American adults who have been served by chaplains hail the ministers for providing compassionate and effective care during some of the most difficult moments of life, a new study shows. “Most people say the interaction they had with a chaplain…
This key leader at Planned Parenthood sees his work as a calling
The chief equity officer at Planned Parenthood is an ordained Christian minister who believes his work is a calling from God. In an exclusive interview with Baptist News Global, George Walker made it clear that he sees his work at Planned…
The pandemic is not over for those with long COVID
“The pandemic is over.” President Biden’s words a few weeks ago are dangerously false. They are also short sighted. Since we first heard the phrase “novel coronavirus,” our focus has been on deaths. Yes, deaths are an important metric with…
It’s possible some senior adults in your church need help with medical costs or food but won’t say anything
The stress aging Americans are experiencing due to constantly rising health care costs is accelerating at an alarming pace, new polling shows. “More than a third of adults 65 and older (37%) are concerned they will not be able to…
Health care crises reveal our nation’s character flaws
This is a column about crises and injustices in the health care system in America. I interpret these crises and injustices as an indictment on the character and the governance of this country. What follows is inspired by hard personal…
It’s not just pastors modern Republicans don’t trust; they also question doctors and politicians who won’t endorse Trump’s lies
Pastors who find some congregants no longer trusting them as much as before are not alone. Two new national polls show significant drops in the percentage of Republicans who trust the medical advice their doctors give or who trust their…
Caring for the casualties of a broken health care system
I serve as director of spiritual care for a multi-hospital operating unit in a large urban health care system. A few months ago, as the nurse staffing shortage reached crisis level, our hospital leadership became concerned about the level of…
Me and my multicultural medical procedure
I am not accustomed to discussing publicly my personal health on the internet (or most anywhere else), but in this case, I am going to make an exception and do just that. When Janice and I returned to the United…
As ACA enrollment deadline approaches, American access to health care has improved but still lags behind
With a new year dawning, most of us have our minds attuned to new chapters and fresh starts. However, January brings endings as well as beginnings, and one such ending is especially important if you or someone you know needs…
CBF Church Benefits creates partnership to offer health insurance benefits
After several years researching solutions for churches to secure health insurance benefits for their staff members, the CBF Church Benefits Board has rolled out a new approach. CBF Church Benefits recently announced a partnership with Balanced Healthcare Solutions that is open…
Georgia Baptists eliminate retiree benefits, citing budget concerns
Cheerful-looking envelopes from the Georgia Baptist Mission Board that dropped in the mailboxes of nearly 200 retirees in mid-September appeared to contain good news. They depicted a senior-adult couple sitting on a park bench. The envelopes presented an assumed message:…
This small book is for health care workers operating on a wing and a prayer
Sarah Griffith Lund experienced so much anguish over the loss of loved ones in 2020 that she felt called to contribute to the recently released book, Prayers and Blessings for Healthcare Workers. “I realized I was holding such intense grief…