These people work together on health issues that impact their congregations and also reach into the community to address common concerns. Lay health promoters must receive initial and on-going training. Advocate Health Care is in the process of developing such a training, but there are other places where this training is already being offered. The Carter Center. One Copenhill, Atlanta, Georgia 30307.
Many congregations already have strong care and counseling programs.
Examples of a program in this model would include Stephen Ministries and Befrienders or Eucharistic Ministers and Ministers of Care. In this model, volunteers from the church are trained to provide supportive, spiritual care to those in the congregation who are shut-in, experiencing grief or loss, chronically ill, disabled, hospitalized, etc. The model empowers laity to carry out the ministry of the church of healing and comfort to those in need and to bring the symbols of the church to the hurting individual. These powerful ministries offer volunteers an opportunity to grow in their own faith and skills while providing a deep sense of caring and concern within the church. 2045 Inner Belt Business Center Drive.