January 13, 2006
by Evan Silverstein

LOUISVILLE - About 40 national staff members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) braved rain and cold temperatures earlier this week to bless and pray for the denomination's new health-education van as it was prepared to hit the road for the first time.

The shiny 35-foot-long white van, which left the Presbyterian Center on its inaugural mission, is the centerpiece of a new ministry of the PC(USA)'s National Health Ministries office.

Health Mission on the Move (MOM) will roll into medically under-served areas where health-care professionals and other volunteers will address unmet medical needs and help people who feel isolated or alone.

"It was incredibly exciting to actually be loading our materials and resources on the van, after three years of dreaming, visualizing and planning," said Pat Gleich, the PC(USA)'s associate for National Health Ministries (NHM).

NHM, part of the PC(USA)'s National Ministries Division, provides resources, health-awareness information and training to individual Presbyterians, congregations and governing bodies in health-related ministries.

In the MOM program, health-education resources and congregational ministry models will be provided, along with risk assessments, blood-pressure checks, vision screenings and referrals to local health-care providers. Direct support will be offered to people whose health problems can be addressed through prevention, wellness education, diet and lifestyle changes.

The program will connect with local providers to offer dental, glaucoma, cholesterol, bone-density and auditory screenings.

The van was purchased with grant money from the Presbyterian Women's 2004 Birthday Offering.

"It's exciting to be part of the launch of MOM, to see the gifts of women around the church come to life," said Ann Ferguson, program coordinator for Presbyterian Women.

The van's shakedown cruise was to take it to Presbyterian-related Cook College and Theological School in Tempe, AZ.

MOM was a central feature of an event at the college coordinated by the National Health Ministries staff, including practitioners from the Federal Bureau of Indian Health Services and nutritionists who will demonstrate healthy meals and cooking methods. Volunteers will also offer diabetes education and HIV/AIDS testing services.

The bus carried resources that Native American leaders at the college can take back to their congregations.

At every MOM stop, NHM staff will identify local health services and health-care providers and invite them to participate.

Gleich said many Presbyterians from across the United States have expressed interest in volunteering for future mission trips, and a number of congregations in medically under-served areas want to host events featuring the van.

"It is very gratifying to see the level of interest in this program," she said. "We began distributing awareness materials less than a month ago, and we have been contacted by Presbyterians from Washington state to Long Island and the Gulf Coast."

One important component of the program will instruct people about how changing their behavior and being good stewards of their health can prevent illness and injury.

"We try to provide a comprehensive and holistic approach to health, focusing on prevention, wellness and personal empowerment through health education," said Alberto Clavel, NHM's project field coordinator and van driver.

Clavel said people often are surprised to learn that smoking or neglecting to wear a seatbelt may be more likely to cause illness or injury than a family history of cancer or heart problems.

While the program focuses on medically under-served communities, it will also visit areas with high rates of unemployment and high percentages of people without health insurance.

MOM will take a break from mission travel over the summer to provide health-screening services at the PC(USA)'s 217th General Assembly in Birmingham, AL, and at the Presbyterian Women's Gathering in Louisville.

For more information about MOM or to volunteer, log on to http://www.pcusa.org/health/usa/news/missiononmove.htm; call (888) 728-7228, ext. 5793; or send an email to health@ctr.pcusa.org. To offer financial support, visit http://www.pcusa.org/give/online/project?E051450.

Presbyterian News Service