For Simmons, the workshops provided the motivation to shed poor health habits and, ideally, prevent problems.
"I haven't been taking care of my body the way I really should have," Simmons said. "And now that I've reached the age of 51, it's beginning to turn on me.
Referring to health-care programs and seminars, he said: "I need to use it. Having it is no good if you don't use it."
Health, nutrition and fitness specialists were on hand yesterday, conducting workshops on diabetes education; nutrition and meal planning; health and fitness education; and stress management.
Outside the church an Independence Blue Cross van provided free blood-pressure and vision tests.
Jay Spencer, 57, took advantage of the tests, but his results weren't all that good. Spencer, a lifelong smoker, was told his blood pressure was high and that his vision was poor. He was advised to stop smoking and see an eye doctor.
The Rev. Vernal Simms Sr., leader of the Black Clergy of Philadelphia and Vicinity and pastor of Morris Brown A.M.E., said the health-care sessions were sorely needed.
Mr. Simms and the 400 churches that are part of the Black Clergy organization have gone even farther: Just as large companies are, the churches are offering health insurance to members.
"The problem is that people don't have it," Mr. Simms said. "There's no way to get it. And health care has skyrocketed.
"Since we have churches, we might as well come together and form a group," he said. "That way our members can receive the benefits of having a group plan and policy. They will get it as a large group as opposed to individually."
Mal and Sandra Turner heard about the health seminar and thought it would be wise to attend.
"We're over 50 now and we need to know more about things that pertain to our age, like heart attacks, stress, strokes and things like that," Sandra Turner said. "We're trying to get more awareness of living longer."
Mal Turner, who suffers from emphysema, worries about problems that have afflicted both sides of their family trees, such as obesity and diabetes.
"It's just a much-needed thing in our community," Sandra Turner said. "And I personally feel that we're not taking advantage of this."
Leonard N. Fleming's e-mail address is lfleming@phillynews.com.
