A Descriptive Study of Community Health Evangelism as a Model for Integral Mission
Abstract
Background: Integral mission health models are often employed by faith-based organizations to address social, physical, and spiritual wellbeing. Given the use of these models like Community Health Evangelism (CHE), the evidence regarding their effectiveness in practice is limited. The purpose of this descriptive study was to identify variation in the initiation, development, implementation, and impacts of Community Health Evangelism as reported by organization members of the Global CHE Network.
Methods: A digital survey in English, Spanish, and French was sent via email to Global CHE network members resulting in 27 complete organizational responses for analysis. Survey questions ranged from qualitative open-ended questions to categorial and ranking type questions. Descriptive statistics and inductive thematic analytical methods were used to describe the data. Data were summarized according to organizational size to better understand this influence on the practice of CHE. Responses represent organizations in Africa, Asia, North/Central America, and Europe.
Results: The community selection process, committee and CHE volunteer selection criteria, the function of the community champion, time to CHE volunteer home visitation, and achievement of key impacts were some of the areas that showed variation. Measured mpacts included understanding of integral mission, use of LePSA(S) as a teaching strategy, multiplication, and community ownership.
Discussion: The study aimed to understand the implementation of CHE in the field and identify areas of variation and adaptation that could lead to opportunities or barriers in achieving the desired impacts of CHE. The results show variation in each of the four phases and provide a starting point to further study CHE as an integral mission model. The paper suggests additional opportunities for future research to identify core components that could strengthen and improve the effectiveness and practice of integral mission models.
References
About the Network [Internet]. [n.d.] [cited 2021 March 20]. Available from: https://www.chenetwork.org/
Matthews AK, Berrios N, Darnell JS, Calhoun E. A qualitative evaluation of a faith-based breast and cervical cancer screening intervention for African American women. Health Educ Behav. 2006;33(5):643-63. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198106288498
Ford CD. Building from within: pastoral insights into community resources and assets. Public Health Nurs. 2013;30(6):511-8. https://doi.org/10.1111/phn.12048
Brown MT, Cowart LW. Evaluating the effectiveness of faith-based breast health education. Health Educ J. 2018;77(5):571-85.
Kim KH, Linnan L, Campbell MK, Brooks C, Koenig HG, Wiesen C. The WORD (wholeness, oneness, righteousness, deliverance): a faith-based weight-loss program utilizing a community-based participatory research approach. Health Educ Behav. 2008;35(5), 634-50. https://doi.org/10.1177/1090198106291985
Kotecki CN. Developing a health promotion program for faith-based communities. Holis Nurs Pract. 2002;16(3):61-9. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004650-200204000-00011
Banerjee AT, Kin R, Strachan PH, Boyle MH, Anand SS, Oremus M. Factors facilitating the implementation of church-based heart health promotion programs for older adults: a qualitative study guided by the precede-proceed model. Am J Health Promot : AJHP. 2015;29(6):365-73. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.130820-QUAL-438
Wiginton JM, King EJ, Fuller AO. ‘We can act different from what we used to’: findings from experiences of religious leader participants in an HIV-prevention intervention in Zambia. Glob Public Health. 2019;14(5):636-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2018.1524921
Rakotoniana JS, Rakotomanga J de DM, Barennes H. Can churches play a role in combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic? A study of the attitudes of Christian religious leaders in Madagascar. PLoS ONE. 2014;9(5):1-9. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0097131
Simpson A. Christian identity and men’s attitudes to antiretroviral therapy in Zambia. Afr J AIDS Res [AJAR]. 2010;9(4);397-405. https://doi.org/10.2989/16085906.2010.545650
Hartwig KA, Kissioki S, Hartwig CD. Church leaders confront HIV/AIDS and stigma: a case study from Tanzania. J Community Applied Soc. 2006;16(6):492-7. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.897
Adimora AA, Goldmon MV, Coyne-Beasley T, Ramirez CB, Thompson GA, Ellis D, et al. Black pastors’ views on preaching about sex: barriers, facilitators, and opportunities for HIV prevention messaging. Ethnic Health. 2019;24(5):560-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2017.1346180
Christensen CL, Bowen DJ, Hart A Jr, Kuniyuki A, Saleeba AE, Campbell MK. Recruitment of religious organisations into a community-based health promotion programme. Health Soc Care Comm. 2005;13(4):313-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2524.2005.00559.x
Werber L, Mendel PJ, Pitkin Derose K. Social entrepreneurship in religious congregations’ efforts to address health needs. Am J Health Promot. 2014;28(4):231-8. https://doi.org/10.4278/ajhp.110516-QUAL-200
Endeshaw M, Alemu S, Andrews N, Dessie A, Frey S, Rawlins S, et al. Involving religious leaders in HIV care and treatment at a university-affiliated hospital in Ethiopia: application of formative inquiry. Glob Public Health. 2017;12(4):416-31. https://doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2015.1069868
Gee L, Smucker DR, Chin MH, Curlin FA. Partnering together? Relationships between faith-based community health centers and neighborhood congregations. Southern Med J. 2005;98(12):1245-50. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.smj.0000168338.87518.cc
Agadjanian V, Sen S. Promises and challenges of faith-based aids care and support in Mozambique. Am J Public Health. 2007;97(2):362-6. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.085662
Machekanyanga Z, Ndiaye S, Gerede R, Chindedza K, Chigodo C, Shibeshi ME, et al. Qualitative assessment of vaccination hesitancy among members of the Apostolic Church of Zimbabwe: a case study. J Relig Health. 2017;56(5):1683-91. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0428-7
Carey LB, Hennequin C, Krikheli L, O’Brien A, Sanchez E, Marsden CR. Rural health and spiritual care development: a review of programs across rural Victoria, Australia. J Relig Health. 2016;55(3):928-40. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-015-0119-1
Vilakati PN, Villa S, Alagna R, Khumalo B, Tshuma S, Quaresima V, et al. The neglected role of faith-based organizations in prevention and control of COVID-19 in Africa. T Roy Soc Trop Med H. 2020;114(10), 784-6. https://doi.org/10.1093/trstmh/traa073
Christian Journal for Global Health applies the Creative Commons Attribution License to all articles that we publish. Under this license, authors retain ownership of copyright for their articles or they can transfer copyright to their institution, but authors allow anyone without permission to copy, distribute, transmit, and/or adapt articles, even for commercial purposes so long as the original authors and Christian Journal for Global Health are appropriately cited.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
40.jpg){kind=logo}
.jpg)
1.jpg)
