Content of Health Evangelism

In advertising the health phase of an evangelistic gelistic series of meetings, caution should be exercised in the matter of exaggeration of facts. In mentioning the health worker or the institution represented, it is well to avoid the use of such descriptive terms as "wonderful," "noted," "an authority," et cetera. This is especially important in securing a respectful hearing from the professional classes. Hon­esty should characterize all our advertising. The titles of subjects to be presented should not tend toward the spectacular, although every legitimate ethical effort should be made to gain the attention of the intelligent public.

In "Ministry of Healing," page 127, there are specifically enumerated eight true reme­dies for disease, which, if applied in time, will serve as effectual health builders: pure air, sunlight, abstemiousness, rest, exercise, proper diet, water, trust in divine power. Scores of health demonstrations can be developed from this comprehensive outline by the nurse or medical evangelist who knows his subject, and understands how to interpret this knowledge into the language of the people.

Take, for instance, the first on the list, pure air. Tuberculosis invades every community. Since pure air and nourishing food play such an important part in the conquering of this disease, demonstrations on this, the first of God's true remedies, will be of interest every­where. X-ray plates showing arrested stages of tuberculosis can be used to advantage. Any method of visual education tends to effective­ness in a health talk. An interesting topic, when presented in a scientific but simple man­ner, is, "Why Foods Containing Calcium Are Effective in Preventing Tuberculosis."

The subject, "Sunlight and Health," offers a still greater opportunity for enlargement. When the value of the sun's rays is fully un­derstood, these words of Malachi take on a new significance: "Unto you that fear My name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with heal­ing in His wings." Other titles which might be suggested are: "How to Take Sun Treat­ment in the Home," "Why Babies Get Rickets," "Sunlight and Teeth," etc.

Selection of titles should be adapted to meet the different groups of individuals to be reached. For example, if the mothers are to be reached, "How Can You Tell If Your Baby Has Rickets?" might make a stronger appeal than simply, "Why Babies Get Rickets." Again, "Why Teeth Decay Even When Brushed Daily," might awaken greater curiosity on the part of the public than simply, "Sunlight and Teeth."

In the field of dietetics and hydrotherapy there is source material for an indefinite num­ber of twenty-minute talks with demonstra­tions. Care should be taken to avoid indef­inite subjects. Scientific facts should not be dealt with so technically as to go beyond the comprehension of the people, thus failing to make a practical application of the lesson taught. The best-prepared teachers avoid the use of terms which cannot be understood by their hearers. A prominent educator once made this significant statement: "I am ashamed if I use one word that the humblest mother in my audience cannot understand."

Take the subject of vitamins, to which ex­tensive reference is made today on the public platform and in print. It is true that people have often heard the term, and many have vague idea of its meaning. But even thos. who are well informed rarely associate what they have learned about vitamins with the prosaic matter of selecting their daily food. This may be because the instruction received has not been such as to be readily applied to daily food necessities.

In public-health talks and food lectures, sci­entific facts should be clothed in simple lan­guage, accompanied by specific application. For example, instead of giving an elaborate lecture on "Vitamin A," perhaps even includ­ing a demonstration of some foods which con­tain this important vitamin, it would be far better to connect the same demonstration with a talk on, "Why Eat Yellow Foods?" A talk of this nature should clearly emphasize the fact that all foods, in both the animal and the vegetable kingdom, are rich in "Vitamin A" if they are yellow foods, or are of the related colors, red and green. It gives better balance when undue emphasis is not placed on one good food to the neglect of other foods equally valuable in maintaining health.

Such talks should preferably be given b persons who have specialized in the study disease. Even then it may challenge the re­sources of the most widely informed worker to know how to respond to the numerous ques­tions which will be asked by interested per­sons. If he does not know, the prepared worker does not hesitate to say, "I cannot tell," or, "I do not know;" while the propagandist, who is not fully prepared to deal with the subject, and is fearful of exposing his ignorance, will glibly give advice in situations which baffle the wisest student of scientific medicine.

Simple visual health instruction, in the spiritual setting of gospel evangelism, and ready acceptance of every invitation to visit in the homes of the people, will give to the con­secrated health worker multiplied opportunities to use the "entering wedge," and to make it effective in leading the honest in heart to obey God's law as it operates in the moral as well as in the natural realm.