Bridging Faith and Wellness: St. Louis Church Rallies for Holistic Community Support

St. Louis, MO — In a powerful demonstration of faith-led service and community partnership, Williams Temple Church of God in Christ (COGIC) recently hosted a far-reaching outreach event in collaboration with Affinia Healthcare, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, Deer Valley Home Health, and Christ In Action. The event provided food, clothing, and free health screenings—addressing critical community needs and reflecting the church’s unwavering commitment to holistic care.

Held in the heart of North St. Louis, the giveaway featured blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes screenings—offered at no cost to residents who often face significant barriers to care. These services helped confront long-standing health disparities that disproportionately impact underserved communities.

Affinia Healthcare, a long-standing pillar in community-based health, played a central role in delivering high-quality clinical services (e.g., blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes screenings) health education and cleaning resources (courtesy of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) throughout the event. With a mission rooted in equity and accessibility, Affinia continues to break down barriers by bringing trusted health services directly to the people who need them most—building trust and increasing engagement in preventive care.

Partner organizations brought a full spectrum of support: The Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis provided core resource support; Deer Valley Home Health provided care navigation and health education; and Christ In Action delivered spiritual support and volunteer assistance—creating a compassionate, one-stop hub for community wellness.

This outreach effort is part of the broader legacy of the Church of God in Christ, one of the largest Pentecostal denominations in the world, with over 12,000 congregations and more than 6.5 million members globally. With deep roots in cities like St. Louis, COGIC has long functioned as a stabilizing force in communities, offering support that goes far beyond the sanctuary—from addressing food insecurity and health disparities to providing economic empowerment and educational support.

Under the global leadership of COGIC Presiding Bishop and Chief Apostle J. Drew Sheard and the local leadership of Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten, Second Assistant Presiding Bishop of COGIC, the denomination continues to play a critical role in advancing community health, education, and economic development through faith-based action. Williams Temple’s efforts exemplify how the church is putting faith into motion in ways that directly support sustainable neighborhood transformation. Events like this one are a direct expression of COGIC’s commitment to community health, social equity, and the long-term stabilization of neighborhoods through faith-fueled service.

Why Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Matters

This event exemplifies how partnerships can address the social determinants of health—factors like access to nutritious food, stable housing, preventive care, and trusted community support. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, over 80% of health outcomes are shaped by these non-medical factors (Artiga & Hinton, 2018). By leveraging faith-based leadership and frontline health organizations like Affinia Healthcare, this initiative bridges the gap between clinical care and community need.

The goal is not just charity—it’s transformation. These collaborations create opportunities for lasting impact, offering residents culturally relevant and welcoming spaces to take control of their health and well-being.

Not Just Another Event

What unfolded at Williams Temple COGIC is more than an event—it’s a blueprint that illustrates how powerful partnerships between faith-based institutions and health and social service providers can bring lasting change to communities. This model can be replicated in cities across the world to build trust, improve outcomes, and lay the foundation for more equitable and resilient neighborhoods.

References

Artiga, S., & Hinton, E. (2018). Beyond Health Care: The Role of Social Determinants in Promoting Health and Health Equity. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/issue-brief/beyond-health-care-the-role-of-social-determinants-in-promoting-health-and-health-equity/

Affinia Healthcare. (2023). About Us. https://affiniahealthcare.org/

Church of God in Christ. (2023). About COGIC. https://www.cogic.org/

Dr. Frederick Echols, MD, is available as a subject matter expert on public health for press interviews and speaking engagements. 

About Dr. Fredrick Echols, MD 

Dr. Fredrick L. Echols, MD is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Population Health and Social Justice Consulting, LLC, an Obama Foundation Global Leader,  sought-after public speaker, black men’s health advocate, and accomplished physician  with over 15 years of experience in public health. He has worked extensively with public  and private sectors to address complex health issues through evidence-informed  approaches. Dr. Echols is a graduate of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention  Population Health Training in Place program and the ASTHO-Morehouse School of  Medicine’s Diverse Executives Leading in Public Health program.  

Passionate about health and justice, Dr . Echols’ notable roles include serving as Chief  Executive Officer for Cure Violence Global, Health Commissioner for the City of St.  Louis, and Director of Communicable Disease and Emergency Preparedness for the St.  Louis County Department of Public Health. In these roles, he oversaw public health  regulations, led COVID-19 response efforts, managed daily operations, and developed  strategic partnerships. Dr. Echols also served as Chief of Communicable Diseases for  the Illinois Department of Public Health and as a physician in the U.S. Navy. He  continues to contribute to public health research and guides health organizations  globally. 

For more health tips follow Dr. Fredrick Echols @ Fredrick.Echols@gmail.com

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