Bridging Faith & Health
It's what faith community nurses do.
Faith centers are an excellent place to reach community members and provide comfortable support of their health care. Each faith community nurse's practice looks different; they may make home visits, conduct health fairs, lead support groups, conduct healing services, help members obtain needed health care and much more. Faith Community Nurse Network can assist you in learning more about what an FCN can do for you & support FCNs in their practice.
Educate
FCNNTC offers an array of high-quality educational programming for nurses, health professionals, faith leaders, and others. We offer education to guide nurses as they become faith community nurses, as well as continuing education programs on topics relevant to their practice.
Support
Support faith community nurses and congregations in developing or strengthening their health ministry.
This may be training and preparing evidence-based leaders; hosting wellness screenings; or helping provide other resources.
Resource library and other products available to help FCNs in their practice.
Serve
FCNNTC is an top provider of health promotion evidence- based program in Minnesota. FCNN coordinates and facilitates evidence-based programming on falls prevention, and caregiver support. We also partner with University of Minnesota 's School of Nursing to offer Whole-Person Wellness Screening events for older adults to empower individuals to take an active role in their health, these occur throughout the year at a variety of different venues.
Pastor Testimonial
Meet The Rev. Anna Doherty, Rector at Christ Episcopal Church of Woodbury Minnesota.
What is a faith community nurse?
Each faith community nurse's practice is different based on the community that they serve and its needs.
Spotlight on a Faith Community Nurse
Sharday Parker
New FCN co-leads efforts for Back-To-School Health Fair!
Sharday Parker completed the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course in March,2026 through the Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities. Almost immediately, she stepped into her role as an FCN putting her new training to work co-leading a large community event as an outreach for her faith community. Her knowledge of wholistic health helped determine the real needs of families in the community so the health fair could better meet those needs.
During the Foundations Course, Sharday shared with her instructor, Sondra Weinzierl and other students that this project would begin right after the course. She expressed her anxiety about the project. Other students shared ideas, prayers and encouragement. Sharday kept in touch with Sondra over the next several months for mentoring and support. Right after the event in early August, Sharday sent Sondra a PRAISE REPORT and told her how wonderfully the Back- to- School Health Fair had gone.
With Sharday’s co-leadership, the health ministry of her church partnered with two local churches and the local school district to bring comprehensive care to families preparing for the school year. They offered dental screenings, sports physicals, mental wellness screenings, community resources, and vaccines, all in one welcoming, easy to access setting. At least 1,500 children received free backpacks! The first 300 families were given Chromebooks to help their family learn at home. How exciting that a faith community reached way beyond its walls to touch and improve the lives of their neighbors!
While ecstatic about the numbers, Sharday wrote that the smiling faces, meaningful conversations, and a genuine sense of welcome made this much more than a health fair. Sharday made time to engage with families and community partners throughout the day and express her thanks. She demonstrated the collaboration, organizational skills and compassionate whole-person care that FCNs can bring to a community.
“God was glorified and my heart is full,” Sharday shared. She credits the outcome entirely to the partners who showed up to make it possible, calling the collaboration “a huge effort that could not have been done without the many partners involved.”
This team continues to debrief and evaluate the Health Fair and soon will start planning for next year's fair.
Sharday’s story is a powerful example of what an FCN can bring to a faith community and health ministry.
And it’s a testament to the success of our Foundations of Faith Community Course and mentoring at FCNN and how our work extends beyond the boundaries of Minnesota. Congratulations, Sharday—Well done!
Written and submitted by Sondra Weinzierl with permission from Sharday Parker to share.
