Principles & Practice of Health Evangelism
Chapter 22
Narrowing the Field
Textbook pages 250-253
At the present time there are many types of health programs available to local churches. Many claim to be health evangelism programs. Some simply provide health information without monitoring or measuring any behavior change. Other programs screen for various risk factors for disease. Still other programs are interventional programs that aim to help people change harmful behaviors and learn to live a healthier lifestyle.
Some programs are short in duration and are completed in a day. Others run several days a week for up to a month. Some programs are free while others are expensive. Most health programs are privately owned. Some have a spiritual component and others are entirely secular. Most of these programs don’t systematically evaluate the health evangelism variables that I advocate in this book.
The Seventh-day Church does not manage, control, or evaluate health programming. Health ministries need better organization and guidance than they have had in the past. Here are my suggestions.
There needs to be a body of consultants established to develop and agree upon the essential elements of health evangelism. What is the difference between a health program and a health evangelism program? What spiritual elements need to be included in a health program for it to qualify as a health evangelism program?
These consultants should include individuals with diverse backgrounds. Experts are needed who can review the scientific validity of various programs to identify those that contain speculative health claims and/or questionable practices. The cost of programs should be evaluated to identify those that are excessively expensive. Theologians are needed to review the spiritual content of programs to see that they are true to scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy. Here are the primary elements that I feel need to be included in this process of evaluation.
Health Variables
The health information provided in each program should be current, correct, and accurate. Is the behavior change advocated reasonable and can it be safely recommended? Are the interventions advocated appropriate to a local church setting? Are there interventions that should be limited to a more sophisticated health care institution where more supervision by health professionals would be more appropriate?
Are risk factors and changes in behavior being documented? Is the frequency of meetings and duration of the program appropriate? Programs in local churches should not presume to treat specific medical conditions and should not prescribe drugs or advocate, dispense, or sell supplements. As a person’s health improves there will be a need to modify drug regimens. The church should enable people to live healthful lives but leave any required change in drug medication to the client’s health care provider.
Spiritual Variables
The most important feature of all health evangelism programs is to proclaim and explain how Jesus provides a person with the power to change. Health evangelism will provide for and measure Bible study. Health evangelism will advocate and explain prayer. The frequency of prayer can be measured. Health evangelism will be conducted in local Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Health evangelism will create a social/spiritual interface between church members and public participants.
Health evangelism programs will measure a person’s changes in spiritual practices and beliefs that result from the program. Health evangelism will measure the steps a person takes toward baptism. Health evangelism will measure the susceptibility of a program participant to attend evangelistic meetings. Health evangelism will calculate baptism rates, involvement in church activities and retention rates.
Social Variables
Church member involvement in health evangelism will be measured. What is the role of church members? Are church members passive observers? Do they model the advocated behavior? Are there small groups? Do church members facilitate small groups? Do church members contact program participants by phone, email, Facebook, or X (Twitter)? Do church members socialize with participants outside of the health evangelism program? Do they go grocery shopping with participants or share a meal with them at local restaurants? Is there in-home follow-up? How frequently and are follow-up activities carried out? How long are follow-up activities continued after a program?
Educational Variables
Are the educational tools used to communicate with the public appropriate? Is the use of visuals appropriate? Is there a skilled presentation of information through PowerPoint or video presentations? Is there an appropriate use of printed materials? Is there a workbook for participants? Is there a guide for small group leaders? Is there an appropriate use of contracts where participants commit to perform new behaviors? Are the lecture materials appropriate for the audience? These are some of the educational variables that need to be evaluated.
Ownership Variables
Who owns or controls the health evangelism program? Is the program owned by an individual, group, corporation, or the church? If it is owned by the church at what administrative level is the program owned?
Finance Variables
What does a program cost? What is the cost of attending a program for each participant? Where does the revenue stream go? Does the local church benefit? Does the revenue flow to the conference, union, or division? Does the profit flow to an individual or privately held corporation? What does the balance sheet of the corporation look like? What is the salary structure of the owners and employees?
Evaluation Variables
What data are collected by the health evangelism program? Are demographic data collected? Is there an evaluation of pre- and post-program changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices? Are risk factors and disease states documented? Are changes in risk factors and disease states evaluated? What is the duration of behavior changes? Are laboratory values measured and are changes documented over time? Are spiritual changes being documented? Are Bible study, prayer, and contacts with church members being documented? Is susceptibility to baptism, church activity, and resistance to apostasy being measured?
Is evaluation occurring just before the program begins? Are measurements taking place during and after the program? Are follow-up activities continuing at intervals of 3, 6, 9, months or a year?
Audit Tool
Once these evaluation criteria are developed, an audit tool needs to be constructed. This will allow a standardized approach to evaluating existing programs. A systematic review of currently promoted materials should be subjected to scrutiny. See Appendix A for a list of proposed essential evaluation criteria and a numerical ranking system that could be used in an audit setting
Some programs are short in duration and are completed in a day. Others run several days a week for up to a month. Some programs are free while others are expensive. Most health programs are privately owned. Some have a spiritual component and others are entirely secular. Most of these programs don’t systematically evaluate the health evangelism variables that I advocate in this book.
The Seventh-day Church does not manage, control, or evaluate health programming. Health ministries need better organization and guidance than they have had in the past. Here are my suggestions.
There needs to be a body of consultants established to develop and agree upon the essential elements of health evangelism. What is the difference between a health program and a health evangelism program? What spiritual elements need to be included in a health program for it to qualify as a health evangelism program?
These consultants should include individuals with diverse backgrounds. Experts are needed who can review the scientific validity of various programs to identify those that contain speculative health claims and/or questionable practices. The cost of programs should be evaluated to identify those that are excessively expensive. Theologians are needed to review the spiritual content of programs to see that they are true to scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy. Here are the primary elements that I feel need to be included in this process of evaluation.
Health Variables
The health information provided in each program should be current, correct, and accurate. Is the behavior change advocated reasonable and can it be safely recommended? Are the interventions advocated appropriate to a local church setting? Are there interventions that should be limited to a more sophisticated health care institution where more supervision by health professionals would be more appropriate?
Are risk factors and changes in behavior being documented? Is the frequency of meetings and duration of the program appropriate? Programs in local churches should not presume to treat specific medical conditions and should not prescribe drugs or advocate, dispense, or sell supplements. As a person’s health improves there will be a need to modify drug regimens. The church should enable people to live healthful lives but leave any required change in drug medication to the client’s health care provider.
Spiritual Variables
The most important feature of all health evangelism programs is to proclaim and explain how Jesus provides a person with the power to change. Health evangelism will provide for and measure Bible study. Health evangelism will advocate and explain prayer. The frequency of prayer can be measured. Health evangelism will be conducted in local Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Health evangelism will create a social/spiritual interface between church members and public participants.
Health evangelism programs will measure a person’s changes in spiritual practices and beliefs that result from the program. Health evangelism will measure the steps a person takes toward baptism. Health evangelism will measure the susceptibility of a program participant to attend evangelistic meetings. Health evangelism will calculate baptism rates, involvement in church activities and retention rates.
Social Variables
Church member involvement in health evangelism will be measured. What is the role of church members? Are church members passive observers? Do they model the advocated behavior? Are there small groups? Do church members facilitate small groups? Do church members contact program participants by phone, email, Facebook, or X (Twitter)? Do church members socialize with participants outside of the health evangelism program? Do they go grocery shopping with participants or share a meal with them at local restaurants? Is there in-home follow-up? How frequently and are follow-up activities carried out? How long are follow-up activities continued after a program?
Educational Variables
Are the educational tools used to communicate with the public appropriate? Is the use of visuals appropriate? Is there a skilled presentation of information through PowerPoint or video presentations? Is there an appropriate use of printed materials? Is there a workbook for participants? Is there a guide for small group leaders? Is there an appropriate use of contracts where participants commit to perform new behaviors? Are the lecture materials appropriate for the audience? These are some of the educational variables that need to be evaluated.
Ownership Variables
Who owns or controls the health evangelism program? Is the program owned by an individual, group, corporation, or the church? If it is owned by the church at what administrative level is the program owned?
Finance Variables
What does a program cost? What is the cost of attending a program for each participant? Where does the revenue stream go? Does the local church benefit? Does the revenue flow to the conference, union, or division? Does the profit flow to an individual or privately held corporation? What does the balance sheet of the corporation look like? What is the salary structure of the owners and employees?
Evaluation Variables
What data are collected by the health evangelism program? Are demographic data collected? Is there an evaluation of pre- and post-program changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices? Are risk factors and disease states documented? Are changes in risk factors and disease states evaluated? What is the duration of behavior changes? Are laboratory values measured and are changes documented over time? Are spiritual changes being documented? Are Bible study, prayer, and contacts with church members being documented? Is susceptibility to baptism, church activity, and resistance to apostasy being measured?
Is evaluation occurring just before the program begins? Are measurements taking place during and after the program? Are follow-up activities continuing at intervals of 3, 6, 9, months or a year?
Audit Tool
Once these evaluation criteria are developed, an audit tool needs to be constructed. This will allow a standardized approach to evaluating existing programs. A systematic review of currently promoted materials should be subjected to scrutiny. See Appendix A for a list of proposed essential evaluation criteria and a numerical ranking system that could be used in an audit setting