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ZION, Ill. and MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The African
Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and Cancer Treatment Centers of America will
be working together to establish and train cancer-focused healthcare lay
ministries in the AME Churchs 6,200 congregations around the world. This
major new initiative was announced at this weeks AME Churchs Annual Seminar
in Birmingham, Ala.
The AME Church, one of the largest African-American churches in the United
States with more than 2.5 million members, has a long history of ministering
to both the physical and spiritual well-being of its members. Moreover,
cancer in particular exacts an especially heavy price among African Americans.
African-Americans have the highest mortality rate of any ethnic or racial
group in the United States for all cancers combined and for most major
cancers, according to the American Cancer Society.
Cancer Treatment Centers of Americas (CTCA) whole person approach to
cancer care incorporates the latest technologies and therapies with
complementary care including nutrition, mind-body medicine and spiritual
support. Last year, Cancer Treatment Centers of America created the "Our
Journey of Hope" lay ministry training program as an outgrowth of its
integrative approach to treatment and in response to requests from patients
and spiritual leaders.
"Our goal at Cancer Treatment Centers of America is to provide the best
possible care, including spiritual care, to cancer patients and their loved
ones, and that includes serving spiritual leaders and their congregations,"
explains Rev. Percy McCray, Jr., Director of Pastoral Care and Social Services
for Cancer Treatment Centers of Americas flagship hospital in Zion, Ill.
As a free service, Cancer Treatment Centers of America will be
implementing "Our Journey of Hope" at AME churches.
"The department of Church Growth and Development of the African Methodist
Episcopal Church is pleased to be in partnership with CTCA to establish 21st
century lay ministries impacting cancer patients throughout the world.
Inasmuch as lung cancer is said to be the No. 1 killer of African Americans,
it is only natural that the AMEC would unite with CTCA to develop an in-depth
spiritual response to the pervasive rise of cancer in the African-American
community," says Rev. James C. Wade, Director of Church Growth and
Development. "We are delighted to have made a place for this vital training
at our 19th annual seminar on Church Growth and Evangelism."
A growing body of research shows spiritual beliefs can play a vital role
in helping people better cope with cancer and other illnesses, both physically
and mentally. According to research published by Dale Matthews, MD, and David
Larson, MD, of the National Institute of Healthcare Research, "Patients with a
strong religious commitment recover faster, live longer or cope better in
seven out of eight studies of cancer, four out of five studies of high blood
pressure, four out of six studies of heart disease and five out of seven
studies of general health."
For more information on CTCAs Our Journey of Hope program, visit
http://www.ourjourneyofhope.com .
About CTCA
Founded in 1988, Cancer Treatment Centers of America(R) provides advanced
Patient Empowerment Medicine(SM) through a network of cancer treatment
hospitals and community oncology programs in Illinois, Oklahoma, Washington
and Philadelphia. The facilities provide a comprehensive, patient-centered
and multidisciplinary path to cancer care by integrating cutting-edge medical
treatments with time-honored support therapies such as nutrition, naturopathy,
psychological counseling and spiritual therapy. For more information, visit
http://www.cancercenter.com .
About the AME Church
Founded in 1787 in Philadelphia, PA by a former slave, Bishop Richard
Allen, the African Methodist Episcopal church has served as the oldest
denomination formally founded in North America and the first denomination to
address the spiritual and temporal needs of African Americans. The AME Church
is called and committed to uplifting and assisting all persons, regardless of
race, ethnicity, gender, educational, and/or socio-economic status.
Taking the biblical mandate to "evangelize the whole world" to heart, the
Department of Church Growth, under the leadership of Bishop Preston Warren
Williams II, Commission Chairman, and Dr. James C. Wade, Executive Director is
consistently pressing forward to reach persons throughout the world, by any
means necessary. In this regard, the Department has and continues to work
tirelessly to partner with organizations which are able to train, teach and
hence effectively and efficiently equip AME pastors and congregations to do
the work, in order to address the various spiritual and temporal conditions of
persons everywhere, at anytime. The Department is global in its vision and
mission, understanding that every person is a "citizen" of the world and all
persons are candidates for atonement.
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