About Us

Through God’s direction, the Cancer Support & Wellness Ministry provides support to those who have been diagnosed with cancer or are recovering, their loved ones, and caregivers, by uplifting them with prayer, sharing encouragement and personal testimonies of faith and survival, providing essential resources, and offering comforting messages of hope and trust in the Word of God.
The ministry consists of members who are survivors, caregivers, family, friends, and neighbors. We are not trained professionals and do not offer medical advice. The goal of this ministry is to raise cancer awareness by providing materials detailing information from professional organizations on various types of cancers, treatments, prevention, and annual screenings guidelines. The ministry provides impactful literature on wellness, emotional, and educational workshops that are designed to help loved ones deal with the physical challenges of cancer. When requested, the ministry can assist in compiling a list of contacts of local cancer survivors care groups. We also present experts in the field as guest speakers at our educational programs each year.

Mission

Through God’s direction, the Cancer Support Ministry provides support to those who have been diagnosed with cancer or are recovering, their loved ones, and caregivers, by uplifting them with prayer, sharing encouragement and personal testimonies of faith and survival, providing essential resources, and offering comforting messages of hope and trust in the Word of God.  The goal of this ministry is to raise cancer awareness by providing education on the various kinds of cancer, treatment and prevention, as well as the importance of doctor’s visits and annual examinations. We solicit the expertise of professionals in the field to come in to speak with the Ministry and encourage personal testimonies of faith and survival. The Ministry’s efforts focus on the importance of witnessing to those who have cancer and have not accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Our Initiatives

  • Our Cancer Spiritual Support Team responds to requests from Bishop and/or Elders to contact SSBC members who have been diagnosed with cancer to offer support, comfort, and hope. Offering spiritual support may help to strengthened their faith by talking to those who are cancer survivors or have loved ones who are survivors. Several of our ministry members have joined this team.
  • We have an annual Cancer Awareness Program for our church members as well as members of the community. Each year we have speakers from the medical field as well as presenters to give their personal testimony as a survivor. We provide literature and attendees have a chance to participate in Q&A sessions with the speakers. We are committed to raising cancer awareness so that people are encouraged to get screenings which can lead to early detection.
  • We partner with Hope Connections for Cancer Support. This organization provides free programs, information, and support groups to cancer survivors. Hope Connections provides the consortium grant, and helps to find speakers for our ministry programs. We participate each year in the Hope Connections Community Health Fair at Tanger Outlets with a resources table.
  • The first Sunday in October is SSBC Pink Sunday. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so with Bishop’s permission, we have designated this day to ask SSBC members to wear pink in honor of breast cancer survivors and to recognize those who are fighting this battle. We have an information table in the church vestibule on breast cancer and our ministry members are there to talk to those who stop by.
  • Our ministry represents SSBC on a Faith-Based Cancer Information Consortium where we work with several local churches to plan and implement monthly programs that we offer to the Prince George’s Community on cancers with professional speakers. Most of the programs are virtual and give the attendees an opportunity to interact with the speakers. We also support the programs and activities of the churches that are a part of the consortium.
  • The first Sunday in October is SSBC Pink Sunday. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so with Bishop’s permission, we have designated this day to ask SSBC members to wear pink in honor of breast cancer survivors and to recognize those who are fighting this battle. We have an information table in the church vestibule on breast cancer and our ministry members are there to talk to those who stop by.
  • We attend monthly virtual meetings of Hands of Hope for Caregivers and recommend this organization to anyone in need of caregiving information.
  • We also lead in the SSBC fundraising effort for the St. Jude Research Hospital, SSBC Sunday of Hope.

Helpful Links

Ask the Experts
Adventist Health Care
https://www.adventistcancercenters.com/acc/locations/
Adventist HealthCare, based in Gaithersburg, Md., is a faith-based, not-for-profit organization of dedicated professionals who work together each day to improve the health and well-being of people and communities through a ministry of physical, mental and spiritual healing.

American Cancer Society
Phone: (800) 227-2345
https://www.cancer.org
We are a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. We are improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support, to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. 

Faith Based Cancer Education Consortium
Contact: Minster Deborah Johnson St. Paul United Methodist Church
deborahj8888@gmail.com

Hope Connections for Cancer Support
https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org/
We help you attend to your emotional well-being, so you can deal more effectively with your disease. We have so many activities to relieve isolation and stress as well as providing you with the information you need! Most importantly, we are a community that can connect you with others going through experiences like yours. While our professionally facilitated services are free of charge we think that the emotional support, education and wellness they provide is priceless.
Luminis Health Doctor’s Community Hospital
https://www.luminishealth.org/en/services/cancer-care
Take control of your health with our free community clinics offering essential screenings like A1C, cholesterol, and blood pressure to help you stay proactive and informed.

National Cancer Institute
Phone: 1-800-4-CANCER
Email:NCIInfo@nih.gov
https://cancercontrol.cancer.gov
The Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) has the lead responsibility at NCI for supporting research in cancer surveillance, epidemiology, health services, behavioral science, and cancer survivorship. The multifaceted science funded and conducted by DCCPS also plays a central role on issues such as obesity, tobacco control, healthcare delivery, statistical methods, and the translation of research into practice. The Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences both generates new knowledge and seeks to ensure that the products of cancer control research are effectively applied. Through innovative research initiatives, leadership, and the synthesis of knowledge and its dissemination, we are building this program to be the nation's model for cancer control science.

St. Jude Research Hospital
Phone: (866) 278-5833
https://www.stjude.org
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.  Because of your support, we can provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance. The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.

University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center
https://www.umms.org
As Maryland's health care champion, the University of Maryland Medical System brings together clinical care, research and education to ensure patients across the state have access to the highest levels of care. At the center of our health network is the nationally-renowned University of Maryland Medical Center. Here, physicians deliver highly specialized, innovative care, and, along with experts from the University of Maryland School of Medicine, discover new ways to advance medicine and train the next generation of health professionals.
Emotional Well-Being After a Cancer Diagnosis
Hands of Hope Caregivers Foundation
https://handsofhopecaregivers.org
To provide high level support to caregivers who are often a forgotten group by providing recreational activities and delivering quality community-based resources and services. Hands Of Hope Caregivers Foundation (HOHCF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) service and advocacy organization that was formed in 2011 by co-founders Patricia J. Morris, LICSW and Steven Morris, M.Ed out of a personal desire to recognize and help caregivers in Prince George's County Maryland. We are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of professionals in the fields of social services, government, outreach, education and management. To provide high level support to caregivers who are often a forgotten group by providing recreational activities and delivering quality community-based resources and services.

Hands of Hope Caregivers Foundation Caregivers Meetings
4th Saturdays at 1pm
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9607280957?pwd=cExrRnI4bnhEMXo3K1hhTzBYY1hyZz09
Meeting ID: 960 728 0957 and Passcode: 5ppJ51

Hope Connections for Cancer Support
https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org/
We help you attend to your emotional well-being, so you can deal more effectively with your disease. We have so many activities to relieve isolation and stress as well as providing you with the information you need! Most importantly, we are a community that can connect you with others going through experiences like yours. While our professionally facilitated services are free of charge we think that the emotional support, education and wellness they provide is priceless.

Exercise, Meditate, Recreate!
Giant Food
https://map.thefoodtrust.org/programs/giant-healthy-living-maryland/
Giant offers in-store nutritionists and registered dietitians who provide a range of services, including one-on-one consultations, store tours, and educational classes.
  • Taking care of yourself
  • Staying active
  • Cooking
  • Nutritionist
There is selection of resources in-house, but if you need assistance, please contact one of the resources listed.
  • Wellness wheel = physical, emotional, nutritional, intellectual, social
  • Why Movement Matters
  • Yoga
  • Meditation
  • Stressing Relief

Join Us!

Our meeting dates are the first Saturdays of each month at 9AM, mostly by conference call, but we are planning some zoom meetings and in-house meetings as well.

Questions? Please contact us at cancersupport@ssbcmd.org.
Deaconess Cassandra Larkins, Ministry Leader
Sister Tasya Jones, Ministry Vice Chair
Sister Gwen Lawrence, Ministry Secretary