A vaccination event organized by Salem Baptist Church in Chicago. Photo courtesy of Salem Baptist Church
Talking about vaccines isn’t only important for the congregation itself. The ZIP code around Salem Baptist Church, about 10 miles south of Apostolic Faith Church, has been hit hard by the virus. Salem’s senior pastor, James Meeks, has been outspoken about vaccinations and about taking action to keep people safe during COVID-19. Denise Rogers, chief operating officer for Salem, said Meeks has also seen the toll that COVID-19 has taken on the community.
“He has done so many funerals this year from COVID-related deaths,” she said.
Salem, one of the largest congregations in Chicago, has made giving vaccines a regular part of its ministry to the community. The church has helped vaccinate more than 5,000 people, said Rogers, and has distributed more than 140,000 masks and 15,000 meals. Currently meeting for in-person worship two Sundays a month, it provides vaccinations during services and other church events.
“We try to do them every time the doors are open,” said Rogers.
Rogers has worked with Walgreens and with local health clinics to provide vaccines. She said Salem will work with any medical professionals willing to work on Sundays. Churches, she said, can be an important partner in addressing public health, especially in the Black community, because they are seen as trusted institutions.
They are also important gathering places, both for older members as well as their children and grandchildren, said Rogers.
Rogers hopes there will be more collaboration between churches and public health officials in the future.
“We have the people here, so come to the people,” she said.
Shaun Marshall, pastor of ministries at Salem, said that caring for people’s health — physically, emotionally and spiritually — is part of the core mission of the church and essentially biblical teaching. Facilitating vaccines, he said, is a way to help give people hope during a difficult time.
“I realize that people may have very different views and even strongly held opinions on the vaccine,” he said. “However, if there is a way for us to help people have the hope of not losing their lives or their loved ones to a virus we know has proven deadly, I think that the church should offer it, along with any other support we can to help people recover and communities to flourish.”
This article originally appeared here.
