Durham church builds partnerships to strengthen community health
- joy0955
- Aug 20
- 2 min read
Reported on March 31, 2025 by Grace Hayba
The River Church in Durham is addressing community health disparities by providing accessible wellness ministries and partnering with organizations like Equity Before Birth to offer vital resources such as blood pressure monitoring kits and maternal support.
Transcript: 5 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK, NORTH CAROLINA WAS IN THE MIDST OF ITS FIRST STAY AT HOME ORDER. >> WHAT THE PANDEMIC ALSO DID WAS HIGHLIGHT THE GROWING DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE, ESPECIALLY IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES. TODAY EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY TO CHANGE THAT. HEALTH REPORTER GRACE HAYBA LOOKS AT THE DURHAM CHURCH THAT IS COMBINING FAITH AND MEDICINE TO ENSURE A HEALTHIER FUTURE WHILE LEARNING FROM THE PAST. >> BORN OUT OF A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, "WE SAW OUR DEMAND GO THROUGH THE ROOF", A NONPROFIT IS WORKING TO CHANGE THE OUTCOMES FOR EXPECTING MOTHERS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE DOUBLED IN 2 YEARS. WE WERE REALLY IN A STATE OF CRISIS, DETERMINED TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION. JOY SPENCER LAUNCHED EQUITY BEFORE BIRTH LOCATED INSIDE THE RIVER CHURCH DURHAM, THE ORGANIZATION HELPS MOMS ACCESS IN-PERSON APPOINTMENTS, CONNECTS THEM WITH NEW LAWS AND PROVIDES CRUCIAL MENTAL SUPPORT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY. "I'LL NEVER FORGET SPEAKING WITH A FAMILY ONE TIME AND THEY KIND OF BURST OUT INTO TEARS AND I'M LIKE, OH, WAIT, WHAT'S GOING ON? WHAT'S WRONG? THEY'RE LIKE, NO, YOU LISTENED TO ME." AND NOW A NEW PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IS TAKING THINGS A STEP FURTHER. WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE THESE WORKSHOPS TEACH PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY HOW TO TRACK THEIR BLOOD PRESSURE TEACHING THEM CPR AND PROVIDING TOOLS TO BETTER MONITOR THEIR HEALTH AT HOME. FAMILIES ARE ALSO ABLE TO ATTEND THE CHURCH'S WELLNESS MINISTRIES, WHICH CONNECT THE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK CONGREGATION WITH LOCAL PROVIDERS WHO LOOK LIKE THEM. IT IS THE CHURCH'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR BISHOP RONALD GODBEE. THESE PARTNERSHIPS ARE JUST A FEW WAYS HE HOPES TO PROVIDE A NEW MEANING TO SUNDAY SERVICE. "WE DEMONIZE THINGS THAT WE SHOULD REALLY BE DEALING WITH. BRIDGING A GAP BETWEEN FAITH AND HEALTH CARE FOR US AS A CHURCH, IT'S OUR GOAL TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO THIS." >> NOT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA, NOT IN THE HOSPITAL SETTING ALWAYS WHERE MAYBE THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR PARKING IN THAT PRECLUDES THEM FROM KEEPING UP ON THEIR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS TOGETHER, WE CAN BRING AND PROVIDE RESOURCES TO THE PEOPLE THAT OTHERWISE WOULD NOT HAPPEN IN DURHAM. GRACE, HAYBA, WRAL, NEWS. >> THE RIVER SERVES MORE THAN 1000 PEOPLE EVERY YEAR THROUGH THEIR HEALTH INITIATIVES, INCLUDING BLOOD DRIVES AND RADON TESTING.