Introduces students to the broad concepts of health and wellness while exploring their meanings and implications within family systems and communities. Learning activities include readings, class discussions, and various exercises to explore these concepts from cultural and missional perspectives. Online activities and assessments include interactive forums for discussing health disparities, reflective journals on wellness practices, quizzes on terminology, and a final project designing a community health initiative, fostering practical application of course concepts.
Students gain knowledge regarding health and wellness terminology, as well as an increased understanding of the meaning and impact of these concepts in society. Through engaging with diverse perspectives, students develop skills to promote holistic health in communities, preparing them for effective ministry and collaboration in health-focused initiatives.
The course provides the student with an essential foundation for any health promotion organization and/or partnering with a health ministry. Relating to the missio Dei, it equips students to participate in God’s mission by fostering holistic well-being, addressing physical, emotional, and spiritual needs, and advancing God’s redemptive work through health-focused service in families and communities, reflecting Christ’s love and restoration.
This course grounds health and wellness in a biblical framework, exploring scriptural teachings on holistic well-being, such as caring for the body as God’s temple and loving others through service. Students engage with biblical narratives to understand health as integral to God’s design, equipping them to apply these principles in family and community settings, fostering missional approaches that reflect God’s restorative love and compassion.
The course applies health and wellness concepts with a missional focus, equipping students to engage families and communities holistically. By integrating physical, emotional, and spiritual health strategies, students learn to advance God’s mission through practical health initiatives. This approach empowers them to serve as agents of transformation, addressing community needs and promoting well-being as an expression of Christ’s love and the missio Dei.
Course content examines health and wellness through social, political, and economic lenses, addressing disparities in family and community settings. Students explore how contextual factors influence well-being, engaging in discussions and projects that analyze real-world health challenges. This equips them to develop informed, relevant strategies for health promotion that respect local dynamics and foster sustainable change within diverse communities.
Students explore diverse cultural beliefs and practices surrounding health and well-being, fostering an appreciation for global perspectives. Through case studies and discussions, they analyze how cultural contexts shape wellness approaches, preparing them to design inclusive health initiatives. This intercultural focus equips students to engage respectfully with diverse communities, promoting holistic health in ways that honor cultural identities and advance missional goals.
The course provides practical strategies for addressing health and wellness as laypersons or through church-based initiatives. Students learn to design community health programs, apply wellness practices, and address family health needs. Through hands-on exercises and projects, they develop actionable skills to promote well-being, equipping them to serve effectively in ministries that support the health of families and communities.
Through reflective exercises, students examine health and wellness beliefs within their family of origin, fostering personal growth and transformation. By journaling and engaging in group discussions, they connect personal experiences to broader community health concepts. This experiential approach deepens self-awareness and equips students to empathetically address health challenges, aligning their personal transformation with God’s mission to restore and heal.
