First Mount Zion Baptist Church Spiritual Cancer Support Group

With many of his congregation affected by cancer, Dr. Luke E. Torian, pastor of First Mount Zion Baptist Church (FMZBC) in Dumfries, Virginia, saw a need to establish a cancer support group. His vision was to provide a safe, caring and spiritually supportive place for cancer patients and their loved ones with a mission to empower and support people touched by cancer.

In March 2009, Pastor Torian invited Rev. Percy McCray from the Zion, Illinois facility of Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA)  to provide an Our Journey of Hope (OJOH) lay ministry training to the deacons, deaconesses, associate ministers and the health ministry at the church.  Rev. McCray’s day-long presentation helped First Mount Zion Baptist Church successfully launch their cancer support group.

Eighteen months later, Pastor Torian invited CTCA back to conduct further OJOH lay ministry trainings. Rev. Dr. Michael Barry and Pastor Wendell Scanterbury from the CTCA Philadelphia hospital conducted these trainings and gave support to the church's cancer support group, as well as to other local churches from around the area. In all, approximately 150 volunteers have been trained through the OJOH lay ministry training program since that first training in 2009.

The Spiritual Cancer Support Group of First Mount Zion Baptist Church meets once a month for participants to discuss their feelings, struggles and successes.  Each month, approximately 30 cancer patients and caregivers attend and cover topics including coping with cancer and the side effects of medications and treatment options. This support group is very diverse and consists of members from the local community, including leadership from Bethlehem Baptist Church, Bethel United Methodist Church, Sacred Heart Catholic Church and other local churches. Funding for this ministry is provided through the church budget, and meetings are led by unpaid volunteers, dedicated to the cause.

First Mount Zion Baptist Church feels blessed to have received training from CTCA, as they strongly believe in offering their members many options to help them gain control of their cancer treatment. They provide their members with information on early detection, cancer screening, clinical trials, treatment options and more. In 2011, the First Mount Zion Baptist Church Spiritual Cancer Support Group would also like to participate in more community outreach programs to help provide funds for cancer research and awareness.