The topic of health and wellness isn’t new to the 21st century.

Numerous Scriptures encourage us to take care of ourselves, reminding us that our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote a book on the topic titled “Primitive Physick,” and encouraged 18th century clergy to both care for their parishioners’ physical needs as much as their spiritual ones. Lorry Mpindu, a Global Health leader with The UMC’s General Board of Global Ministries, discusses the vital reasons the church needs to talk about all areas of health == the physical, mental and spiritual — to fulfill John 10:10 when Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.

More information and a full transcript of this conversation are available here.

Have a question or comment? Email us at [email protected]

Connect with The United Methodist Church by visiting UMC.org.