In the midst of chaotic traffic on a sunny day in Jakarta, Indonesia, a taxi driver picked up a passenger from a hospital near the Cideng District. “Why are you visiting the hospital today?” asked the driver.
“I have been seeing a doctor for abdominal pain,” replied the passenger. “I have just discovered that I have a tumor and will need surgery.”
The driver was sympathetic. “Why don’t you go to Club Sehat [a health club] in Cideng? Maybe they can help you. It is a place where they teach you how to live healthfully.” The passenger’s curiosity was piqued. He could not wait a moment longer and asked to be taken there right away.
Inside Club Sehat, a health lecture was taking place. He listened with interest and then made an appointment to see Liong Pit Lin, one of the principal health lecturers. She has devoted herself to lifestyle ministry after surviving three types of cancer. Lin recommended several lifestyle changes, and the man faithfully followed the new principles he had learned. Several months later, his doctor found that the tumor had significantly shrunk.
A second taxi driver, in another part of town, was a Protestant Christian. Though retired, he continued driving as a ministry to his passengers. He was a keen listener of the weekly Adventist radio broadcasts on health and became familiar with Club Sehat through them. While attending health lectures, he became excited about the health message and started sharing it with all of his passengers. He discovered that witnessing about health crossed all religious and cultural boundaries. Today, he brings his passengers to Club Sehat on a regular basis.
What do these two taxi drivers have in common? For one, they are excited about Club Sehat. Second, they have both become ambassadors of Club Sehat. Their message is the same: if you wish to improve your quality of life, Club Sehat is the place to go. They have become ardent supporters because they have followed the health messages and have seen their own health improve remarkably. There are no expensive advertising campaigns. By word of mouth alone, the news has spread.
Club Sehat is the brainchild of a group of laypeople from five churches who are committed to reaching out to the affluent living in Jakarta, a city of 12 million people. Since 2003, they have faithfully followed Ellen White’s counsel on reaching the cities by making their churches centers of influence. They started a weekly radio broadcast on health topics, drawing a continuous stream of interested listeners to Club Sehat. After health presentations come 30-minute inspirational messages delivered by a pastor. Most guests stay for the sermon. Here, the gospel and medical missions work in concert. There are currently three Club Sehat locations.
To finance this unique ministry, a health food grocery store was opened in each club. There are cooking demonstrations on Sundays, and the freshly cooked vegetarian foods sell out quickly. Part of the proceeds from the stores are reinvested into the ministry.
Club Sehat also offers health consultations for individuals and families. Liong Pit Lin conducts most of the consultations. As health problems are often related to spiritual maladies, she brings biblical principles to the forefront.
All over Jakarta, the affluent are looking for answers. They have lived the “good life,” yet many are afflicted with debilitating lifestyle diseases. They know medication is not a permanent solution, so they come looking for alternatives.
One of the people looking for answers was a top fashion designer. Though well-educated, he was a broken man. While on a business trip to Bali, he happened to be staying in the same hotel as Ms. Dewi, another Club Sehat health presenter. One day he chanced upon Dewi praying, and he pleaded with her to pray for his health. Dewi shared some health tips with him and invited him to attend the health lectures in Jakarta. After he returned to Jakarta, Liong Pit Lin and Dewi visited him in his home. He followed their recommendations and could not help but notice the marked improvement in his health. Later, he attended health seminars at Club Sehat and quit smoking. Today he visits regularly and often brings his friends from the entertainment world.
Except for the church pastors, all workers in this specialized ministry are volunteers. Their health ministries are lay-initiated, lay-motivated, and lay-committed. The health and spiritual messages are presented side by side, collaborating. There are no high-pressure tactics. In a quiet and sustained manner, Club Sehat serves its community.
