In the organized work of the conference, health education may be carried on in many different ways, all of which may be made very effectual, and each of which may have its own special advantages. Organized instruction is always more effective than irregularly timed lectures. Study classes should be organized to cover systematically the major features of hygienic living. Cooking schools and classes in health preservation and home nursing afford an excellent means of health education. Health lectures by physicians or ministers should be employed whenever possible. Opportunities for presenting health subjects may be found in schools, fraternal organizations, service clubs, temperance rallies, and Bible-reading circles, and through other means.
These lectures and classes should be on practical topics which the layman can understand and apply, and although they should be authentic, at the same time they should not be clouded by matters of technical medical knowledge. Church-school inspection and checkup, as a basis for the health-education program of the school year, should be a routine procedure in every case. This work can be done by the conference nurse, or the associate or assistant medical secretary, who is usually a nurse. Follow-up education with the parents, which often leads to consultation with the family physician, results in a greatly improved health status among the conference constituency.
Wherever a conference has a sanitarium, the medical staff—and especially the medical director—should be prominent in promoting and supervising a sound, balanced medical missionary program for the field. It is a great advantage to have a physician associated with a minister in evangelical work. But often the health aspect of an evangelistic effort must be carried on by a nurse alone, and the results are highly satisfactory when the nurse has had some background and particular training for this type of work. Large use should be made of the book "Ministry of Healing," together with other health books and magazines of the denomination. The laws of physiology that have a bearing upon the habits of life should be given thoughtful study. It is not alone such matters as the use of meat and coffee that should be presented in the health program. This is only the A B C of healthful living. Other matters of diet are of just as great importance. Sister White mentions one of these; namely, the liberal use of sugar and sweet desserts, especially when combined with milk and cream; and the pernicious effects of mushes with sugar and cream. She states that such foods are often more harmful than meat.
Many are still living upon a diet greatly impoverished in vitamins and minerals, and as a consequence the diseases found in our ranks are but little different from those found among individuals who have much less light than we as a people. Scientific light of increasing brilliancy is illuminating the basic principles given by divine revelation. These should be studied with an earnest desire to know the truth and then to apply it in daily living.
Instead of following the laws of nature, there is an ever-increasing tendency, when one is ill or indisposed, to employ the remedies advertised over the radio, in the magazines, or on the billboards. Such advertised remedies as alkaline seltzer are usurping the place that natural fruits and vegetables should occupy. Certain medicated rubs for the throat and chest, and drops for the nose are displacing the use of the fomentation, the application of hot and cold, and other remedies included in true physiologic therapy. New synthetic drugs are hailed as wonder-workers, while nature's methods of healing are neglected. It is because of this spread of irrational and unsound ideas pertaining to health and treatment, that the need for health education in our ranks today is greater than ever.
When medical missionary work of a sound character is connected with the giving of the third angel's message, it paves the way for ministering to the needs of both the soul and the body. This is the great objective, and should be a very large factor in the work of every Seventh-day Adventist physician and nurse. Nor are we ever to forget that gospel evangelism is the guiding head of our medical missionary work. Apart from this, our efforts will degenerate into mere public educational propaganda.
"Christ's servants are to follow His example. As He went from place to place He comforted the suffering and healed the sick. Then He placed before them the great truths in regard to His kingdom. This is the work of His followers. As you relieve the sufferings of the body you will find ways for ministering to the wants of the soul. You can point to the uplifted Saviour and tell of the love of the Great Physician who alone has power to restore." —"Christ's Object Lessons." pp. 233, 234.
"The union of Christlike work for the body and Christlike work for the soul is a true interpretation of the gospel."—"An Appeal for the Medical Missionary College," pp. 14, 15.
Developing Health-Consciousness
By KATHRYN L. JENSEN, R.N., Associate Secretary, Medical Department
The statement made by Horace Mann many years ago is still applicable to our present day. He stated that our students may learn all about the universe, and still be totally ignorant of the mechanism God has entrusted to their care and intelligence. They may know about plants and bugs and butterflies, but know very little relative to their own personal care, or that of their families. Here are given six reasons why members of the Medical Missionary Association should encourage• future leaders and teachers to choose courses in health education before completing a college program.
First, because a sound knowledge and application of health principles—like that obtained in language, history, literature, or any other college subject—is not usually acquired without organized courses under competent professors.
Second, because our denominational treasury is spending thousands of dollars yearly caring for physical wreckage, no small part of which might have been prevented if health education had been emphasized in the curriculum and program of the school life of each student, from the church school on throughout the college period.
Third, because health will not be emphasized in the elementary and secondary schools until the colleges require physiology and health courses for those who will be the future academic, normal, and church school teachers.
Fourth, because college men and women are the teachers and leaders of the future, and a fund of sound health knowledge is fundamental in work requiring leadership.
Fifth, because although there has been but little advance in the treatment of disease during the last quarter of a century, there has been a tremendous advance in knowledge of prevention and early recognition of disease.
Sixth, because some of the best colleges of the world will allow no student to secure a degree who does not include certain definite scholastic hours of health courses in his program of education. Future leaders of our cause must also have this fundamental health knowledge in order to be able intelligently to present this phase of the third angel's message.
Dr. William Farrand, president of Cornell University, lists ten items (see February MINISTRY) as the minimum content of health knowledge of any educated man or woman. Should not this be the minimum of knowledge for every minister, teacher, and leader in the remnant church? With an adequately trained force of gospel workers assisting the medical workers, there is no limit to the molding influence of a balanced health message that meets every demand of science, revelation, and human need.
