Principles & Practice of Health Ministry
Chapter 8
Health Ministry Revitalized
Seventh-day Adventists are certain about several things. The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord our God. Jesus is coming soon. This gospel will be preached in all the world for a witness and then shall the end come. Matthew 24:14
We have a health message. Those who live it are the healthiest people in the world. Healthful living will be a prominent component of the restoration promised to those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are preparing for His return.
We are challenged by this quote of Ellen White.
Troublous times are upon us now and we anticipate that things will be getting worse in the future. Some envision health ministry as being the last limited avenue of service open to us at some time in the future when other avenues of witnessing have been closed.
This may be true, but I prefer to think of health ministry as a superior form of witnessing. Health ministry has a practical health producing quality which demonstrates that what the Bible teaches works. It is irrefutable truth. Health ministry reveals Jesus as the person and the power who saves physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Health ministry is scientifically accurate when wisely using data from studies done in populations from around the world, which has thoroughly validated the inspired prophetic ministry of Ellen G. White. Health ministry exposes and rejects false methods of healing.
Natural science operates within the limits of intrinsic human capabilities. Health ministry goes beyond an individual’s capacity for behavior change. It adds faith to science. It points to the Creator of science who has power over all the elements of nature and power over His submissive needy creatures who reach beyond, outside of themselves, for help.
Health ministry offends human pride. It takes the frustrated, unsatisfied, failing person away from the modern, shining towers of science and places him in the often-mundane local church or a neighbor's home. The church, which is fellowship with other believers and apart from the world, is in the end the only home Christians have in this world. This is the church that is the theater of God’s transforming grace.
Health ministry utilizes unlikely practitioners for behavioral intervention, church members who themselves suffered from the same bad habits and addictions as those who come for help. These examples "for a witness" prove the effectiveness of the offered cure.
If God is effectively changing those who are as weak and prone to failure as I am, then there is hope for me too. Every church member has something to do, encouragement to give, prayers to offer, availability when needed, friends to make, love to share, but most of all an example of righteous living to live.
Health ministry works by simple means. God’s methods are always simple. Prayer works. There is a flood of assurances in God’s word not found in all the self-help books. Divine behavioral therapy is a more effective tool than cognitive behavioral therapy. There is more help outside yourself than you will ever find by looking for power within yourself.
Therapeutic lifestyle change by faith requires individual effort. Success is not found in a pill or a surgery or even a prescribed "diet." You need to be the one to act in your own behalf and best interest. You need to learn how to make the right choices consistently. The steps that caused you to stumble before, you will now step confidently toward your goal. God will empower you to succeed not fail.
Health ministry really works. The testimonies of victory day by day and week by week encourage all others in the struggle. The success of one becomes the success of another.
Health ministry results in new convictions. That the God of health is the only true and living God. Old prejudices are abandoned, old creeds forsaken. It is not teaching or reasoning, but experiencing that creates these new convictions. You now know for certain by personal experience what transforms and what doesn’t, what saves and what doesn’t.
Health ministry generates gratitude. You are thankful because you have received and continue to receive God’s help. You have received help you could find nowhere else. The profound gift prompts profound gratitude.
Health ministry inspires worship. Your whole being is so flooded with gratitude to God that it prompts questions, “What do you believe in your church?” which is code for “I want to know more about this God who changes me.”
Health ministry is an economical ministry. It changes more lives for less money than any other form of witnessing.
Health ministry purifies the church. Church members either shape-up or ship-out.
Health ministry will be realized for the evangelistic powerhouse it is when data collection and analysis are conducted and valued. We are members of a skeptical church power structure that is data driven, but it can be persuaded by supporting numbers.
Health ministry has many proponents, but it has suffered from limited success or outright failure when the vision was flawed, and essential elements were missing.
I believe that health ministry eventually will be the last viable witnessing modality remaining when the church is limited in its witnessing by governmental restraints. But I also believe that health ministry can rather immediately become the superior form of evangelism. This will occur once it is better understood and implemented in the way that it was intended to be -- biblically -- doing God's work God's way.
May God enlighten and empower us to work for His cause of salvation in the manner of Christ. Even so come Lord Jesus.
We have a health message. Those who live it are the healthiest people in the world. Healthful living will be a prominent component of the restoration promised to those who trust Jesus as their Lord and Savior and are preparing for His return.
We are challenged by this quote of Ellen White.
- “I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work.” General Conference Bulletin, April 12, 1901 par. 21
Troublous times are upon us now and we anticipate that things will be getting worse in the future. Some envision health ministry as being the last limited avenue of service open to us at some time in the future when other avenues of witnessing have been closed.
This may be true, but I prefer to think of health ministry as a superior form of witnessing. Health ministry has a practical health producing quality which demonstrates that what the Bible teaches works. It is irrefutable truth. Health ministry reveals Jesus as the person and the power who saves physically, mentally, and spiritually.
Health ministry is scientifically accurate when wisely using data from studies done in populations from around the world, which has thoroughly validated the inspired prophetic ministry of Ellen G. White. Health ministry exposes and rejects false methods of healing.
Natural science operates within the limits of intrinsic human capabilities. Health ministry goes beyond an individual’s capacity for behavior change. It adds faith to science. It points to the Creator of science who has power over all the elements of nature and power over His submissive needy creatures who reach beyond, outside of themselves, for help.
Health ministry offends human pride. It takes the frustrated, unsatisfied, failing person away from the modern, shining towers of science and places him in the often-mundane local church or a neighbor's home. The church, which is fellowship with other believers and apart from the world, is in the end the only home Christians have in this world. This is the church that is the theater of God’s transforming grace.
Health ministry utilizes unlikely practitioners for behavioral intervention, church members who themselves suffered from the same bad habits and addictions as those who come for help. These examples "for a witness" prove the effectiveness of the offered cure.
If God is effectively changing those who are as weak and prone to failure as I am, then there is hope for me too. Every church member has something to do, encouragement to give, prayers to offer, availability when needed, friends to make, love to share, but most of all an example of righteous living to live.
- "And they (sinners) overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb (the life of Christ dwelling in them), and by the word of their testimony (successful therapeutic lifestyle change by faith); and they loved not their (unhealthy, worldly, sinful) lives unto the death (of their fallen nature)." Revelation 12:11
- "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20
Health ministry works by simple means. God’s methods are always simple. Prayer works. There is a flood of assurances in God’s word not found in all the self-help books. Divine behavioral therapy is a more effective tool than cognitive behavioral therapy. There is more help outside yourself than you will ever find by looking for power within yourself.
Therapeutic lifestyle change by faith requires individual effort. Success is not found in a pill or a surgery or even a prescribed "diet." You need to be the one to act in your own behalf and best interest. You need to learn how to make the right choices consistently. The steps that caused you to stumble before, you will now step confidently toward your goal. God will empower you to succeed not fail.
Health ministry really works. The testimonies of victory day by day and week by week encourage all others in the struggle. The success of one becomes the success of another.
Health ministry results in new convictions. That the God of health is the only true and living God. Old prejudices are abandoned, old creeds forsaken. It is not teaching or reasoning, but experiencing that creates these new convictions. You now know for certain by personal experience what transforms and what doesn’t, what saves and what doesn’t.
Health ministry generates gratitude. You are thankful because you have received and continue to receive God’s help. You have received help you could find nowhere else. The profound gift prompts profound gratitude.
Health ministry inspires worship. Your whole being is so flooded with gratitude to God that it prompts questions, “What do you believe in your church?” which is code for “I want to know more about this God who changes me.”
Health ministry is an economical ministry. It changes more lives for less money than any other form of witnessing.
Health ministry purifies the church. Church members either shape-up or ship-out.
Health ministry will be realized for the evangelistic powerhouse it is when data collection and analysis are conducted and valued. We are members of a skeptical church power structure that is data driven, but it can be persuaded by supporting numbers.
Health ministry has many proponents, but it has suffered from limited success or outright failure when the vision was flawed, and essential elements were missing.
I believe that health ministry eventually will be the last viable witnessing modality remaining when the church is limited in its witnessing by governmental restraints. But I also believe that health ministry can rather immediately become the superior form of evangelism. This will occur once it is better understood and implemented in the way that it was intended to be -- biblically -- doing God's work God's way.
May God enlighten and empower us to work for His cause of salvation in the manner of Christ. Even so come Lord Jesus.