Episode 009: Tony Schiavone, Faith, Community and Health: A Pastor's Perspective On Cultivating Wellness

In Episode 009 of A Medicinal Mind: Wisdom and Well-Being, we share space with Charlottesville Virginia advocate and visionary leader behind Cornerstone Community Church, Pastor Tony Schiavone.
 
It would take much too long to share all of Tony’s background, accomplishments and the innumerable ways in which Tony has inspired my being, so I will distill down his passionate work and impactful presence into a single sentence: Tony has opened my heart to experience the joys of renewed relationship with Christ and a life unburdened by the fears or never completely knowing.
 
Sharing his wisdom each Sunday and holding a nourishing space for growth every second in between, Tony has been a passionate leader in my local church: Cornerstone Community Church, pushing the boundaries of what the modern church can offer a community of open and engaged believers.​

In this deeply personal and touching conversation, Tony shares his background in the church community, growing up in a large church-going, New York family where faith would never take the back seat.


We then explore:

• The beauty and importance of children-our youth as both an inspiration and foundation for growing one’s faith and expanding one’s capacity to serve others

We then ask and explore explore some interesting question

• What is the role of the Church in building community and fostering well being?Is the Church simply some a place to come on Sunday’s for spiritual and religious guidance?
• How can the Church support all aspects of one’s health including physical, focusing on lifestyle habits: diet, nutrition, sleep, stress management, and social connection?
• What is the history of the Church as a source for early medical care? Is the Church the ideal place for healing: a space to be vulnerable and healed when compared to a doctor’s office that is often a place of unease, fear, or concern.

And to start to blur the lines of spiritual counsel vs. physical “healer” and how health is truly created at the community level we ask:
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• Who really is a Pastor? Or a Physician? Can a Pastor or clergyman become a physical healer and a doctor become someone who supports another’s spiritual flourishing and personal growth?
• Can we expect to be healed by miracles or does God heal and work through us by planting seeds for a process of growth?

And lastly Tony shares his vision and work within the church answering the question
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• How is Cornerstone Community Church seeking to relieve suffering and promote flourishing in our local Charlottesville community and areas far beyond?

While you may not find much “medicine” in this conversation, I think you will discover a wealth of new questions and opportunities to reflect, no matter your spiritual background or religious beliefs.

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