Health & Temperance Ministry Director: Sis Saundra Suchora
The Health and Temperance Ministry is an integral part of the mission of the Adventist Church. Its goals include assisting our members in living healthier, happier lives and reaching out to the surrounding community. By promoting whole-person health principles, we demonstrate the love of God.
Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
3 John 2 (KJV)
Health Ministry is the gospel of Christ illustrated, the message of God practiced. Without it, the gospel witness is muted; it is merely a theory, an idea. By linking biblical spirituality with practical health principles, we help each other find healing for our afflictions and hope for our future.
By connecting together, we can be more effective in promoting the health, healing, and wholeness of the community. We can bring healing to individuals in our own churches, our schools, and our homes. Together, we can fulfill God’s plan to restore hope in Christ to a world that is hurting in body, mind, and soul.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV)
The most important objective of health ministry is to help men and women reach their full potential, mentally, spiritually and physically. To reach full potential, health principles must be practiced.
The more closely these principles are followed, the better health the person enjoys. The more active a church is in public health education, the more effective will be its public evangelism, for health is the most universal entering wedge.
Duties of the Health Ministries Leader
The ministry to which a person is called when he or she becomes the health ministries leader in a local church can be described in the following ways:
1. Health promotion. Keeping church members aware of the importance of health and educating new members on the significance of health and temperance is one of the major responsibilities of the health ministries leader. This responsibility should be carried out at every opportunity; however, in the second week of October, a special program and emphasis should be planned. The Health Emphasis Week is a unique opportunity to increase the level of awareness and practice of health principles in your local church. Ministry is most effective when there is adequate personnel and financial resource. Request a budget from your church board early in their fiscal year. Get the support of your pastor and church leaders for any project you undertake. The last Sabbath in February of each year is set aside to create an awareness of our health and temperance journals: The Winner for children, Listen for teens, and Vibrant Life for adults.
2. Continuing health education. There is a question asked in the New Testament, “How can they learn without a teacher?” This is especially true regarding the health education of new church members. The health ministries leader is responsible for the health education of the new members in the Adventist lifestyle. Here are a few suggestions:
a. Provide each new member with the pamphlet Good Health in One Package. This little pamphlet, available from The Health Connection catalogue, explains the eight basic principles of health and temperance. Call (1-800-548-8700).
b. Invite the new church members systematically, for the first few months at least, to your home or to the church’s fellowship dinners, to acquaint them with vegetarian food.
c. Loan or give them one of the Ellen G. White health classics, especially Ministry of Healing.
d. Ask them to assist your local church in outreach programs.
e. Invite them to training seminars on health ministry; invite them to camp meeting or other special meetings on health.
3. Committees. You are the chairperson of your local church health ministries committee, and a member of the church board and the church ministries council. Your committee is the place to plan particular activities and events. On the board you will represent the interest of health ministry in the policy and financial decisions of the local church. If your church has a church ministries council, you will coordinate your activities with those of the other leaders in these meetings to plan a comprehensive, balanced church program.
4. Program development. It is your responsibility to take the initiative in coordinating the planning and organization of health screening and health seminars for the public. Everywhere Adventists are known as providers of stop smoking plans, cooking schools, and seminars on nutrition, heart disease, stress management, cancer prevention, physical fitness, weight control and the Bible basis for healthful living, as well as screening projects for high blood pressure, coronary heart disease and other health problems. Constant attention is given to these programs in the press across the United States and Canada. Major corporations and civic leaders often request the help of Adventists in these areas. Unless you bring together your committee and develop programs, these will not be available in your community. You cannot do it alone, but you can recruit and coordinate a team that can make it happen, using the proven guidebooks and kits available.
LEARN MORE HERE
Responsibilities in the Local Church, by the Church Resources Consortium, North American Division of Seventh-day Adventist Church. Copyright © 1997, Revised 2002.