By Willis J. Britt

Several districts and superintendents of the Mississippi Conference joined to promote this health initiative. Each challenged the pastors of the district to collectively "walk to Bethlehem" between Nov. 1 and Dec. 25, 2004.  The collective goal in each district became 6,740 miles, the "land miles" from Jackson, Miss., to Bethlehem.

The hope was to draw nearer to the Christ of Bethlehem and to complete the journey to a healthier lifestyle.  As such, this program encouraged wholeness of body, mind and soul.

Some 75 pastors in the three districts chose to participate. Each pastor was accountable to himself or herself (and God). Daily scripture verses and hymns and carols for each week were apart of the program.  Pastors were to reflect on the verses while walking toward their goal and Bethlehem.

Several pastors, including the Rev. Fred Brown of Columbus, provided great testimonies (see article below). 

This 2005 health initiative is a walking program for the Charge Conference season called "circuit-striders." Eight weekly devotional guides were mailed, with scriptures for each day and a suggested hymn of the week.

--Willis J. Britt, superintendent, West Jackson District, Mississippi Annual Conference

Testimony from the Rev. Fred Brown

(West Jackson District Superintendent Willis J. Britt) presented it to the ministers and anyone else who needed to walk to Bethlehem.

We started in Advent. We were to choose our own mileage and to let Willis know what it was. I began two weeks after it started. I chose to walk 75 miles in three weeks.

It proved quite helpful to me. I had a walking machine, but I hadn't used it -- hadn't walked five miles on it. I walked three to four times a week. I would do three to four miles every day to qualify; sometimes I had to do six or seven miles.

Prior to my walking, about six to eight months earlier, my cholesterol was 249 or 247. When I checked it at Annual Conference in June, it was 197. I avoided having to take medication.

I adjusted my eating. I even felt better. Going up stairs was much easier. When I first started walking my chest felt tight, and it relaxed. I streamlined and lost a little weight

I was serving as administrative to the bishop in Jackson and retired in June. I'm now in Columbus as pastor of St. James United Methodist Church, serving in a retired relationship.

It worked for me. It was a blessing to me to become part of the program.