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Section 13—Medical Missionary Work and the Gospel Ministry
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how to treat disease. Physicians should remember that they will often
be required to perform the duties of a minister. Medical missionaries
come under the head of evangelists. The workers should go forth two
by two, that they may pray and consult together. Never should they
be sent out alone. The Lord Jesus Christ sent forth His disciples two
and two into all the cities of Israel. He gave them the commission,
“Heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of
God is come nigh unto you.”
We are instructed in the word of God that an evangelist is a
teacher. He should also be a medical missionary. But all are not given
the same work. “He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and
some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting
of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the
body of Christ.” ...
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Those who labor in our conferences as ministers should become
acquainted with the work of ministering to the sick. No minister
should be proud that he is ignorant where he should be wise. Medical
missionary work connects man with his fellowmen and with God.
The manifestation of sympathy and confidence is not to be limited
by time or space.—
Manuscript 33, 1901
.
Cooperation
God has given direction as to how the work is to be done. In our
camp meetings we meet all classes of people, high and low, rich and
poor. None are excluded. It is the Lord’s desire that the very best of
medical missionary physicians shall hold themselves in readiness to
cooperate with the ministers of the gospel. They are to be one with
Christ, men through whom God can work. The Lord desires His
work to advance in reformatory lines. During our camp meetings
genuine medical missionary work is to be done.
No line is to be drawn between the genuine medical missionary
work and the gospel ministry. These two must blend. They are not
to stand apart as separate lines of work. They are to be joined in an
inseparable union, even as the hand is joined to the body. Those in
our institutions are to give evidence that they understand their part
in the genuine gospel medical missionary work. A solemn dignity is