CHARLOTTE, NC- Combining spiritual and health needs. More than a hundred black and Latino churches in Charlotte are using their influence to save lives.

Free weekly workouts are part of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church's health ministry.

"We were able to help 32 people within our church who had diabetes and get them free meters and testing strips that they now can utilize on a regular basis," said Edna Sherer, Pleasant Hill’s health coordinator.

Presbyterian Hospital takes care of the training. Church staff learns about the health issues members of their congregation face and the help that's available.

Presbyterian's Chaplain Harry Burns says it's about education in a community with big disparities.

"You don't have to have a heart attack, you don't have to have a stroke. You can exercise," said Burns.

Beyond an exercise class, Pleasant Hill built an indoor walking track so the congregation doesn't have an excuse not to get up and get moving.

Across town, the 500 member Latino church, Camino, has a free health clinic on its campus.

\ (Exec. Dir, Bethesda Health Center)- "The need is growing in the community because more people are losing jobs, and since the job, that means more stress, more sick, to have more health problems," said Wendy Mateo Bascual, executive director of the church’s health clinic.

 With some undocumented and afraid to go to government clinics, they turn to the church.

"They feel safe, they open up, and they can say... this is going on in my life," said Karina Runyan, Presbyterian’s health ministry educator.

The clinic's staff serves over two thousand patients, and plans to expand in March.

"To know that there are people there that are knowledgeable and can help them in their crisis... creates hope which provokes action and so, we've seen great outcomes with people changing their lifestyle," said Pastor Rusty Price.

Price says it's all about promoting a healthy mind, body, and spirit.

Both churches say prevention is key to reducing health care costs.  So they incorporate fitness, nutrition, vaccinations, and health screenings.