Excerpt: Faith-based groups have long been active in health-care delivery, most visibly through religion-based hospitals and running community clinics. In recent years, religious groups have expanded their forays into the health-care arena, and some are now looking for ways to set up formal, quasi-insurance organizations, funded by parish members, to help other parishioners pay their medical bills. 'I absolutely think it's the wave of the future,' said Representative Joe Armstrong of Tennessee. This is especially the case as more congregations combine into large mega-churches that serve thousands of parishioners. 'As they grow larger they will be looking to provide some level of care to fill a gap for people who aren't insured,' said Rep. Armstrong.

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