Soaring obesity rates in the United States demand comprehensive health intervention strategies that simultaneously address dietary patterns, physical activity, psychosocial factors and the food environment. Healthy Bodies, Healthy Souls (HBHS) is a church-based, community-participatory, cluster-randomized health intervention trial conducted in…

Zimbabwean economic migrants and political refugees have been given refuge and provided with shelter at the Central Methodist Church (CMC) Refugee House, in central Johannesburg. The refugees have successfully initiated learning and training programmes which resulted in the establishment of a combined school, namely "St. Albert Street Refugee…

Describes the Archdiocese of Chicago's Sharing program, in which affluent parishes link up with their poorer counterparts to form friendships, solve problems, and overcome the anonymity of charitable work. Reveals outcomes including the annual sharing of $2 million among parishes. Offers examples of parish-to-parish support and suggestions for…

Describes OCTOPUS (Open Communication Regarding Teenagers or Parents Understanding of Sexuality), which was established as a forum for family discussion within a church setting. The program was designed to enhance communication skills, convey information, and help teenagers acquire appropriate morals and values. Feedback from four churches…

Presents the Marriage and Family Awareness Program, a three-stage model for Christian counseling, consisting of a James Dobson film, parent groups, and follow-up counseling. The program was offered to over 100 persons in Texas churches. Feedback from participants was positive. Elements of each session are described. (JAC)

Describes and discusses the development of the Chautauqua movement in the late nineteenth century, its success, and its impact on American education and culture. Started to improve Methodist Sunday School teaching, the movement grew to educational facilities for liberal educational programs, combined with recreational experience. (MF)

Since 1978, the Diocese of Oakland, California, has operated the Family Aid-Catholic Education (FACE) program, which raises funds from local businesses and philanthropic organizations to provide partial tuition assistance to deserving low income families and to offer supplemental funding for innovative programing to inner-city Catholic schools.…

Examines Black underrepresentation in American science and engineering and barriers to Black participation. Describes programs sponsored by the American Association for the Advancement of Science, including Linkages and the Black Churches Project, encouraging science and mathematics programing for Black and other minority students. Reaffirms Black…

Describes a career development pilot program as a segment of the church school class for secondary students at the Second Presbyterian Church, Knoxville, Tennessee. The program focused on values clarification, tentative career choices, and limited reality testing by means of panels of church adults involved in those occupations. (MF)