From Faith to Health: How One Church Is Transforming Health

Articulated Insight – “News, Race and Culture in the Information Age”

A group of women exercising in a church fitness class, promoting health and wellness, alongside a portrait of Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten. — Williams Temple Church combines faith and fitness to uplift community health in St. Louis.

In the heart of one of the nation’s most medically vulnerable areas, where the hum of Sunday worship echoes against the backdrop of some of the city’s toughest health challenges, one church is rewriting the story of what faith can do. In a neighborhood where too many families live with chronic disease, food insecurity, and shortened life expectancy, Williams Temple Church of God in Christ stands as a living testament that prayer and purpose (when paired with action) can heal both body and soul.

Under the leadership of Bishop Lawrence M. Wooten (Second Assistant Presiding Bishop of the Church of God In Christ) and International Evangelist Shirley Wooten, the church has become more than a place of worship. It is a hub for wellness, mental health, and compassion; a faith-fueled force determined to change the trajectory of a community long burdened by inequity.

“Our mission is to save souls, but also to save lives,” said Bishop Wooten. “Faith without works is dead, and we refuse to watch our community suffer when we have the power to make a difference.”

For decades, residents in parts of North and Central Saint Louis have battled inequities that show up in hospital wards and neighborhood streets: high rates of hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, and preventable death. Many families also struggle with food insecurity and barriers to medical care.

Williams Temple is tackling those challenges head-on. Its leaders and members are reshaping what ministry looks like; where sermons are paired with screenings, and compassion comes with a blood-pressure cuff or a grocery bag.

The church’s no-cost food pantry provides healthy groceries, fresh produce, and essentials to individuals and families in need. What began as an emergency outreach has evolved into a pillar of community health, addressing one of the city’s most pressing problems: hunger.

“Every bag of food we hand out is a seed of hope,” said Evangelist Shirley Wooten. “When people eat better, they feel better and that opens the door to everything else God wants to do in their lives.”

When a tornado devastated parts of Saint Louis, Williams Temple became a refuge for recovery, offering mental-health support, trauma counseling, and pastoral care for victims. The church also invited a licensed mental-health professional to speak to the congregation about suicide prevention and emotional wellness, breaking the silence that too often surrounds mental health in faith communities.

Through the broader Church of God in Christ (COGIC) network, Bishop and Evangelist Wooten helped secure and distribute financial assistance to families who lost homes and livelihoods, ensuring that recovery addressed both material and emotional needs.

Williams Temple’s latest initiative, the Biggest Loser Program, turns healthy living into a team effort. Over eight weeks, participants track their progress, support one another, and celebrate each milestone toward better health. But this effort doesn’t end when the contest does.

To sustain momentum, the church offers no-cost exercise and nutrition classes year-round, open to everyone regardless of membership. Classes are led by health professionals and designed for all abilities, emphasizing consistency over competition. This approach reflects decades of research showing that faith-based wellness programs improve diet, physical activity, and heart health (DeHaven et al., 2004; Wilcox et al., 2013; Allicock et al., 2012).

Evidence supports what Williams Temple models every day: faith communities can strengthen health outcomes and close equity gaps. Studies of church-based interventions such as the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) and Body & Soul programs show lasting improvements in physical activity and dietary habits when pastors and lay leaders integrate health promotion into spiritual life (Bernhart et al., 2021; Allicock et al., 2012).

Faith-based mental-health initiatives have also reduced depression, anxiety, and stigma among African American congregants (Chatters et al., 2015). These findings affirm that spiritual trust can be a bridge to scientific truth.

Williams Temple’s blueprint for healing (anchored in prayer, service, and evidence) offers a roadmap for congregations everywhere. The church’s work demonstrates how faith institutions can address the social determinants of health while remaining true to their spiritual mission.

“We want every church in Saint Louis, and across the country, to see that they don’t have to wait for someone else to fix the problem,” said Bishop Wooten. “Faith gives us the foundation, but love in action is what brings true healing.”

In a city where hope can feel out of reach, Williams Temple is proving that when faith meets public health, miracles still happen; one meal, one class, and one act of compassion at a time.

References

Allicock, M., Blanchard, C., Resnicow, K., Clayton, S., Johnson, L., & Williams, E. (2012). Evaluating the dissemination of Body & Soul, an evidence-based fruit and vegetable intake program. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 43(1), 55–62.

Bernhart, M., Wilcox, S., Saunders, R. P., & Hutto, B. (2021). Dissemination of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program in African Methodist Episcopal churches. Preventing Chronic Disease, 18, E54.

Chatters, L. M., Taylor, R. J., Lincoln, K. D., & Jackson, J. S. (2015). Faith-based mental health interventions with African Americans: A review. Research on Social Work Practice, 25(2), 240–251.

DeHaven, M. J., Hunter, I. B., Wilder, L., Walton, J. W., & Berry, J. (2004). Health programs in faith-based organizations: Are they effective? American Journal of Public Health, 94(6), 1030–1036.

Wilcox, S., Saunders, R. P., Kegler, M. C., Addy, C. L., Jennings, C., Evans, R., … & Sharpe, P. A. (2013). Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program: A church-based physical activity and healthy eating intervention for African Americans. American Journal of Health Promotion, 27(4), 231–243.

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

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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.