| This study used a sensemaking approach to explore how adults made meanings about health and faith as new programs of health ministry were considered in two churches. Three years (1998-2001) of participant observation and 33 in-depth interviews with members in relatively large Christian Churches (Disciples of Christ) identified three theme areas in sensemaking: prayer, listening, and service.;Membership was continuously enacted. Individual sensemaking connected one's meaning making with that of others, but did not dictate uniformity in meanings. It did position the member to interact with others within a felt structure of commonality.;Prayer played a specific role in sensemaking about health. Categories of liturgical, small group, and private prayer were identified. Intercessory prayer in all three categories seemed to have a strong connection with health. For those who prayed for others, prayer offered a sense of self-efficacy and release. For those who were prayed for, prayer offered a sense of support and connection, a way to let go of anxiety, and a sense of being able to rest.;Listening created psychological space to attend to meanings, needs, and/or feelings of speakers. Two types of listening were identified in the study: listening for Presence and compassionate listening. Both were associated with health; however, compassionate listening was cited often in narratives about recovery. For those people who were listened to, listening provided a sense of being valued and not judged, a sense of being deeply heard. Both churches have worked with an intentional listening ministry program, Stephen Ministry.;Service was tied to prayer and listening. Three broad areas were identified: illness and hospitalization, aging, and loss and grief. Some tasks were the same across areas, but the relationships between provider and receiver differed. For the service provider, service offered a way of expressing gratitude and affirming relationships. For the receiver, service offered important assistance but also offered a way to build up the church by affirming interdependence. The roles of provider, receiver, and coordinator of service were fluid; it was understood that a person who was a provider one day might well be a receiver the next. |
