A Call to Personal Ministry

219 Pages·2002·0.67 MB·English

A
CALL
TO
THROUGH MEDICAL
AND HEALTH EVANGELISM
Compiled by E. W. HON
English Electronic Edition 2000 - Health Ministries Department, EUD, Berne, Switzerland
First English Edition 1968 - Signs Publishing Company, Warburton, Victoria, Australia
Second English Edition 1976 - The Eusey Press, USA
Spanish Edition 1976 - The Eusey Press, USA
German Edition 1992 - Euro-Africa Division, Berne, Switzerland
Portuguese Edition 1995 - Publicadora Atlântico, Sacavém, Portugal
Rumanian Edition 1996 - ViaÛ| Õi S|n|tate, Bucharest
Bulgarian Edition 1997 - Sofia
To My Friend
the late
DR. SIEGFRIED ARTHUR KOTZ
A Great Missionary
Administrator and Doctor
but Most of All
A Warm and Gentle Human Being
E. W. H.
Foreword to this Electronic Edition
The English edition of Elder Eric Hon’s book A Call to Personal Ministry is out of print for over 25
years. Meanwhile the work of health promotion has grown all over the world and courses to train Health
Educators are now offered in many countries. Despite the many good new books about nutrition, exercise
and other scientific aspects of the modern diseases, we find no better organized textbook about the SDA
philosophy of health than A Call to Personal Ministry. This present “electronic edition” was prepared to
respond to the need of a reprint using the inexpensive, fastest electronic means now available. Special
thanks must be given to Dr. Richard Hansen for scanning of text and proofreading, which was a labor of
love for the advancement of our SDA health message.
Particular tribute appertains to the Hon family itself. To Mrs. Hazel Hon for giving us permission to
translate this wonderful book into other languages and to Kelvin R. Hon for his keen support to this project.
A great revival of the medical missionary work has been predicted for these last days: “When the third
angel's message is received in its fullness, health reform will be given its place in the councils of the
conference, in the work of the church, in the home, at the table, and in all the household arrangements. Then
the right arm will serve and protect the body.” Testimonies for the Church, vol. 6, p. 327
Our hearts have been warmed as we reviewed these inspired references on medical missionary work,
written long ago by Ellen G. White, prophetess to the SDA movement. Her timely counsels on a healthy
lifestyle were more than 100 years ahead of modern science, and remain persuasive and valuable today
in Christian health promotion around the world.
We chose the Portable Document Format (*.PDF) which allows to maintain all formatting features and
can be read or printed by anyone using the free Acrobat Reader software.
The text of this book may be freely copied, printed and shared with friends and colleagues but should
not be modified, except for section F (Useful Information) which in reality is not part of the original text and
will need to be updated periodically.
It is our wish that this new form may be useful in your ministry for the Lord. Any feedback and
suggestions are welcome and may be directed to
Health Ministries Department
Euro-Africa Division
Schosshaldenstrasse 17
3006 Berne
Switzerland
Foreword
to the 1st Edition
The studies contained in this volume have been compiled by Pastor E. W. Hon to bring to the fore two
very important aspects of our church programme.
1. Medical missionary work and its place in the gospel programme.
2. The health message as an integral part of present truth.
These studies will serve as an important aid in instructing church members in their personal
responsibility to embrace the complete message of restoration through Christ, and to share the joy of
salvation by ministering to human need through this particular avenue of missionary service.
Pastor Hon, who has had more than twenty years of firsthand experience in health and medical
missionary work, is well qualified by this experience to set up these studies. He has studied and absorbed
the wonderful fund of information that this denomination has on these two important areas of church work.
I can highly recommend these studies to ministers and church members and pray that great blessing will
come as the church goes forward to minister to human need.
L. C. NADEN, President
Australasian Division of Seventh-day Adventists
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Foreword
to
1976 Edition
There is a special work that each church is called upon to do. “We have come to a time when every
member of the church should take hold of medical missionary work.” Call to Medical Evangelism and
Health Education, Ellen G. White, p. 10.
The Lord has long waited for the remnant people to “take hold.” Is it not now that we should “arise
and shine” for certainly never has the world been so open and ready to accept our health message as
NOW!
This book, newly revised and updated by Elder Eric Hon, is more than pleasant reading, or a mere
guide to another good program for church members. This book is an experience, a most thrilling experience
if you will act upon the instruction it contains. I know. I’ve seen what it can do in the lives of the students
that faithfully follow the “Call to Personal Ministry.”
J. Wayne McFarland, M.D., Associate Director
General Conference Department of Health
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Contents
SECTION PAGE
A. A GUIDE TO MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
B. LEARNING FROM CHRIST THE TRUE MEDICAL MISSIONARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
1. Our example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
2. His personal ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
3. His basis of success and efficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
4. His methods of approach to people . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5. His untiring effort . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
6. His ministry to all classes in all places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
C. MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK: ITS PURPOSE, SCOPE, AND PRACTICE . . . . . . . 39
7. Medical missionary work – an introductory study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
8. A call to complete ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
9. A call to personal ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
10. Attributes essential to personal ministry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
11. The scope of the medical missionary programme . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
12. The value of a soul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
D. HOW TO DO MEDICAL MISSIONARY WORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
13. What to do in medical missionary work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
E. HEALTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
14. In the beginning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
15. Health through the ages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
16. Health and medicine in the nineteenth century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
17. The place of the health message in the advent movement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
18. The timeliness of the health message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
19. The church member and the health reform message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
20. Extremism . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
21. Temperance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
22. Precepts for healthful living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
Air . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159 Exercise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Sunlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160 Diet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Abstemiousness . . . . . . . . 161 Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Rest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166 Trust in Divine Power . . . . . 183
23. Mental health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
24. Social aspects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
25. Stimulants and narcotics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Some concluding points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
F. USEFUL INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
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Introduction
By His example as the True Medical Missionary, Christ set the pattern for effective personal ministry.
That the church today may follow in the footsteps of Jesus and minister to human need, God gave His
people comprehensive instruction on medical missionary work. It is His ordained method of approach,
whereby people in all walks of life may be reached on a person-to-person basis.
A thorough study of the books dealing with medical missionary work and health reveals the wide
coverage of service which the church is to give to a world afflicted with troubles, trials, perplexities,
distress, sorrow, and pain.
Medical missionary work used in its right relationship to the gospel is the means that the church is to
employ, not only to minister to need, but to awaken a sense of need in the realm of the spiritual, to stir
inquiry, and cause men to seek for the words of eternal life.
Because of its broad scope of activity, medical missionary work makes it possible for every church
member to engage in some form of person-to-person ministry, which gives evidence that salvation lives in
the hearts of those who profess to be followers of Christ.
A wonderful spiritual experience awaits those who will willingly give self, put time aside to study
Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy on Christ's methods of ministry, apply the principles, and then go, give,
and share.
As an aid to study and the practical application of medical missionary work, this material has been
assembled. The studies cover several areas, some of which have been designed to give step by step
instruction on Christ's ministry. The Scriptural references have appropriate supporting material from the
Spirit of Prophecy, giving enlightening detail on Christ's approach to human need. In a number of places
there are references for further study, and these can be pursued with profit. Personal study will be richly
rewarded as Christ's life and ministry comes more sharply into focus and His example is followed. His
methods alone will bring true success in reaching the people.
The assembled material has been divided into five sections: A Guide to Medical Missionary Work;
Learning from Christ, the True Medical Missionary; Medical Missionary Work; How to Do Medical
Missionary Work; and Health.
The "Guide to Medical Missionary Work" gives information on how to get started, and a quick look
at the over-all programme of medical missionary work. The section "Learning from Christ, the True
Medical Missionary" brings to the fore Christ's life and example as the True Medical Missionary. The
studies on "Medical Missionary Work" explain what is meant by medical missionary work, emphasizing the
importance of personal ministry, and giving details on the many avenues of service in which the church can
serve the community.
"How to Do Medical Missionary Work" sets out in brief those activities in which most churches can
engage without great financial involvement, with perhaps one exception-the setting up of a church clinic.
Even this would not be beyond achievement if the church would be willing to put forth a concerted effort.
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The last section on "Health" is a series of studies showing God's guiding hand and concern for man's
welfare from the beginning. These studies emphasize the importance of health in relationship to salvation
and the individual's responsibility to obey the laws of nature as well as the law of God. Further, that it is
the duty of every church member to become intelligent on nutrition and principles of healthful living as an
essential part of life now, and for complete restoration.
The church has long delayed the full acceptance of medical missionary work and health as a vital part
of Christian living. Let there be no further delay, for salvation is much nearer than we think. God waits
upon us to take hold of the right arm of the work and use it with the gospel message, thus making it a
complete ministry for man's complete restoration. As we do so, there will dawn a new day; our
righteousness will go before us, and men and women will be drawn into the light of God's truth.
E. W. HON
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SECTION A
A GUIDE TO MEDICAL
MISSIONARY WORK
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A Guide to Medical Missionary Work
1. HOW TO START
The first essential is to know what medical missionary work is. Therefore we must study books dealing
with the subject. There are six, known as the Health Classics:
"Ministry of Healing"
"Medical Ministry"
"Counsels on Diet and Foods"
"Counsels on Health"
"Temperance"
"The Story of Our Health Message"
There are sections and chapters to be found in:
"The Testimonies"
"Evangelism"
"Christian Service"
"Selected Messages" 1 and 2
"Counsels to Teachers"
"Welfare Ministry"
"Testimony Treasures"
"Colporteur Ministry"
"Gospel Workers"
"Testimonies to Ministers"
(More detailed references listed at end of study.)
Other publications:
"A Call to Medical Evangelism": Selections from the writings of Ellen G. White
"Doctrines of Healthful Living": F. D. Nichol.
"The Genius and Scope of Our Medical Work": F. D. Nichol.
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