We have been engaged in a unique type of Bible work. It has included welfare, rehabilitation, social, and coun seling work. It has been a means of breaking down prejudice and building up good will in public relations. It has been the means of meeting and working with people of wealth and influence seldom reached. The Holy Spirit is working on hearts today in a marked way. There is placed in the heart a longing that material things cannot satisfy. Pointing them to Jesus, and a study of God's Word, with prayer, bring about a peace and a satisfaction that quiet the restless, anxious souls.
There is a definite trend toward correlating religion and the practice of medicine. The medical world of today is recognizing and placing emphasis on the same principles given to us, as a people, by the pen of inspiration. Our complicated living causes many mental and emotional conflicts. These conflicts often prove disastrous to the life and the home. Only through an acceptance of Christ and His way of life can these tragedies be averted. The work we have been doing is in harmony with the explicit instruction given to us in the Spirit of prophecy for this time.
"The world's need today cannot be met fully by the ministry of God's servants who have been called to preach the everlasting gospel to every creature. . . . The Lord has ordained that with those who preach the word shall be associated His medical missionary workers." Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 468.
The natural patient-doctor relationship of confidence and respect lays a perfect foundation for the teachings and help of a Bible instructor case worker. The souls thus reached are really ready for the message. They are in need to begin with, and are ready to accept a solution to that need. We have found, without exception, that each patient is pleased because his doctor has taken an interest in his spiritual welfare. Regardless of the type of life the patient may lead, he appreciates the clean, prayerful life of his Christian doctor. Because the doctor has prepared his patient for our visit, we have always been warmly welcomed, as a friend and counselor, upon the very first visit. We have encountered very few prejudiced patients. Their confidence in us, as medical workers coming from their doctor's office, is already established. It is natural for the patients to ask us questions concerning their doctor's religious beliefs. Through consultation with the doctor and the pastor, we can immediately begin a constructive program to help them toward physical, mental, and spiritual health. This program includes a consistent and organized plan for Bible study, which leads to an acceptance of Christ and to baptism. In evangelistic Bible work a crucial time comes in the visiting program a time when the Bible instructor must get very close to the reader, must go through the pangs of the "new birth" with the reader. This time of conflict when decisions must be made is allimportant. In medical missionary work the Bible instructor-case worker from her first visit to her last must stay close to her patient. She
is continually bringing her patient through just such conflicts and to just such important decisions at each visit. Reformation of character is constantly taking place as the truths are studied and accepted. The patient is prepared by the doctor for the first visit of the Bible instructor-case worker. At her first visit she finds the patient at the same place in developed interest and receptiveness the evangelistic Bible instructor finds her reader after weeks of visiting and of attendance at meetings.
"Many can be reached only through acts of dis interested kindness. Their physical wants must first be relieved. As they see evidence of our unselfish love, it will be easier for them to believe in the love of Christ." Testimonies, vol. 6, p. 84. Varied Case Histories This has been proved in many of our case histories. A Thanksgiving basket was sent to a shelter (it could scarcely be called a home) in an alley. Help from the Dorcas followed, then friendly calls, counsel, and studies.
Later a neat home was found, work was made possible, and lifelong habits were broken. The trans formation that gradually took place was nothing short of a miracle. The members of this home are now baptized believers and are doing missionary work among their neighbors. A widow with four children was provided with food, and a comfortable little home was located for her. Her children are now in church school and the academy. The entire family attend Sabbath school and church services as well as prayer meeting. They plan to be baptized soon. When a case is assigned to us, with the Lord's help we try to take care of the problem or need presented. It has meant: sliding down a snowy hillside with a full-sized innerspring mattress between us; dragging a sack of coal down a dark alley on a cold night; being called in the middle of the night to a neighboring hospital to accept, as a gift, a newborn baby; and being sent to a strange home at three o'clock in the morning to take an elderly woman to an eastbound train after her estranged hus band threatened her life. This woman inquired where our church was in Boston, so that she might attend. Every day brings new cases with new challenges.
The Bible instructor-case worker's activities, in order to get the best results, should be closely coordinated with those of the attending doctor and pastor. The first step is counseling and reviewing the case history with the doctor. Then the patient is visited and reports are given to the doctor and the pastor, as each individual case indicates. Some cases respond and terminate quickly, whereas others require patience and close supervision for a long period of time. A keen sense of perception is needed. One must feel his way along with much prayer and personal consecration. Only as one senses his own helplessness and utter dependence upon a higher power can he be guided aright in this delicate work. By staying close to the Master, one is conscious of the Holy Spirit's power.
Never was Jesus too weary to listen to the problems of the people. After relieving their physical pain and mental anxiety He forgave their sins and bade them follow Him. He always gave those who came to Him hope and courage a positive assurance that there was a way out of their troubles no matter how difficult they seemed. While He never attempted to be an arbitrator or divider, yet He relieved their suffering and anxiety so that they could have clear minds to grasp the good tidings of the gospel. Our Saviour poured out His heart of love on Calvary how can we do less for our fellow men?
Sanitarium and Hospital Evangelism
MARY E. NEUFELD Bible Instructor, Portland (Oregon) Sanitarium and Hospital
Sanitarium and hospital evangelism is broad, far reaching, and filled with opportunities. In this field of evangelism there is no question as to whether the person who has to have hospital care is rich, poor, influential, or of ill repute. Sickness strikes any class. We rub shoulders, as it were, with the vast throng of humanity, including the various types of personality stable and alert minds, confused minds, sick bodies, and the host of problems involved. It becomes keenly and increasingly evident that the people come to us for a definite purpose; and each person is a potential subject for the great eternity.
That the medical work is the "right arm of the message" is strikingly brought to our attention. Prejudice is broken down and people are made aware of the fact that Seventh-day Adventists are leading in the great program of giving a worldwide message. There are numerous ways to make lasting friends and prospective Christians. Since we admit on the average one thousand patients a month, we have a wide personal contact, made at a time when people are strangely in need of security that many do not possess. Here are a few suggestions as to the opportunities that are avail able in this type of evangelism.
Influence of Christian Workers
The praying Christian doctor gives great confidence and assurance to the patient. When the patient hears and sees that his physician is taking an active part in church work and shows a real interest in his welfare, it is bound to make a deep impression. Just the other day in a six-bed ward a woman overheard one of our leading surgeons convince a patient that she did not need to undergo an operation. This woman was greatly encouraged by seeing that the doctor was not in this work for any mercenary purpose, and this incident will have a far-reaching effect.
Furthermore, the patient appreciates the cheerfulness, patience, and willing service of the Christian nurse. Her prayers are of untold value. Many a time do I hear the people say that there is something these nurses have that is different.
Then, too, the gospel songs and hymns sung over the public-address system cheer many a despondent one and awaken the mind to some thing beyond this life of suffering. In some cases the patient may feel reluctant to ask certain questions about our work or beliefs from those attending him, but he will ask the faithful Christian women who clean the rooms. This establishes a wholesome con tact that is also valuable.
The morning broadcasts from our own studio KWJJ at the nurses' home, by the chaplain, R. J. Thomas, and his associates, are another great blessing to the patients. Moreover, the prayers, personal contacts, and the many hours spent by our chaplain in solving individual problems are of untold value, and many a person is being helped to face life again with a purpose. Then there are the contacts with the business office, the instruction from the dietitian, and the access to literature in die lobby, which all have their place in evangelism in the hospital.
Furthermore, we have organized on the hospital grounds a new church that will be of inestimable blessing. Invitations go out each week to the patients, and those who are able may attend services or come and worship with us after they are well. To my mind a close relationship between the doctors and nurses and the religious workers is one of the chief factors in winning these people to Christ. The more these two avenues may be combined, the more can be accomplished. Because the patient has confidence in his doctor, he can do what no Bible instructor can do alone.
Informal Contacts Effective
My own contacts are very informal. The chief purpose is to serve the patient in his individual and peculiar need. He must know that we seek his welfare and are going to help him where we can. One of my contacts is with the Signs of the Times, Life and Health, or These Times. We have a large number of people who have become acquainted with our literature, either from former visits, doctors' offices, or subscriptions received. I find it helpful to refer to interesting or outstanding articles, and often that opens up a fine discussion or may be a lead to the patient's interests. There are a large number who enjoy the magazines, and to those who appreciate the Signs we send a yearly subscription. Then, too, it is encouraging to the patient who is to have surgery to pray with him and make him realize that he can rest his case completely with the Great Physician. In hospital evangelism one must ever guard against any religious argument. That has no place in this work. Neither does an aggressive approach with our doctrines .bring the desired results.
Follow-Up Work
There are many opportunities for follow-up work. Probably a few experiences will illustrate this best. We had a patient here for about fifteen weeks a fine Methodist woman. She knew little about Seventh-day Adventists, but she was greatly impressed with the care the nurses gave, their cheerfulness and prayers; and she realized there was something that she wanted. I visited her quite regularly. When I found she was interested in the Bible, I suggested Bible studies in her home, to which she readily agreed. These organized her whole line of thought and she was happy to understand things she had often wondered about and misunderstood. Her first lesson on the Sabbath was a real eye opener to her, and she grasped it as readily as the other truths. But she had a real struggle about it. However, the truths were too clear to avoid, and after a few studies she told me she was keeping the Sabbath. Then after some more studies she inquired about our church, and I took her there. A little later she asked to see the pastor and told him she wanted to join the church. By that time she was fully informed, since she was a diligent student of the Bible. She then enrolled her mother in Bois D'Arc, Missouri, in the Bible correspondence course, and she is now also rejoicing in the truth. After that she persuaded her sister in the same State to take the course, and she is much interested. We hope her family will soon be members of the remnant church. Another case was that of a surgical patient. When I brought the Signs to this woman, she was already familiar with it and wanted to know more about the Sabbath. Her parents had accepted the truth after her marriage and had sent her the Signs, but she did not quite understand the truth. I studied with her and her husband a few weeks, but her husband felt he was being pushed into something he was not ready for. It caused a great deal of trouble in the home, and finally the woman telephoned me that she felt they would have to discontinue the studies. I asked for permission to visit with them and explain our objective, and after this she was very happy that he was going to let her continue to study. After a few weeks of studies she started to attend church, and it was not long before she told the receptionist that she wanted to join the church. She is now a baptized member and we hope that her husband will someday join her. A couple were brought in from an automobile accident, both injured. The woman had formerly been a Seventh-day Adventist but had become greatly discouraged because of home problems. She felt this accident was a call for her to come back to God. I went to her home to study the Bible, as her daughter-in-law was also interested. The woman is ready now for rebaptism, but her husband wants her to wait a few weeks for him to join too. The daughter in-law is also a prospect.
Another experience is that of a telephone operator in the veterans' hospital. She came home from her work one day with a heart attack. Because of some complications she was finally sent to our sanitarium. She was greatly impressed by the care she received and the prayers of the Christian nurses; she felt so close to God. But she was not a churchgoer. I visited her after she returned home and asked her if she would like to study the Bible. We are nearly through the course and she has greatly enjoyed it. We hope she will be baptized in a few weeks. Her daughter is also interested in the Bible, and she is trying to teach her what she can. Then, too, we had a man in who had found the true Sabbath through reading the Signs of the Times. When he came to the hospital he began to question the nurse about our beliefs, and we helped him in his problems and gave him further literature. However, his wife is bitterly opposed and it seems we have not been able to do much for him. He says that he is a Seventh-day Adventist at heart, and we are praying for both of them. I am able to visit the home and we hope that soon both will rejoice in this truth. She would make a strong member.
A woman from Memphis, Tennessee, who has her mother in the hospital, has been very much interested in our beliefs. She asked me about our teaching on diet. In fact, many people want to know our belief in this respect. She also wanted to know the truth about death and hell, and as soon as I gave her texts she was pleased, as it seemed to be just what she was thinking, but her church's teaching had been so different. I gave her further literature and a set of correspondence lessons. She is much interested in prison and welfare work, and would make a fine Bible instructor. A few days ago we had a Christian Science member in the hospital. She was so impressed with the care here, the religious atmosphere, and the interest everyone took in her, that she has been inquiring about our beliefs and wants literature. She told us she would help us financially as soon as possible. She is in real-estate business.
A man who works for one of the leading newspapers in the city and his wife have both been patients and are deeply impressed and interested. They took their friends to see the Stone Tower Center after it was built, and I always receive a very fine welcome to their home. The woman is keenly interested in prophecies, and I hope sometime to be able to study with them. Then there is a woman whose background was Catholic, but she has dabbled in Christian Science. She has been very much confused in her thinking, but seems to be looking for some thing. I am studying with her now, but the first few studies made her very nervous. She is now beginning to see more light in the realities of the Bible and is looking forward to each study. Another man is reading Ministry of Healing and mentioned to me several times that he never knew his Saviour as he does since reading about Him in the book. He is a cardiac case, and we hope this experience will help him to accept his Lord.
These few experiences give just a little glimpse into the untold possibilities and opportunities in sanitarium and hospital evangelism. The field is rich and ripe, and there are a wealth of souls in it to be prepared for God's eternal kingdom.
