by Janice N. Meyer, BA, MDiv
In 2015 the nation and world shared unfathomable grief for the murder and violent deaths of the nine adult children of God in Bible study in the basement of their church, Mother Emmanuel AME Church, Charleston, South Carolina. Among the nine precious lives lost was the senior pastor, The Rev. Dr. Clementa Pinckney, a pastor and a statesman.
Each year since 2015, a Health Fair is held at that same church basement site, replacing tragedy with hope and life-giving health care information and screenings. The Clementa Pinckney Health Fair was initiated by the devoted Elenora Taylor and others from Mother Emmanuel Church to honor Rev. Pinckney’s love for outreach ministries.
They have graciously invited the community partners in healthcare to be a part of this life-giving ministry each year. Many healthcare providers participate.
It has been my privilege to participate each year in different ways with the Clementa Pinckney Health Fair to both support these ministries to honor his life and ministries and continue to build the kingdom of God, on earth.
Many adults and children at the health fair chose to visit the St George’s booth to be anointed with oil, have their hands blessed, and learn more about this vital part of how faith and spiritual health are a part of integrated, overall healthcare.
Devotional material, a healthy fruit, seeds packets for “sowing,” and other healthy giveaways are shared. Not to mention the stories and love that are shared…
Outside the church, I offer other different didactic and experiential opportunities for expression of feelings, thoughts, joy, grief, hope and love such as sidewalk chalk art and a fun team-building activity using parachutes, offered for all ages.
The Clementa Pinckney Health Fair offers a day of not only life-giving health care information but, in my experience, a broader life-giving day of evangelism, ecumenical community outreach, relationship nurturing and healing for all.
In August 2021, one Mother Emmanuel Church member shared with me: “Our hurt and pain is still there even though it has been six years because it was so unexpected.”