.LivingAbundantlyMinistries.org
19 Our Partners Partnerships bring together expertise in non-profits, nutrition, behavior change, and development of scalable new ventures Wheat Ridge Ministries provides start-up funding and resources to inspired leaders in congregations and nonprofit organizations beginning new and innovative human care initiatives. Cherry Street Innovation is a strategy and new venture development company that creates broad-reaching, evidence-based approaches to improve global well-being. Its current focus is SuperBetter and Come Alive!.
Angela Stephenson Executive Director Co- Founder (630) 200-2533 angela@livingabundantlyministries.org I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. ~ John 10:10 (NRSV) Keith Wakeman Board Chair Co-Founder (630) 776-0949 keith@cherrystreetinnovation.com