Healthy Communities in an Epidemic of Loneliness

By Nancy Gatlin

By now most if not all of us have heard about the 2023 report by Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the Surgeon General, that an epidemic of loneliness has hit this country. The data shows how damaging loneliness can be to our health. It is similar to smoking 15 cigarettes per day; it is a greater risk to our health than obesity and inactivity.

“Ah,” we say, “thankfully we live in community or are part of a very engaged church. Loneliness is out there among other folks who are not so connected.” True that Christian community offers an antidote to this epidemic, and yet loneliness and a lack of connection can also be present among us.

Our collective rhythms, our gatherings, in some cases a common purse or other forms of economic sharing are structures that can make it easier to be connected. We are part of things that matter and bring meaning and purpose to our lives, but these still are not guarantees that each and every member of our communities is aware and satisfied with his or her sense of belonging to the whole group.

If we’re honest with ourselves, we also know that most of our communities have at one point or another experienced some poor health. By God’s grace, this disease may have only lasted for a season before we were able to return to joy and unity, even with a diversity of opinions or perspectives. Often, these seasons of being unwell have been brought on by abuse of power, lack of spiritual maturity, mental illness, or busyness that can cause some to feel neglected, especially the quiet ones.

There is an undeniable relationship between the health of each individual in the community or church and the health of the community or church as a whole. After all, each of our communities and churches are collections of broken brothers and sisters. We are hopefully finding healing, but it is a process. We’re all at different places on our journeys. Structures and projects are important but they are not the indicators of community health.

Consider the times when you yourself experienced loneliness or didn’t feel very connected in your community. Are you aware of the reasons? What was Christ calling you to do or be in order to grow into health? What might another brother or sister have done that helped you get unstuck? What are the collective rhythms we can engage that take into account the individuals that form our communities and churches?

Each year I have a physical exam. My doctor doesn’t just look at me and say, “You look great! You look healthy!” She tests the fluids in my body, my heart, my BP, my lungs, my weight, and asks a lot of questions about my life. Each part of me will determine my overall health.

What are the ways we do or could do community or church check-ups? Some of our communities have “visitations” every few years. Perhaps, annual community check-ups would be helpful as well, when each community would do this internally. Beyond the check-up, there needs to be a commitment to follow through and encourage accountability. Nothing less than the witness of the body of Christ is at stake.

As we anticipate and prepare for our international NCN gathering on the theme Healthy Communities in an Epidemic of Loneliness, October 11-14, 2024, we encourage conversations and reflection on this topic in your own community or church. We will be sharing pieces here on specific aspects of healthy communities. We pray that God’s spirit will speak to each of us, calling us towards greater awareness, mutual care and faithfulness.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers and sisters live together in unity! … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life evermore.” Psalm 133: 1, 3b

Nancy Gatlin

Nancy is a co-founder and member of Hope Fellowship in Waco, and is serving on the NCN leadership team.