“We have come to a time when every member of the church should take hold of medical missionary work.”[1]
When this small but mighty quote was first shared with me, I was stunned because “every member of the church”[2] includes not just the ones who are in the medical field or the ones serving as missionaries overseas—but even those who are up front on the podium as well as those sitting in the pews. How is this to be accomplished? How will each church member be instructed for said work? God does not leave us to wonder: “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.”[3]
Based on the inspiration just shared, there is a need for education amongst the church members in the lines of gospel medical missionary work. Let’s imagine together what this education would look like:
To begin this cycle of evangelism, a team of gospel medical missionaries goes to a local church and trains it how to give Bible readings and how to teach our doctrines from the Bible. Then, these missionaries hold classes for the church on how to care for the sick and poor, including classes on how to cook delicious, healthful meals, hydrotherapy, gardening, God’s health principles, and natural remedies. These classes are not merely designed to improve the health of the church members, but to educate them on how to do medical missionary work for others. And there are not only classes on how to work for the unconverted, but there is a scheduled time to put into practice the principles taught. The instructors go with the church members to the neighbors, following the example of Christ.
The instructors and students begin to mingle with the people while desiring their good. As they begin to come close to the people around them, they learn of their cares, sympathize with them, minister to their needs, and win their confidence.[4] Then, they point them to the Man of Calvary.[5] These once sin-sick souls now want to follow the One who has delivered them from physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bondage. Now, it is the turn of the students (church members) to teach these new believers the ways of discipleship and to hold “up the standard of true reform . . . leaving the experienced workers to press on into new fields.”[6] Thus, missionary work will work on the plan of multiplication rather than the plan of addition, and the “true interpretation of the gospel” will be spread across the world.[7]
Now this may sound like a distant dream, but it can become a reality. How is this possible? One key factor that was not mentioned in this visionary thought was the centrality of having a personal relationship with God. This is the first and most important step in any line of service for the Master. The best missionary instructors and teachers could come and train a local church, but if the members are not following the Leader step by step in self-denial and self-sacrifice, they will not understand this branch of the work.[8] If we look at the training of the twelve disciples, we will realize that they had personal contact and association with Jesus. Day by day they walked and talked with Him, seeing how He uplifted the sick, taught the people, and unfolded the truths of the way of salvation to those who were open to receive the divine message. I encourage you to have a set time every morning to spend time with Jesus.[9] Guard it jealously, for as we drink from the fountain of life we then can impart to others the joy and hope that Christ alone imparts.
In our contemplation of the church becoming a training school, there were experienced instructors who came to train the church members. This may or may not be the case for every local church. If it is the case at your local church, praise God and step out in faith to serve your community. If not, there are many missionaries and medical missionary institutions who are willing to train churches in medical missionary work. This training is usually intensive, meaning a lot of information is given in a short period of time.[10] If you are interested in getting more training, prayerfully consider the current programs offered by our schools and institutions.[11] Your church may even help fund your training so that you can return and train them.
If all this training seems overwhelming, do not be discouraged. Simply take a first step in reaching out to your neighbors. You can consistently visit someone you know who is sick, discouraged, lonely, or struggling in life. You can write them encouraging cards, invite them for a meal, go on a walk together, or bake them bread or cookies. As time goes on with your personal efforts, doors may open if your neighbor has any physical ailments to which you may apply the simple remedies you learned. I also encourage you to read The Ministry of Healing and gather the treasures this special book has to offer. As you study this book, apply the principles in your personal life and reach out to your family, friends, and neighbors.
God desires us to be co-laborers with Him, following the example of the greatest Medical Missionary, Jesus Christ. So let us trust in the Lord and step out in confidence that He will complete the good work He has started in us.[12]
[1] Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol.7 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1902), 62.
[2] Ibid. Emphasis supplied.
[3] Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1905), 149.
[4] See Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, 143.
[5] See Ellen G. White, The Ministry of Healing, 144.
[6] Ellen G. White, Pastoral Ministry (Silver Spring, MD: General Conference Ministerial Association, 1995), 108.
[7] Ellen G. White, Review and Herald (Battle Creek, MI: Review and Herald Publishing Association, March 4, 1902), par. 13.
[8] Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6 (Mountain View, CA: Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1900), 300.
[9]To better understand the importance of this, read “A Priority Shift” in Issue #1. If you are looking for simple and practical ways to enrich your devotional time, read “A Telling Relationship” in Issue #7.
[10] M.E.E.T Ministries, Uchee Pines Institute, Red River Outpost, and Wellness Secrets are some institutes that travel to train local churches and have on-site training.
[11] For example, the HEALTH program at Weimar University, Wildwood Health Institute, Butler Creek Health Education Center, Eden Valley Institute, Lay Institute for Global Health Training (LIGHT), Vida Internacional, Eastward Missions, Mission College of Evangelism, and many others that you can find on outpostcenters.org.
[12] Phil. 1:6