Principles & Practice of Health Evangelism
Chapter 11
Program Location
Textbook pages 83-94
Health evangelism programs have been conducted in a variety of settings. Success depends to a large degree on the venue you choose. In my estimation, the ideal location for conducting health evangelism programs is in the local church. There are many advantages to using the local church. But the most important reason is outlined here:
The local church is the Christian’s home. The local church holds a congregation of saints. The local church has dedicated people who know the Lord. The local church has people with the gifts of service and compassion who know how to speak a word of encouragement, advice, support, and comfort for those who are struggling to overcome a harmful habit or addiction. You do not have these resources in any other setting.
Jesus valued the local church so highly that when Saul on the road to Damascus inquired, “What do You want me to do?” Acts 9:6 (NKJV) did not give Saul any personal instruction regarding his life work, but directed him to the local church.
“Jesus gave sanction to the authority of His organized church and placed Saul in connection with His appointed agencies on earth. Christ had now a church as His representative on earth, and to it belonged the work of directing the repentant sinner in the way of life…
The church has developed many modalities for spreading the gospel to the world, but there is only one place the Christian can call home, and that is the local church. Health evangelism needs a home base. Health evangelism needs a sponsoring institution. It should be the local church.
Health evangelism also needs a personal interface with those struggling to overcome habits and addictions. These should be local church members who themselves have experienced the healing power of Jesus in their lives. Health evangelism is more than information about healthful living, it is the power of God unto salvation from the health destroying snares of the Devil.
Here is one more illustration from Scripture to drive this point home. Cornelius, a Roman officer, was an honest seeker for truth. In answer to his prayers an angel was sent to give him instruction regarding salvation. Instead of the angel who came directly from the presence of Jesus sharing the truth about Jesus, heaven, and eternal life with Cornelius, the angel directed Cornelius to send for Simon Peter. The angel said,
Another advantage to using the local church: the building is empty and unused except for a few hours a week. The local church building is designed for group meetings. The sanctuary can be used for a large audience. Smaller health evangelism programs might be conducted in the fellowship hall or can be held in Sabbath School rooms. So, whether you plan big or small programs, the church can hold your crowd.
The price is also right. It is your church. You shouldn’t have to pay any rent to conduct a series of meetings there. Renting facilities elsewhere can be expensive. There will be a huge cost advantage to using your own local church for health evangelism.
Another big advantage of conducting health evangelism programs in your local church is that the Seventh-day Adventist church will get the visibility and credit for the program. The more you do for your community from the home base of your local church, the better the reputation your church will have. Ideally, your church reputation should advance to the point where anyone with any problem will first think of your Seventh-day Adventist church as the place to go for help.
Ownership is a big problem with health evangelism programs. Local church members need to realize that health evangelism is their program. Conducting health evangelism activities in the local church creates this ownership. Anything sponsored by and conducted in your local Seventh-day Adventist church is your program.
Health evangelism programs conducted away from the church will be perceived as only belonging to those few who are organizing and conducting the program. Church members will usually be neutral about such programs. To create a feeling of ownership on the part of church members, health evangelism program must be conducted in the local church.
Worse things can happen. If a health evangelism program is conducted off site, it is sometimes perceived in a negative light. The former Philadelphia Lifestyle Center is just such a case in point. It was a centrally situated old mansion located on a beautiful, wooded, five-acre estate in downtown Philadelphia. It was staffed by Dr. Vincent Gardner and his wife. There was very little support from anyone else.
The Lifestyle Center was conceived to be a cooperative effort of all the churches in the Philadelphia area. Programs for the public were conducted there on a regular basis. Church members from local churches provided some staff and program support. This effort struggled for a few years and eventually failed due to lack of consistent support from local churches.
I talked with a few of the local pastors about the situation. Pastors uniformly saw this health evangelism effort in a negative light. As their church members became involved in the Lifestyle Center, they were seen less and less in the local church. This had the effect of siphoning off talent from the local church.
Pastors were unhappy because their best and most active members were dividing their time between activities in the local church and the Lifestyle Center. This meant a net drain on the resources of each church involved. Pastors were against it.
This is an illustration of the ownership principle. If health evangelism programs had been conducted in local churches, the pastors might have been happier. They would see the church building used for community work. They would see non-Adventists coming to the Adventist Church on a regular basis. Pastors would see church members coming out to support “their” own programs. The pastors would have seen evangelistic possibilities in health evangelism.
Ownership of programs will only come about if programs are conducted in the local church with participation of local church members. You fail to establish ownership when health evangelism is conducted in outside settings.
- “The church is God's appointed agency for the salvation of men. It was organized for service, and its mission is to carry the gospel to the world. From the beginning it has been God's plan that through His church shall be reflected to the world His fullness and His sufficiency. The members of the church, those whom He has called out of darkness into His marvelous light, are to show forth His glory. The church is the repository of the riches of the grace of Christ; and through the church will eventually be made manifest, even to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places," the final and full display of the love of God. Ephesians 3:10.” Acts of the Apostles, 9
The local church is the Christian’s home. The local church holds a congregation of saints. The local church has dedicated people who know the Lord. The local church has people with the gifts of service and compassion who know how to speak a word of encouragement, advice, support, and comfort for those who are struggling to overcome a harmful habit or addiction. You do not have these resources in any other setting.
Jesus valued the local church so highly that when Saul on the road to Damascus inquired, “What do You want me to do?” Acts 9:6 (NKJV) did not give Saul any personal instruction regarding his life work, but directed him to the local church.
“Jesus gave sanction to the authority of His organized church and placed Saul in connection with His appointed agencies on earth. Christ had now a church as His representative on earth, and to it belonged the work of directing the repentant sinner in the way of life…
- “Jesus is the friend of sinners, and His heart is touched with their woe. He has all power, both in heaven and on earth; but He respects the means that He has ordained for the enlightenment and salvation of men; He directs sinners to the church, which He has made a channel of light to the world.
- When, in the midst of his blind error and prejudice, Saul was given a revelation of the Christ whom he was persecuting, he was placed in direct communication with the church which is the light of the world. In this case Ananias represents Christ, and also represents Christ's ministers upon the earth, who are appointed to act in His stead. In Christ's stead Ananias touches the eyes of Saul, that they may receive sight. In Christ's stead he places his hands upon him, and, as he prays in Christ's name, Saul receives the Holy Ghost. All is done in the name and by the authority of Christ. Christ is the fountain; the church is the channel of communication.” Acts of the Apostles, 122
The church has developed many modalities for spreading the gospel to the world, but there is only one place the Christian can call home, and that is the local church. Health evangelism needs a home base. Health evangelism needs a sponsoring institution. It should be the local church.
Health evangelism also needs a personal interface with those struggling to overcome habits and addictions. These should be local church members who themselves have experienced the healing power of Jesus in their lives. Health evangelism is more than information about healthful living, it is the power of God unto salvation from the health destroying snares of the Devil.
Here is one more illustration from Scripture to drive this point home. Cornelius, a Roman officer, was an honest seeker for truth. In answer to his prayers an angel was sent to give him instruction regarding salvation. Instead of the angel who came directly from the presence of Jesus sharing the truth about Jesus, heaven, and eternal life with Cornelius, the angel directed Cornelius to send for Simon Peter. The angel said,
- "Send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon." Thus God gave evidence of His regard for the gospel ministry and for His organized church. The angel was not commissioned to tell Cornelius the story of the cross. A man subject, even as the centurion himself, to human frailties and temptations, was to be the one to tell him of the crucified and risen Saviour.
- “As His representatives among men, God does not choose angels who have never fallen, but human beings, men of like passions with those they seek to save. Christ took humanity that He might reach humanity. A divine-human Saviour was needed to bring salvation to the world. And to men and women has been committed the sacred trust of making known "the unsearchable riches of Christ." Ephesians 3:8.
- “In His wisdom the Lord brings those who are seeking for truth into touch with fellow beings who know the truth. It is the plan of Heaven that those who have received light shall impart it to those in darkness. Humanity, drawing its efficiency from the great Source of wisdom, is made the instrumentality, the working agency, through which the gospel exercises its transforming power on mind and heart.” Acts of the Apostles 134
Another advantage to using the local church: the building is empty and unused except for a few hours a week. The local church building is designed for group meetings. The sanctuary can be used for a large audience. Smaller health evangelism programs might be conducted in the fellowship hall or can be held in Sabbath School rooms. So, whether you plan big or small programs, the church can hold your crowd.
The price is also right. It is your church. You shouldn’t have to pay any rent to conduct a series of meetings there. Renting facilities elsewhere can be expensive. There will be a huge cost advantage to using your own local church for health evangelism.
Another big advantage of conducting health evangelism programs in your local church is that the Seventh-day Adventist church will get the visibility and credit for the program. The more you do for your community from the home base of your local church, the better the reputation your church will have. Ideally, your church reputation should advance to the point where anyone with any problem will first think of your Seventh-day Adventist church as the place to go for help.
Ownership is a big problem with health evangelism programs. Local church members need to realize that health evangelism is their program. Conducting health evangelism activities in the local church creates this ownership. Anything sponsored by and conducted in your local Seventh-day Adventist church is your program.
Health evangelism programs conducted away from the church will be perceived as only belonging to those few who are organizing and conducting the program. Church members will usually be neutral about such programs. To create a feeling of ownership on the part of church members, health evangelism program must be conducted in the local church.
Worse things can happen. If a health evangelism program is conducted off site, it is sometimes perceived in a negative light. The former Philadelphia Lifestyle Center is just such a case in point. It was a centrally situated old mansion located on a beautiful, wooded, five-acre estate in downtown Philadelphia. It was staffed by Dr. Vincent Gardner and his wife. There was very little support from anyone else.
The Lifestyle Center was conceived to be a cooperative effort of all the churches in the Philadelphia area. Programs for the public were conducted there on a regular basis. Church members from local churches provided some staff and program support. This effort struggled for a few years and eventually failed due to lack of consistent support from local churches.
I talked with a few of the local pastors about the situation. Pastors uniformly saw this health evangelism effort in a negative light. As their church members became involved in the Lifestyle Center, they were seen less and less in the local church. This had the effect of siphoning off talent from the local church.
Pastors were unhappy because their best and most active members were dividing their time between activities in the local church and the Lifestyle Center. This meant a net drain on the resources of each church involved. Pastors were against it.
This is an illustration of the ownership principle. If health evangelism programs had been conducted in local churches, the pastors might have been happier. They would see the church building used for community work. They would see non-Adventists coming to the Adventist Church on a regular basis. Pastors would see church members coming out to support “their” own programs. The pastors would have seen evangelistic possibilities in health evangelism.
Ownership of programs will only come about if programs are conducted in the local church with participation of local church members. You fail to establish ownership when health evangelism is conducted in outside settings.
Is Using the Local Church a Barrier for the Public?
Conducting health evangelism programs in the local church is not threatening for non-church members during “off hours” when regularly scheduled religious services are not scheduled. It is one thing to invite your neighbor to come to church on Sabbath or to a full set of evangelistic meetings and quite another to invite your neighbor to a cooking class or weight control program during the week.
Your neighbors might be reluctant to come to your church if they know they are going to be indoctrinated. They will be less reluctant to come to your church for a program designed to help them with health problems. Your neighbors are much more likely to go to your church for a health program than they are to go there for spiritual services.
Neighbors are also a curious lot. While coming to your church for a health evangelism program, they will want to look the facilities over. This should be welcomed. If your program is not being conducted in the sanctuary, you should have the sanctuary lights on low, perhaps the temperature adjusted to a comfortable level to encourage lingering a bit longer in the place of worship. It is nice to arrange for someone to be practicing the organ or playing the piano at the time of your meetings so that your participants can hear strains of music that will be familiar to them or at least create the comforting atmosphere expected in church.
When the time comes to invite your neighbors to church for spiritual services, it will be easier if they have already been there, if they have sat in the pews, heard sweet music, and have looked through your hymnal.
The best reason to conduct health evangelism programs in the local church is because it is the Christian’s home. We are in the business of bringing people home. Let’s get our neighbors and friends there as soon as possible. If they come to the church for a health evangelism program, they are almost home. If they come back time after time for a health program, they gradually become comfortable attending your church for non-Sabbath services. For these people, it will be a painless transition to come back again on the Sabbath to worship with you.
Finally, Churches provide an ideal location for conducting health evangelism because of the sheer number of churches available for such purposes. The church operates more than 50,000 churches in about 200 countries. Health evangelism may be conducted elaborately in some large churches and in a humbler way in small churches, but with so many churches available, it seems the primary setting for health evangelism should be the local church.
This is not to say that health evangelism should never be conducted in a high school auditorium, hospital conference room or in Lifestyle Centers, I am just saying that all such activity will be limited in scope and influence. If we want health evangelism to reach millions, it must be conducted in local churches.
Of course, there are some disadvantages to conducting health evangelism programs in the local church. These problems are real but do not present an insurmountable barrier to the success of health evangelism. In several cases, the problems represent unique situations where health evangelism can correct the problem, thus improving the situation of the local church.
One significant problem has to do with the basic reputation of some churches. In some communities, there is considerable hostility against Seventh-day Adventists. Under these circumstances it might seem that conducting health evangelism programs in some other setting would be preferable to conducting programs in the local church building.
Perhaps the Seventh-day Adventist church in your community has a poor reputation because you have never consistently offered any services that the community found to be of any value. The only way to change your standing is to begin to offer some service to the community that will be valued by the community.
Another objection to conducting health evangelism programs in the local church has to do with the location of the church. Some churches are on back streets, off the beaten path or in an undesirable neighborhood. These undesirable features are used as an argument to conduct health evangelism programs in a more favorable location. Even this objection is easy to overcome.
My first full-time health evangelism assignment was at the Seventh-day Adventist church in Towson Maryland. The church was not attractive. The “sanctuary” was in the basement of the parsonage and would comfortably seat about 90 people in the padded stackable chairs that took the place of pews. The church was located on a back road.
The pastor suggested we hold the program in a local school auditorium which was more conveniently located and would avoid identification with Seventh-day Adventists. I wanted to utilize church members and draw attention to our local church, so I insisted we use the church. The pastor appeared to be insightful as only 12 smokers showed up for our first program.
Our next 5-Day plan was scheduled just one month later. The pastor was even more insistent that we conduct the program at a local school auditorium, but I resisted. At the second 5-Day Plan we had just over 30 smokers attend.
The third 5-Day plan conducted in that little church basement off the beaten path brought out 90 smokers who wanted to quit. The reputation of the church had changed. It was a source of valuable help for the community despite its unfavorable location.
All our programs from that time forward were well attended. If your plan is to conduct only one health evangelism program, and you want to maximize the number of those who attend, you should conduct your program in the most public place possible. However, this will not have lasting impact on the reputation of the local Seventh-day Adventist church.
It may be slower, but it is a surer way to success if you conduct your health evangelism in the local church no matter how remote or isolated the location. It will take several programs to change your reputation in the community, but the change will come. The word will get out. “If you want help go to the Seventh-day Adventist church. They really help people.”
Some churches are in a physically rundown condition. You may be embarrassed by the shabby condition of your church. This makes you reluctant to conduct any public meetings there. The prospect of inviting the public to your church creates the perfect reason to fix up the place. God’s house doesn’t need to be fancy, but it should be clean and neat.
The size of the church building may also be a concern. You could service a larger crowd in a larger facility. Here is an error. There will be a further development of this concept later, but you do not want to invite more people to your program than you can come close to. If your church is small and you only have a few members, you do not really want a large turn out to a health evangelism program.
Much of the effectiveness of health evangelism comes from the one-on-one relationships that are formed between members and the public. A large turnout in a large facility serviced by only a few church members would defeat this purpose. The size of the facility used for health evangelism purposes should match the number of those who are available to help.
In short, small churches should plan on small programs for small groups until their numbers grow to the point where the whole church is ready to move to a larger facility. Big programs conducted by a few people that lack opportunities for one-on-one interactions have a net negative effect on the reputation of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Your neighbors might be reluctant to come to your church if they know they are going to be indoctrinated. They will be less reluctant to come to your church for a program designed to help them with health problems. Your neighbors are much more likely to go to your church for a health program than they are to go there for spiritual services.
Neighbors are also a curious lot. While coming to your church for a health evangelism program, they will want to look the facilities over. This should be welcomed. If your program is not being conducted in the sanctuary, you should have the sanctuary lights on low, perhaps the temperature adjusted to a comfortable level to encourage lingering a bit longer in the place of worship. It is nice to arrange for someone to be practicing the organ or playing the piano at the time of your meetings so that your participants can hear strains of music that will be familiar to them or at least create the comforting atmosphere expected in church.
When the time comes to invite your neighbors to church for spiritual services, it will be easier if they have already been there, if they have sat in the pews, heard sweet music, and have looked through your hymnal.
The best reason to conduct health evangelism programs in the local church is because it is the Christian’s home. We are in the business of bringing people home. Let’s get our neighbors and friends there as soon as possible. If they come to the church for a health evangelism program, they are almost home. If they come back time after time for a health program, they gradually become comfortable attending your church for non-Sabbath services. For these people, it will be a painless transition to come back again on the Sabbath to worship with you.
Finally, Churches provide an ideal location for conducting health evangelism because of the sheer number of churches available for such purposes. The church operates more than 50,000 churches in about 200 countries. Health evangelism may be conducted elaborately in some large churches and in a humbler way in small churches, but with so many churches available, it seems the primary setting for health evangelism should be the local church.
This is not to say that health evangelism should never be conducted in a high school auditorium, hospital conference room or in Lifestyle Centers, I am just saying that all such activity will be limited in scope and influence. If we want health evangelism to reach millions, it must be conducted in local churches.
Of course, there are some disadvantages to conducting health evangelism programs in the local church. These problems are real but do not present an insurmountable barrier to the success of health evangelism. In several cases, the problems represent unique situations where health evangelism can correct the problem, thus improving the situation of the local church.
One significant problem has to do with the basic reputation of some churches. In some communities, there is considerable hostility against Seventh-day Adventists. Under these circumstances it might seem that conducting health evangelism programs in some other setting would be preferable to conducting programs in the local church building.
Perhaps the Seventh-day Adventist church in your community has a poor reputation because you have never consistently offered any services that the community found to be of any value. The only way to change your standing is to begin to offer some service to the community that will be valued by the community.
Another objection to conducting health evangelism programs in the local church has to do with the location of the church. Some churches are on back streets, off the beaten path or in an undesirable neighborhood. These undesirable features are used as an argument to conduct health evangelism programs in a more favorable location. Even this objection is easy to overcome.
My first full-time health evangelism assignment was at the Seventh-day Adventist church in Towson Maryland. The church was not attractive. The “sanctuary” was in the basement of the parsonage and would comfortably seat about 90 people in the padded stackable chairs that took the place of pews. The church was located on a back road.
The pastor suggested we hold the program in a local school auditorium which was more conveniently located and would avoid identification with Seventh-day Adventists. I wanted to utilize church members and draw attention to our local church, so I insisted we use the church. The pastor appeared to be insightful as only 12 smokers showed up for our first program.
Our next 5-Day plan was scheduled just one month later. The pastor was even more insistent that we conduct the program at a local school auditorium, but I resisted. At the second 5-Day Plan we had just over 30 smokers attend.
The third 5-Day plan conducted in that little church basement off the beaten path brought out 90 smokers who wanted to quit. The reputation of the church had changed. It was a source of valuable help for the community despite its unfavorable location.
All our programs from that time forward were well attended. If your plan is to conduct only one health evangelism program, and you want to maximize the number of those who attend, you should conduct your program in the most public place possible. However, this will not have lasting impact on the reputation of the local Seventh-day Adventist church.
It may be slower, but it is a surer way to success if you conduct your health evangelism in the local church no matter how remote or isolated the location. It will take several programs to change your reputation in the community, but the change will come. The word will get out. “If you want help go to the Seventh-day Adventist church. They really help people.”
Some churches are in a physically rundown condition. You may be embarrassed by the shabby condition of your church. This makes you reluctant to conduct any public meetings there. The prospect of inviting the public to your church creates the perfect reason to fix up the place. God’s house doesn’t need to be fancy, but it should be clean and neat.
The size of the church building may also be a concern. You could service a larger crowd in a larger facility. Here is an error. There will be a further development of this concept later, but you do not want to invite more people to your program than you can come close to. If your church is small and you only have a few members, you do not really want a large turn out to a health evangelism program.
Much of the effectiveness of health evangelism comes from the one-on-one relationships that are formed between members and the public. A large turnout in a large facility serviced by only a few church members would defeat this purpose. The size of the facility used for health evangelism purposes should match the number of those who are available to help.
In short, small churches should plan on small programs for small groups until their numbers grow to the point where the whole church is ready to move to a larger facility. Big programs conducted by a few people that lack opportunities for one-on-one interactions have a net negative effect on the reputation of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
Spirit of Prophecy Quotations on the Local Church
The following testimonies from the pen of Ellen G. White recommended conducting health evangelism activities in every church in the land. Mrs. White suggests that the local church is the key institution for health evangelism.
The following quotation envisions a church educational effort that trains church members to provide both spiritual and health services for the community. A wide variety of activities are outlined in just a few sentences.
Mrs. White had a vision of the far-reaching influence of health evangelism. She saw it operating from the churches in “every place” and in “every city” staffed by “church members.”
The following quotation is very sobering because the problems created by conducting health work in venues other than the church have resulted in the very digressions from our primary purpose that were foretold. Today, health evangelism is not well organized. Health evangelism today is a strange assortment of efforts in a variety of settings. There is no unified vision. There is no consistency or clarity in the message proclaimed.
The local church is an ideal home base for health evangelism. There are many local churches, they are designed for group meetings, they are empty most of the time, they have a membership available to staff health evangelism programs, Christ pointed inquirers to the local church, and we have Spirit of Prophecy counsel that health evangelism should be found in every local church. It is time we see the obvious and get to work in the local church.
The following quotation envisions a church educational effort that trains church members to provide both spiritual and health services for the community. A wide variety of activities are outlined in just a few sentences.
- “Every church should be a training school for Christian workers. Its members should be taught how to give Bible readings, how to conduct and teach Sabbath-school classes, how best to help the poor and to care for the sick, how to work for the unconverted. There should be schools of health, cooking schools, and classes in various lines of Christian help work. There should not only be teaching, but actual work under experienced instructors. Let the teachers lead the way in working among the people, and others, uniting with them, will learn from their example. One example is worth more than many precepts.” The Ministry of Healing, p. 149.
Mrs. White had a vision of the far-reaching influence of health evangelism. She saw it operating from the churches in “every place” and in “every city” staffed by “church members.”
- “The medical missionary work is growing in importance, and claims the attention of the churches. It is a part of the gospel message, and must receive recognition. It is the heaven-ordained means of finding entrance to the hearts of people. It is the duty of our church members in every place to follow the instruction of the Great Teacher. The gospel message is to be preached in every city; for this is in accordance with the example of Christ and His disciples. Medical missionaries are to seek patiently and earnestly to reach the higher classes. If this work is faithfully done, professional men will become trained evangelists.” Medical Ministry, 241.
- “The Lord gave me light that in every place where a church was established, medical missionary work was to be done. But there was in the Battle Creek church a great deal of selfishness. Those at the very heart of the work indulged their own wishes in a way that dishonored God. Dr. Kellogg was not sustained in the health reform work, the importance of which had been kept before the church for thirty years. This work was hindered because of the feelings and prejudices of some in Battle Creek who were not disposed to conform their course of action to the Lord of God regarding health reform principles.” Battle Creek Letters, p 11.
The following quotation is very sobering because the problems created by conducting health work in venues other than the church have resulted in the very digressions from our primary purpose that were foretold. Today, health evangelism is not well organized. Health evangelism today is a strange assortment of efforts in a variety of settings. There is no unified vision. There is no consistency or clarity in the message proclaimed.
- “The medical missionary work should be a part of the work of every church in our land. Disconnected from the church, it would soon become a strange medley of disorganized atoms. It would consume, but not produce. Instead of acting as God's helping hand to forward His truth, it would sap the life and force from the church and weaken the message. Conducted independently, it would not only consume talent and means needed in other lines, but in the very work of helping the helpless apart from the ministry of the word, it would place men where they would scoff at Bible truth.” Counsels on Health, 514.
The local church is an ideal home base for health evangelism. There are many local churches, they are designed for group meetings, they are empty most of the time, they have a membership available to staff health evangelism programs, Christ pointed inquirers to the local church, and we have Spirit of Prophecy counsel that health evangelism should be found in every local church. It is time we see the obvious and get to work in the local church.