The aspect of gospel work that presents basic health principles and offers practical instruction in health and sensible health habits as an avenue to a more abundant life and a sound Christian faith. Health evangelism may be defined as Christian health education. From the 1860s the Seventh-day Adventist Church has promoted health evangelism through its ministry, its medical institutions, and its professional personnel.
Concerning the evangelistic role of physicians, Ellen White wrote: “Let the medical workers present the important [SDA] truths . . . from the physician’s viewpoint. Physicians of consecration and talent can secure a hearing in large cities at times when other men would fail. As physicians unite with ministers in proclaiming the gospel in the great cities of the land, their combined labors will result in influencing many minds in favor of the truth for this time” ( MM 248).
Many Seventh-day Adventist evangelists make health and nutrition a part of their public program. But beyond this, Ellen White was given the message that every minister should become involved in medical missionary work: Medical missionary work “is to be connected with the gospel ministry. It is the gospel in practice. . . . I wish to tell you that soon there will be no work done in ministerial lines but medical missionary work. The work of a minister is to minister. Our ministers are to work on the gospel plan of ministering. . . . You will never be ministers after the gospel order till you show a decided interest in medical missionary work, the gospel of healing and blessing and strengthening. . . . The Lord wants every one of His ministers to come into line. Take hold of the medical missionary work, and it will give you access to the people. Their hearts will be touched as you minister to their necessities” ( CH 532, 533).
In 1868 Dr. M. G. Kellogg was sent to visit the churches to promote an interest in health, and in 1878 Dr. John Harvey Kellogg opened a school of hygiene for the training of health lecturers (see Health and Temperance Missionary School ). Leaders of the denomination gave health lectures at sanitariums, and SDA medical institutions have carried on a continuous program of health education. Health courses are taught in SDA schools and colleges.
In 1866 the first Seventh-day Adventist health paper, the Health Reformer (later called Good Health ), was published. The Pacific Health Journal and Temperance Advocate , published first in 1885, continued to 1904, when it became Life and Health , a monthly magazine. Health , begun in 1934, merged with Life and Health in 1948. Life and Health has since become Vibrant Life.
Nutrition Schools. Through all its medical institutions, the SDA Church has endeavored to offer a continuing education program in diet, cookery, and nutrition. To implement a specific program in union and local conferences, Dr. J. W. McFarland, of the Medical Department, in 1954 arranged for Dr. and Mrs. H. W. Vollmer to conduct nutrition and cooking schools in major institutions, with the objective of preparing competent instructors in conferences and local churches to teach the basic principles of good nutrition and to avoid the extremes of faddists. Since that time, other Health and Temperance Department associate directors have fostered this program. Currently many different forms of vegetarian cooking classes are being conducted for the public.
Other Programs. Other programs of health outreach that are evangelistic include home nursing classes, stressing simple home treatments, first-aid classes, weight control, physical fitness, dietary control of heart disease, stress management, and other classes and seminars designed to meet people’s felt needs. Materials for use in such programs are available through the North American Distribution Center, the General Conference Health and Temperance Department, or the School of Public Health of Loma Linda University.
Health correspondence lessons and special health features are a part of the Voice of Prophecy, Faith for Today, and It Is Written radio and television programs.
Since early 1970 more and more SDA medical institutions have carried on strong health evangelistic programs, employing full-time graduates of the School of Health, Loma Linda University, as health educators to coordinate evangelistic programs with chaplains, doctors, and nurses both in North America and overseas.
Education Against Alcohol, Tobacco, and Narcotics. Since abstinence from the use of tobacco and alcohol, as well as narcotics, is a requirement for church membership among Seventh-day Adventists, there is a continuing program of education against their use. The General Conference Health and Temperance and Ministerial departments cooperate to help victims of the tobacco habit to stop smoking through the Breathe Free stop-smoking plan, conducted by minister-doctor teams.