The Meros Center

New!?Meros Center self-study certificate in Community Health Ministry

As we near the end of the year, we're taking a moment to reflect on a remarkable year of global outreach. Over the past 12 months, our team has successfully established partnership networks across Africa, Asia, and South America. These networks represent a diverse coalition of healthcare providers, faith leaders, researchers, and community organizers, all united in the mission to integrate faith and health in meaningful ways. Key achievements: ? Identified research opportunities in rural community health ? Participated in and assessed Community Health Evangelism (CHE) training programs ? Explored innovative approaches to addressing health challenges We're seeking partners and supporters to help us equip these networks with critical research and training resources. If you're passionate about global health, faith-based initiatives, or community development, we invite you to contribute to this important work through prayers, donations, and volunteer time. Together, we can make a lasting impact on community and spiritual health across the globe. We hope you’ll join us. https://lnkd.in/gHx8-x2a

At The Meros Center, our research projects range from $5,000 to $30,000. Each project is aimed at ministering to the marginalized and helping our fellow Christians increase their impact, ultimately reaching more souls with the gospel. With a challenge match of $10,000? – and an additional match for monthly gifts of $100 or more – your impact is doubled or tripled! Please consider supporting The Meros Center with a Christmas donation: https://lnkd.in/gvEfx2tw #MakingADifference #NonprofitResearch #CommunityOutreach

?? New Research Insights: Integrating Financial Literacy with Faith-Based Recovery Our recent pilot study (n=33) investigated the effectiveness of combining a faith-based recovery program (Resilient Recovery) with a financial literacy program (Faith & Finances). The data tells a fascinating story: bank account ownership rose to 77.8% in the combined program, while impulsive behaviors showed a marked decrease (-0.28, p=0.08). Perhaps most notably, personal growth metrics improved substantially (-0.31, p=0.04). The methodology involved comparing traditional recovery approaches with an integrated program over a 12-week intervention period. What makes these findings particularly relevant is their implication for program design: participants who received comprehensive support showed improved outcomes across spiritual, financial, and recovery domains. Are we overlooking complementary areas of support in our recovery programs? What has been your experience with integrated approaches? Read the full study here: https://lnkd.in/gevHxJrg Study authors: Jason Paltzer, Jason Jonker, Anna Reinemann (Sherod), Jessica Benfer #RecoverySupport #Ministry #Innovation #ResearchFindings #ChristianResearch

We're excited to share two inspiring stories from The Meros Center's mission to equip everyday people with the tools to transform their communities through faith-based health initiatives. ?? Our High School Scholars Program at Fox Valley Lutheran is breaking new ground! Students are learning to: - Conduct community health assessments - Design ministry strategies - Prepare for international outreach - Apply scripture to real-world challenges One student shared: "I enjoy learning how we can apply what we are taught to other people in the real world." ?? Meanwhile in Mito, Japan, Pastor Haga is putting his Christian Health Ministry certification to work: - Creating culturally-adapted, 10-minute YouTube lessons - Engaging local community members - Integrating health ministry with evangelism - Building bridges through community-specific outreach These stories remind us that addressing challenges starts with equipped, passionate individuals. #FaithAndHealth #CommunityOutreach #GlobalMinistry #HealthMinistry #FaithInAction #CommunityHealth #StudentLeadership #GlobalImpact

?? Global Research Opportunities – Open Call for Research Assistants Join us as a Research Assistant for three different studies launching in 2025 in collaboration with Baylor University, Uganda Christian University, and the Lutheran Church of Central Africa. ?? Virtual Research Assistants (4 positions) - (2) Manage ethics review application process and Data management/Transcriptions (USA project) - (1) Manuscript preparation (Zambia project) - (1) Manuscript preparation (Uganda project) ?? Field Research Assistants (3 positions) - Data Collection through interviews/focus groups (USA project) ?? Research Scholar Consultants (2 positions) - Adolescent development expert to assist with study refinement/data analysis (Zambia project) - Model development and evaluation skills (Uganda project) Project Timelines: - US Disability Inclusion: Jan-Dec 2025 - Zambia Youth Study: Jan 2025-Dec 2026 - Uganda University Study: Jan-May 2025 Join us in making a real-world impact through evidence-based research! https://lnkd.in/gqvTTAJK #GlobalResearch #AcademicJobs #ResearchOpportunities #GlobalHealth #FaithCommunities #DisabilityStudies

?? Research Update: Disability Inclusion in Religious Communities The Baylor University Center for Developmental Disabilities and Kingdom Workers will conduct a study in 2025 examining how churches can better serve the 1.3 billion people worldwide living with disabilities. Research Focus: - Evaluating Jesus Cares Ministry programs across the US - Assessing impact on individuals, families & congregations - Developing evidence-based inclusion strategies Supporters through the Meros Marketplace have been instrumental in getting this project off the ground. Now, monthly gifts of $100+ are being matched, benefiting both The Meros Center and Kingdom Workers. Double your impact on gospel efforts! https://lnkd.in/gaSMhmas #DisabilityResearch #Inclusion #FaithCommunity #AccessibleWorship

Exciting News from Uganda! ???? This week, Meros team members Bill and Jennifer arrived at Uganda Christian University. Jennifer shares, “As part of the Meros Center, our goal is to establish a Center of Excellence at UCU to support African Christian health ministries by coordinating research and training tailored to African-specific contexts and opportunities.” Please pray for them as they work to bring this vision to life over the next two years! #MerosCenter #UCU #Uganda #AfricanHealth #GlobalHealth #ChristianMinistry

Bridging Language Barriers: Launching Spanish-Language Resources for Faith-Based Health Initiatives As part of our commitment to expanding our reach in Latin America, we're proud to announce the launch of our Meros Center introduction video in Spanish. This milestone represents a significant step in our efforts to provide accessible resources for faith-based health initiatives across the region. We extend our sincere thanks to Pastor Henry Herrera of the Luteranos Confesionales in Colombia for his invaluable assistance in this project. You can view the video here: https://lnkd.in/gVhXW4jF This initiative aligns with our ongoing efforts to establish meaningful partnerships throughout Latin America, including potential collaborations with organizations like the WELS-affiliated Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Medellín, Colombia. We invite healthcare professionals, researchers, and faith leaders interested in the intersection of health and faith to connect with us and explore potential collaboration opportunities.

Bridging Language Barriers: Launching Spanish-Language Resources for Faith-Based Health Initiatives As part of our commitment to expanding our reach in Latin America, we're proud to announce the launch of our Meros Center introduction video in Spanish. This milestone represents a significant step in our efforts to provide accessible resources for faith-based health initiatives across the region. We extend our sincere thanks to Pastor Henry Herrera of the Luteranos Confesionales in Colombia for his invaluable assistance in this project. You can view the video here: https://lnkd.in/gVhXW4jF This initiative aligns with our ongoing efforts to establish meaningful partnerships throughout Latin America, including potential collaborations with organizations like the WELS-affiliated Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Medellín, Colombia. We invite healthcare professionals, researchers, and faith leaders interested in the intersection of health and faith to connect with us and explore potential collaboration opportunities.