Mount Moriah Baptist Church in Gainesville hosts its healthy living Nurses Guild Program
Parishioners attending the Sunday morning worship service at Mount Moriah Baptist Church were encouraged to take care of their physical, mental and spiritual health.
The message was delivered during the church's 19th annual Nurses Guild Program and Health Fair at the church at 718 SE 11th St. The theme of the program was "Building Our Health One Step at a Time."
Geneva Saulsberry, president of the guild that is comprised of 15 members, paid homage to the founding members of the guild - Joan Brannon, Gertha Johnson, Mattie DeSue and Rosa Johnson.
“Our goal is to highlight physical, mental and financial health,” said Saulsberry, who has been a nurse at the Florida Department of Health since 2004. “Health covers a whole lot of things that we want to bring to their attention. Sometimes people wait until it’s too late to get help. We want to teach them preventative things they can do to get to a healthy state.”
Vendors at the health fair part of the service included LifeSouth Community Blood Center, P&L Financial Services, Meridian Behavioral Healthcare, UF Health Shands, Florida Department of Health, Gainesville Fire Rescue’s Community Resource Paramedic Program, Donate Life Florida, Suwannee River Area Health Education Center, Community Health Specialists LLC and Body Mechanics by Mark.
Parishioners received free blood pressure screenings from the Florida Department of Health and learned a free lesson about chest compressions from Elizabeth Warren, UF Health’s chest pain coordinator.
“This is a great idea to have at a church because the people are right here,” said Alfreda Wilson, a parishioner who attended the service and health fair.
Mark Williams of Body Mechanics by Mark said he has been a trainer for 14 years, and that his passion for fitness and helping others inspired him to launch his business.
“I am honored to be invited out and help people as much as we can,” Williams said. “We are about keeping people moving and helping them in their process.”
Bridget Lee, Ph.D, was the speaker during the abbreviated worship service held before the health fair. Her sermon focused on the power of having a healthy mind to have a healthy body.
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“Do you see a football player playing without a helmet?,” Lee asked. “If you’re going to play in the game called life, your head must be protected. You must wear the helmet of salvation.”
The devil distracts people from their goals through their minds by creating doubt, despair and discouragement, Lee said.
“When the devil wants to get you off your game, he gets in your mind,” Lee said. “Protecting against your spiritual enemy is not a matter of thinking, but God’s thinking. Your thoughts must be centered in Christ.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Nurses Guild Program hosts service at Moriah Baptist Church in G'ville
