- June 08th, 2022
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- Intervention Toolkits
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- Creating Faith-based Spaces for Healthy Food Patterns

Left to right: Rev. Newton Dixon (General Secretary, Jamaica Council of Churches), Prof. T. Alafia Samuels (Project Investigator, FaN project), Most Reverend Kenneth Richards (President, Jamaica Council of Churches)
Creating faith-based spaces for healthy food patterns, in 2021, the FaN project and the Jamaica Council of Churches entered into an agreement to develop a relationship to undertake activities in research, capacity building, training, and public health advocacy. Their shared goal was to foster an environment that normalizes and supports nutrition and food security among members of and communities around faith-based organisations, to improve their dietary patterns. The collaboration has resulted in a virtual programme of three components:
Members of the JCC have co-designed 10 sermons and 10 accompanying Bible studies that focus on food and nutrition security. These are supplemented by PowerPoint versions of the materials, fact sheets and orientation videos to also enhance their uptake and delivery.
These materials can be accessed at the links below:
Introductory Material for toolkit
- Introduction video: President of Jamaica Council of Churches
- Orientation video: Panel discussion on purpose of resources
- Facilitators Guide for Bible Studies
Sermons and Bible Studies
1. My Body is God’s Temple
- Introductory video for sermon
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording)
2. Foods are Gifts from God
- Introductory video for sermon
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording)
3. Satisfying Hunger
- Introductory video for sermon (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording)
4. Too Much A One Thing Good Fi Nothing, Part 1
- Introductory video for sermon (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording) (coming soon)
5. Too Much A One Thing Good Fi Nothing, Part 2
- Introductory video (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording) (coming soon)
6. Bread of Life
- Introductory video for sermon (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study (coming soon)
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording) (coming soon)
7. God Provides Food in Abundance, Part 1
- Introductory video for sermon (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study (coming soon)
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording) (coming soon)
8. God Provides Food in Abundance, Part 2
- Introductory video for sermon (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study (coming soon)
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording) (coming soon)
9. Taking Care of God’s Temple
- Introductory video for sermon (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study (coming soon)
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording) (coming soon)
10. Giving Thanks for God’s Bounty
- Introductory video for sermon (coming soon)
- Sermon
- Sermon PowerPoint
- Introductory video for Bible Study (coming soon)
- Bible Study
- Bible Study 2-pager of what to know and do
- Bible Study PowerPoint (with voice-over recording) (coming soon)
A small group of public health professionals (PHPs) have worked with the project, participating in Zoom sessions for several months in preparation of hosting health activities within their churches in Jamaica. Health activities included educational booths, mini-fairs, dedicated water/fruit/vegetable day, challenges, zoom presentations, care packages for nutritionally vulnerable congregants, and healthy food cook-ups. Invested in their activities, plans are for the PHPs to continue to advocate within their churches for improved nutrition by expanding their activities over time.
Two sample PowerPoints used in some of the health activities can be accessed below:
A formal list of social assistance programmes available to vulnerable adults in Jamaica was created. These services are grouped by five areas: (1) Advocacy, Training and Education Services, (2) Food Security Services, (3) Housing Services, (4) Physical and Mental Disability Services and (5) Senior Citizens and Shut-Ins Services. The Directory lists details of each service, such as services offered, eligibility criteria, instructions on how to apply and contact information.
The Directory can be accessed below: