Faith Leaders Church Initiative

“Ephesians 2:10 tells us, ‘For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.’ This verse underscores that our lives are purposeful, meant for using our gifts and talents to serve others and glorify God. The Faith Leaders Church Initiative, formed at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic by New Direction Health Care Solutions and C.O.N.N.E.C.T. Ministries, has dedicated the past four years to fostering connections between spirituality and health within the faith-based community.

Weekly Engagements and Impact
The Initiative organizes a weekly Zoom call every Thursday to address a range of complex social issues affecting underserved communities, including healthcare access, food insecurity, opioid addiction, and homelessness.

Achievements Since 2020

Network encompasses 140 faith-based organizations
Conducted 209 Thursday Zoom calls
Engaged 236 subject matter experts
Partnered with 76 health providers

Contact Information
For additional details, please reach out to:
Anna M. Dirl, Director
Faith and Health Initiative
Email: faithleaders@newdirectionhealth.org

Faith Leaders Church Initiative 12-18-2024

Workbook To Re-Opening
Your Church Building

The purpose of this, “WORKBOOK TO RE-OPENING A CHURCH BUILDING—A Faith-Based Approach,” is to help churches re-open with the three P’s in place: PLAN, PREPARE and PRAY. Through effective and efficient planning, a church can rebuild a level of trust with its members. Knowing that a “plan” is in place removes the unknown and can serve as guidance to the church membership in returning to church. This guide can also “prepare” a church to develop a step-by-step action plan that identifies all operational functions of the church. And lastly, the church has, as its foundation, the ability to “pray” through good and difficult times. This pandemic, COVID-19, has forced the church to leave its buildings and rely on faith to sustain and guide it through these difficult times. As churches re-open, this manuscript encourages its members to follow and consider the guidelines outlined in this workbook. These are considerations, not mandates. The churches should follow the guidance set out by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and state and local authorities, including the health department.

Workbook To Re-Opening Your Church Building (Spring 2020)