HEALTH TESTIMONY
Roosevelt agreed to share his testimony of how his life was changed after getting his blood pressure
checked at Rising Star Baptist church. He hopes it will help others improve their health.
INTRODUCTION, Mabel
Mr. Thomas thank you for agreeing to interview with us today. We are here today
for you to give your testimony about your health. Rising Star Missionary Baptist
Church (RSMBC) and Colorado Black Health Collaborative Inc. (CBHC)
collaborates together to help Colorado’s African American community become
healthier individuals through education, increasing awareness, and providing
opportunities for health services. Your testimony will be put on RSMBC and
CBHC websites.
Mabel /Joanne: Brother Roosevelt tell us a little bit about yourself, lifestyle,
eating habits, physical activity, etc.
Roosevelt: I’m 55 years old. I LOVE JESUS! He shines through me to help
other individuals. I love sports, all sports, basketball especially. I thought I was
going to the Pro’s. I played with all ages but drugs got the best of me and my life
changed. Eating habits, well, I like all foods. The only food I dislike is oatmeal. I
don’t do any physical activity.
Mabel/Joanne: What inspired you to get your Blood Pressure (BP) checked?
Roosevelt: The church, RSMBC Health Ministry. I never have gotten my BP
checked before, and you (Mabel) encouraged me to just get it checked to know
my numbers. Once I got it checked, whoa, it was shocking! It was shocking to
see both numbers, but the systolic was over 200. I didn’t know at the time what
that meant, but learned that it was at stroke level. I was glad to have gotten it
checked because men in general don’t like to go to the doctor and we need to
pay more attention to our health.
Mabel/Joanne: So once you saw the numbers, what did you do next?
Roosevelt: I was scared and went to the hospital that day. I was put on
medication. My job and the hospital spoke very highly of RSMBC for having a
health ministry and doing BP checks. I mean spoke very highly!
Mabel: Do you mind me asking the name of the company where you work?
Roosevelt: Deline Box Company
Joanne: Our church partnered with The Center for African American Health
(CAAH) about 14 years ago to encourage good health. That is how this ministry
came into inception. CBHC trained us on properly doing BP checks. We
conduct BP checks every 4th Sunday. A lot of people walk around and ignore
us; afraid to talk about their health.
Roosevelt: Yes, I know, I was one of them! (laughter in the room)
Mabel/Joanne: Do you have any family history of chronic diseases such as
diabetes, HBP, Heart disease, stroke, cancer, etc.?
Roosevelt: Yes, Grandmother had HBP; mom was diabetic; and uncle died in a
diabetic coma.
Joanne: Have you ever had your glucose checked?
Roosevelt: No
Joanne: You are at the age that things are going to start impacting your life. If
you have family history, which you do, you are at risk. So, you need to have that
blood test done. (a lot of conversation about different blood testing and
Roosevelt: Ok
Mabel: How has your life been impacted since getting your BP checked?
Roosevelt: I take life more serious; I’m more concerned with good eating habits,
better diet, and watch the foods I eat.
Joanne: What about salt?
Roosevelt: No, I don’t use a lot of salt.
Mabel/Joanne: How has the church played a role in your health?
Roosevelt: If it wasn’t for RSMBC, I wouldn’t have known my condition, they
were the reason for my findings.
Mabel/Joanne: HBP is called “the silent killer”; did you know that? Tell us how
you felt that day.
Roosevelt: I felt like someone was holding and clinching me; slight headache;
not severe but still something was there. No indication that something was going
on. No other symptoms.
Mabel/Joanne: What about exercise? How has your health been impacted
since getting your BP checked?
Roosevelt: No, I don’t exercise. I don’t have a whole lot of time. I should
exercise, the doctor told me to, but I don’t. I work long hours (10 – 12 hrs/day),
then use my extra time ministering to others.
Mabel/Joanne: God wants you to be healthy; you have to do for yourself. You
have to make time. Try to commit in 2016 to 10 minutes of walking per day. On
your lunch or break you can start off walking 10 minutes. You can walk/meditate
for a prayer walk; your body is your temple. You will start feeling better & will
probably increase to 20 minutes. Another suggestion, you can get your wife, turn
on the radio or play music and dance/march for 15 minutes. Make it fun! You
can include your entire family. We are here to help you!! (a lot of conversation in
the room on this topic for several minutes; trying to encourage him to incorporate
exercise in his life; examples were given as well as suggestions. The point is to
get into a habit of exercising because it helps with HBP, diabetes, and other
ailments & diseases. You have history; therefore getting exercise to 30 minutes
a day would be great.
Mabel: Do you think it’s beneficial to have the church continue the BP ministry?
Roosevelt: YES! A lot of people and men think like I did, think they are ok and
don’t understand what the effects are when you don’t get regular checkups.
Information is powerful!! Please continue to educate so that we can
understand health. Sometimes we feel like things are going to work itself out.
Mabel/Joanne: What would you like to tell other people about health?
Roosevelt: Trust GOD to help you heal. God will make you whole; follow
through with things.
Joanne: It’s great to trust God but there is more to come into play besides
trusting. Did you hear the message this morning? God made the doctor and
gave him the tools he/she needed to become the doctor. God gave the doctor
the education to help educate patients. More than just the WORD. (long
conversation about trusting God but also each individual has to do your role
pertaining to your health and God will help you in tough situation as you do what
you suppose to do and believe and have faith in him).
Joanne: I want to give you a free consult. I’m a registered Dietitian and want to
work with you. If you want to help yourself; it’s not just eating less, it’s your mind,
body, spirit, and soul. Its whole body wholeness, movement, psyche, and
drinking water. You can bring your wife and children.
Roosevelt: Thank You! I will accept your offer.
Mabel: Is there anything else you want to say?
Roosevelt: Yes. I feel great; no complaints. I will take my medication, lose
weight, live to be 120 years old, pay attention to my body internally & externally,
educate myself more on health, AND I want to get back on the basketball court
(laughter in the room).
My commitment for 2016:
- free nutritional consult
- 10 – 15 minutes of exercise each day
- would love to do an update later this year
Thank you for choosing me! It’s my life and it shows that the program cares.
Closing By Mabel:
Thank you for allowing us to get this testimony. We are going to share it, hope to
touch lives, and encourage others to be more aware of their health. We want to
be, as CBHC says, the healthiest black folks in Colorado and America!