This paper describes the involvement of faith in healthy community efforts, highlighting Nebraska's plan to strengthen and transform public health at the state and local level. This involved expanding health promotion and disease prevention programs into nontraditional settings (schools, worksites, and churches). A faith team was organized to identify how faith communities could improve public health. Though the team has worked together 2 years, parish nursing and health ministry efforts have occurred in Nebraska for 12 years. A Health Ministry has been established, with the idea of creating a community-based outreach program to facilitate collaboration and commitment of health professionals and health-related organizations. The COME ALIVE Health Ministry of one Nebraska church was established to improve congregation members' quality of life and health through body, mind, and spirit. As part of the church family, volunteer health professionals provide a caring outreach of health education instruction, listening to members' needs, coordinating referrals, and facilitating the integration of faith and healthful living. This paper describes the creation of COME ALIVE, highlighting: team organization; gaining support; assessment and reassessment; program elements; selecting a name; drafting a mission statement; writing goals; selecting programs; establishing a timeline; implementation; and evaluation. (Contains 20 references.) (SM)