IT WAS a first for the Far Eastern Division! A doctor-minister team accompanied by Royce C. Williams, division Ministerial secretary, made a tour of the division that brought them in contact with nearly every minister and a number of doctors. Eighteen ministerial institutes were con ducted, and the emphasis was on health evangelism.
There is a growing trend in many parts of the world to use the health message as an evangelistic entering wedge. The Far Eastern Division, and more specifically the Philippine unions have taken a major step in using this method. (See the September, 1970, issue of THE MINISTRY.) The North Philippine Union has prepared charts, lectures, slides, and other visual aids relative to health evangelism. (For additional information write directly to Mrs. Amye Sherrard, P.O. Box 401, Manila, Philippines D-406.)
Royce Williams, who has helped pioneer this type of program, recently wrote: "Oh, brethren, how I wish we had gotten serious with the counsel of the prophet years ago! It is hard to explain why we have waited so long and wasted our lives, but thank God it is beginning to happen. The sleeping giant is beginning to awaken and only God knows what will happen when she is fully awake. The work will be finished quickly."
Each ministerial institute focused on the philosophy of our health message as found in the Scriptures and also the Spirit of Prophecy writings. The vast majority of our ministers expressed deep appreciation for the material presented and many of them stated that they had never known the importance of the health aspect of our message. More than half of the speaking appointments allotted to us were based on the subject of reaching man's need with a mes sage of complete restoration including body, mind, and soul.
We worked together as a team in presenting our materials, with the doctor taking the first portion of the service and the minister following with his message. Occasionally each man would speak three or four times during the service. This demonstrated how a team approach could be used in public meetings.
The Need and the Answer
Our main thesis was that in order to reach men we must have a message that touches a real need. And, of course, a universal desire recognized by all is a healthy body. The avenues leading to the soul of man are through these physical avenues.
His brain nerves are that part of the nervous system that lets the individual know what it is all about. Without strong bodies and healthy nerves a person is just "not with it," as we say today. How interesting to note this statement from an inspired pen:
The brain nerves which communicate with the entire system are the only medium through which Heaven can communicate to man, and affect his inmost life. Whatever disturbs the circulation of the electric currents in the nervous system, lessens the strength of the vital powers, and the result is a deadening of the sensibilities of the mind. --Testimonies, vol. 2, p. 347.
It is for this reason that in helping a man to keep his body healthy in turn strengthening brain nerves you at once do two things. First, you have helped him where he wants all the help he can get. You have taken care of an innate need his good health. Second, you have automatically helped him to have better nerves, clearer thinking, and the ability to recognize his need of God, and to understand truth for our time.
Why preach to a dull brain and a sickly-body, when by beginning to correct his physical habits you have won his heart, aided him physically, and opened a mind to be receptive to the great truths of the Bible?
Feeling that the time has come to combine medical and ministerial workers together in a great forward thrust, it was a wonderful experience to see this combination of healing for body and soul work in the lives of our ministers in the Far East. Habits of long standing were changed and good health habits were begun that for years had been slighted.
What was the result? Many of our workers went to their fields fired with vision and practical lessons that could be presented to their churches and communities--a new way of life! It will be most convincing as they experience it themselves.
As further experimentation and refining of the approach takes place, we will share it with our MINISTRY readers.
