Healthy Hearts, Healing Hands: Dr. Mark Cunningham is Bridging Faith and Medicine for a Healthier 76104 Morningside.

Healthy Hearts, Healing Hands: Dr. Mark Cunningham is Bridging Faith and Medicine for a Healthier 76104 Morningside. By Pastor Kyev Tatum, New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas | https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/north-texas-zip-code-76104-has-lowest-life-expectancy-in-state/

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” — 3 John 1:2

FORT WORTH, TEXAS - In the heart of Fort Worth’s Morningside community, where life expectancy stands at a heartbreaking 67 years—the lowest in all of Texas—Dr. Mark W. Cunningham Jr. is not just a doctor; he’s a movement. Dr. Cunningham is a dynamic force working tirelessly to blend faith and medicine to heal both body and soul. As a professor at the University of North Texas Health Science Center and a Pastor in Training at New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church, he is uniquely positioned to address the dire health disparities in the 76104 ZIP code.

His mission? To bring hope, healing, and wholeness to a community that has been hit hardest by health inequalities. And he’s doing it with unwavering faith, community support, and a wealth of knowledge. Dr. Cunningham’s work is an embodiment of Isaiah 61:1:

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted.”

A Crisis in Morningside

The statistics in 76104 are staggering. Despite being home to four major hospitals, large swathes of Morningside have no grocery store, no pharmacy, and little to no access to quality medical care. A study by UT Southwestern shows that Black men in this area face an even lower life expectancy than the already devastating average.

As Pastor Kyev Tatum, who grew up in this community, so powerfully shares:

“Out of the 11 people in our family that grew up in 76104, only four are still alive, and only one has lived beyond 64 years.”

The combination of poverty, trauma, and lack of access to healthcare has created a perfect storm for poor health. But Dr. Cunningham and Pastor Tatum are determined that this will not define the future of their community.

Faith in Action: The Health + Healing Hubs Initiative

Enter the Health + Healing Hubs—an exciting, game-changing initiative born out of the collaboration between the Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas, Healthier Texas, and Texas Health Resources. Together, we’re working to empower the Morningside community to take control of their health in a way that’s personal, culturally relevant, and faith-driven.

What You Can Expect at the Health + Healing Hubs:

• Trusted Health Support: Local residents are being trained and certified as Community Health Workers (CHWs) to provide one-on-one health coaching and resources.

• Faith-Based Wellness Activities: Get ready for weekly exercise classes, meal-prep sessions, and group health support gatherings hosted by local churches—because health is spiritual too!

• Health Monitoring & Education: We’re offering free screenings for blood pressure, diabetes, and other critical health indicators, along with vital nutrition education to make sure you’re equipped to make healthier choices.

• Access to Fresh Produce: Locally-sourced, fresh fruits and vegetables straight from urban farms and farmers’ markets, including Farm Fort Worth at New Mount Rose—because healthy eating starts with fresh, local food!

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” — Hosea 4:6

A Call to Action

The Health + Healing Hubs initiative is growing fast, but it’s not just about the work that’s been done. It’s about the work that still needs to be done—and it needs YOU. Join us every Thursday at 11 a.m. at New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church for the Morningside Promise Zone Coalition meeting. If you want to learn, help, or contribute, we need you!

Pastor Kyev Tatum says it best:

“We’re not shaming or blaming. We’re not even complaining. We’re explaining. But in reality, we need help. Period.”

Our Partners Are Here for You

The Health + Healing Hubs initiative is the result of strong, united partnerships. With the support of:

• University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth

• New Mount Rose, Christ Temple, and Greater True Light Missionary Baptist Churches

• The Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas

• Texas Health Resources

• Healthier Texas

Together, we are committed to making healthcare accessible, personalized, and culturally supportive for everyone in the Morningside and Stop Six communities.

Faith, Science, and the Future

In the words of Rev. Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays:

“Not failure, but low aim is sin.”

Through faith, science, and community action, Dr. Cunningham is proving that healing is possible when we come together. Just as Jesus healed the sick and ministered to the soul, Dr. Cunningham and the Health + Healing Hubs are bringing hope, restoration, and longevity to Fort Worth’s most vulnerable communities.

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.” — Jeremiah 17:14

For more information, please contact:

Rev. Kyev P. Tatum, Sr.

Pastor and Mediator

New Mount Rose Missionary Baptist Church

Ministers Justice Coalition of Texas

2864 Mississippi Avenue

Fort Worth, Texas 76104

817-966-7625 | kptatum1@gmail.com, 

www.newmountrose.com