The low ratio of Adventist health programs to the total broadcast hours in the United States is challenging. Calculating on the basis of the 1621 AM stations as of January 1, 1948, 8o per cent of which operate eighteen hours a day, and 20 per cent ten hours a day, approximately 26,000 daily hours of program time are broadcast to American listeners exclusive of the 374 FM stations on the air. This makes a week's total of 382,000 hours of transmitted programs. This, broken down into quarter-hour segments, produces about three quarters of a million fifteen-minute program periods a week. That's the figure we need to bear in mind-728,000 quarter hours of broadcast time a week in this country! But our local broadcasters' chart here at the General Conference reveals only one program as a full health broadcast—thus giving our S.D.A. health program one to three quarter million ratio weekly!
Now, what about this one weekly health broadcast? It is conducted by Dr. John D. Rogers, Sunday nights over Pasadena's KXIA at a cost of $35. In the past the Pacific Press has assisted in sponsorship of this broadcast, but since the Health magazine has been discontinued by them and merged with the Life and Health, further backing by another sponsor is sought. Naturally we look to the right-arm believers of this movement to seize any opportunity for popularizing true principles of better living. What a challenge comes to radio-minded doctors and nurses!
We know that our medical leaders have a true vision of the place health education is to occupy in the spread of the Advent message. We know, too, that some of them are keen to hear the health message on the air. But does it not seem that as a people we have been sadly remiss in capitalizing on health as we should in a radio approach to the masses? No other religious body has such light on better living. No subject is of greater universal interest. No type of broadcast will receive as keen station management cooperation in airing. So why do we delay?
Our medical interests absorb the time of thousands of workers. Should there be any speech or language where their voice is not heard? Our medical work represents a financial investment running into the tens of millions.
Is $35 a week for broadcast time the right radio ratio to this super-millionaire activity? Fellow workers, we urge you to encourage those who have a burden and ability for "medics" as well as homiletics to draw up to the microphone.
This problem is so grave that some solution must be forthcoming. Has not the divine plan on health principles been revealed to this people? Consider these statements:
"We are now to unify, and by true medical missionary work prepare the way for our coming King."—Medical Ministry, p. 22.
"To make natural law plain, and to urge obedience to it, is a work that accompanies the third angel's message. . . . He designs that the subject shall be agitated, and the public mind deeply stirred to investigate it ; for it is impossible for men and women, while under the power of sinful, health-destroying, brain-enervating habits, to appreciate sacred truth."—Counsels on Health, p. 21.
"True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand."—Testimonies, vol. 7, p. 7.
"The message that I am bidden to bear to our people at this time is, Work the cities without delay, for time is short. . . In this work physicians and gospel ministers are needed. . . . Especially do we need the help that the physician can render as an evangelist. . . . The principles of health reform are to be promulgated as a part of the work in these cities. The voice of the third angel's message is to be heard with power. Let the teachings of health reform be brought into every effort made to get the light of truth before the people. Let workers be selected who are qualified to teach the truth wisely in clear, simple lines. Let us not wait before beginning this work until all the way is made clear. Faith says, Move forward."—Medical Ministry, PP. 300-304.
Surely radio is to loom large in the work of these metropolitan centers, and we hope that our medical fraternity will step into the opportunities not heretofore seen. The world is science conscious today, and Adventists alone have the true gospel of health as a science and as a people. To reach that walled world of city dwellers we must appeal to that potentate of power—radio, for radio is surely a leader in the realm of mass communication. Radio beckons both men and women among our doctors, nurses, and dietitians. With the skill and know-how they possess, programs by the scores should be produced—inviting programs that produce listener response.
So wide and varied is the field to be covered in building healthier bodies that a morning, afternoon, or evening hour can dictate the format of the program to be undertaken. It can be keyed to any particular type of family or audience. It can help dad and mom make their home a laboratory for better living. Junior and Mary in a well-planned heart and household series can find their place as treasures instead of troubles. Health, nutrition, hygiene, child care, and cookery are all phases of a home and health hour that have possibilities of developing into a; wonderful educational series.
In fact, broadcasts of this nature can at this very time be supplemented with a free enrollment course attraction. The Pacific Press now-has available through local Book and Bible houses, a twelve-lesson course in nutrition and cookery. Another twelve-lesson course on general hygiene is in preparation, and still other courses are in the planning of the Home Health Education Series. When enrollees have completed these courses for abounding health, they become likely candidates for a study course in abundant life wherein spiritual truths are revealed from the Bible textbook. In these lessons heaven becomes the hope; eternal life, the new quest. From there it is a natural step to conversion and denominational affiliation.
Why do we stress this type of radio presentation today? Not just because it is needful and timely. That surely is understandable. But another reason presses. Prophecy indicates it, and facts substantiate it. The hour for suppression of sectarian broadcasts in the realm of religious radio is a come-on certainty. Fortunate indeed will be the minority that has established good public service relations with the listening world and the broadcasting industry at large. It will then have a credit in the bank of social tolerance which is an invaluable asset. If we will but give people now what they can use for better living, they will certainly be more disposed to receive that which they must have for eternal living.
Does not inspired guidance outline this as the very approach that should be undertaken to break down prejudice, to become the entering wedge and the body's supporting right arm? Is the beautiful but unarmed Venus de Milo to become the sculptured symbol of the Advent body's unserviceable disarmament? Should we not retool to recarve and rearm?