West Angeles Church of God and Christ/ Nommo
Many people hold the memory of being woken up early Sunday morning to attend church service with their family. As a child, the true benefit of church may seem elusive. To those not involved in the institution, it can appear to be a place solely dedicated to worship. However, churches provide more than just spiritual nourishment.
The institution of the church in our community dates back to times of slavery. According to the African American Registry, “[The church provided] the first source of land ownership for slaves in America…[it] is viewed as the reason and savior of oppressed Afrikan people in the United States.” For slaves, religion “offered a means for catharsis,” and provided them with a place to feel some semblance of control.
Churches also served as powerful bases during the civil rights era. Though not all churches were greatly involved in civil rights acts, the African American Registry notes that others were involved in “organizing by rallies, protests, and marches, while teaching Christianity and community involvement.”
Today, churches are still very involved in realms that are deemed important and significant to their congregations and communities. Individuals that belong to a church can find that its benefits are multifaceted. One of the defining characteristics of Black churches is their overwhelming positive presence in their members’ lives.
According to a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life in 2007, 87 percent of Blacks are affiliated with a religion. It also noted that for 79 percent of Blacks, religion is “very important in their life.”
Churches are a source of knowledge for their congregation and the surrounding community. Churches are often times a prominent pillar in the lives of Afrikan Americans, so much so, that these institutions are capable of disseminating important information to its members.
Many churches also make a point of being involved with promoting and supporting education. A number of churches are involved with outreach programs that are driven to enhance the lives of members of the community. In a study published by Andrew Billingsly and Cleopatra Caldwell from the University of Maryland-College Park, in the sampled churches, 11 percent of the programs supported were formal education programs and assistance for youth. Some churches also have their own programs that are operational during the week.
In addition to being a source for educational support, churches are also associated with being a source of physiological assistance. As demonstrated in a study conducted by Dr. Kaytura Felix Aaron from the Center for Primary Care Research, religious involvement is connected to numerous improvements in quality-of-life; indicators such as “a more optimistic life orientation, greater perceived social support, improved life satisfaction, improved adjustment to chronic disease, and higher resilience to stress and lower levels of anxiety.” Dr. Felix Aaron also notes that the effect of religious attendance is comparable to that of personal health habits and physical activity.
The ability of a church to strengthen our community is one of the most obvious characteristics of the Black church. As previously mentioned, with religion being a main component in the lives of most Afrikan Americans, the church serves as a support system in many Afrikan American communities. This has not gone unnoticed.
“Church members exchange material, emotional, and spiritual assistance with one another, as well as providing information and advice,” observed researchers Robert Joseph Taylor and Linda Chatters from the University of Michigan. Churches are in themselves communities that possess familial qualities. There is a high level of support that is found among the members of congregations. This is one reason why individuals in the health field, for example, realize that by using churches to disperse important information there is a greater likelihood of it being absorbed.
Historically, religion has proven to be a crucial part of the Afrikan American culture. Religious practices have for centuries been concentrated in the church. During slavery the institution of the church embodied more than just worship and this remains to be true. Being part of a church provides one with the opportunity to take a comprehensive approach to bettering one’s health by cultivating not only spiritual health, but also that of the mind and body.
Author: Colleen King
Nommo Staff