- Open by telling the story of someone who does not have health insurance and what that has meant for him/her.
- Mark 6:53-36 tells of crowds coming to Jesus and simply touching his garment in order to receive healing – certainly more cost-effective than our current system!
- Miraculous healings still happen, of course – but God also heals our brokenness through health care system. But right now, the system is broken and particularly leaves out those on the margins or with “pre-existing conditions.”
- Describe the broken state of our health care system: 47 million Americans lack health insurance. Another 16 million are underinsured. Annual health care costs in France are approximately US$3,300 per person, compared with $6,400 in the U.S. (2005). Yet, France was ranked first in a 2000 World Health Organization ranking of the world’s health care systems. The U.S. ranked 37th. More info here.
- Task of fixing system is huge and can seem impossible. But we can learn from Mark 6:35-52 that no task is impossible for God (in a span of 17 verses, Jesus feeds 5000 people, walks on water and calms a storm). The stories teach us that God helps us get beyond our limited ideas (vv. 35-37, 49-52) to envision a new reality—one based on generosity rather than scarcity, and trust rather than fear.
- Resources and guiding principles from Mennonite Church USA on health care:
- Guided by these principles, as Christians we can call for a health care system that works for everyone – suggest action steps (study, advocate to governmental officials, work at creatively providing for health care needs in local community).
MCC Washington Memo
A blog from the Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office
