3 new Wesley Nurses commissioned
during March 8-9 health ministry event

By Mary Howard
McAllen District Reporter
Thanks to the Methodist Health-care Ministries of South Texas, the mission of the McAllen District is greatly enhanced.
MHM provides funding for 13 Wesley Nurses in the district. At the present time, there is one opening in the McAllen District.
The Southern District of the Rio Grande Conference that shares our geographic area also has Wesley Nurses. Rio Grande has four openings at present.
I attended the 9th Annual Health Ministry Symposium sponsored by the Wesley Nurse Health Ministries March 8-9 in San Antonio. I saw our three new Wesley Nurses get commissioned, and I saw all the Wesley Nurses in the Southwest Texas Conference get dedicated for another year of service.
I was already excited about our Wesley Nurses. I read in our church newsletters about all the programs they provided for our church communities, and I saw some of them in action as I traveled with my husband, Larry, throughout the district.
MHM seeks to provide care to the underserved, and the Wesley Nurse Program is a big part of that. The Wesley Nurses’ mission statement charges them to provide programs that promote healing and wholeness of body, mind and spirit in our neighborhoods. The churches each have a health committee that assists the Wesley Nurse with programming ideas and ongoing support of those programs.
Some of the exciting programs I have seen include:
> Exercise Programs for those who are mobile and those who have to sit.
> After-school programs that have a health component for children.
> Prescription assistance.
> Health and wellness screenings and education in churches and communities.
> Spiritual enrichment including Walk and Meditate, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and Support Groups.
> Food programs, including Healthy Food Preparation, Angel Food Ministries, holiday food baskets and food pantries.
> Referrals to community organizations for wellness assurance and medical assistance.
Thank you, Wesley Nurses. May we all be inspired to lend our support to the health ministries in our churches and communities.