Medical Ministry in the Homes
87
to go among families and seek to awaken an interest in the truth. In
almost every community there are large numbers who do not attend
any religious service. If they are reached by the gospel, it must be
carried to their homes. Often the relief of their physical needs is the
only avenue by which they can be approached. As missionary nurses
care for the sick and relieve the distress of the poor, they will find
many opportunities to pray with them, to read to them from God’s
Word, to speak of the Saviour. They can pray with and for the helpless
ones who have not strength of will to control the appetites that passion
has degraded. They can bring a ray of hope into the lives of the
defeated and disheartened. Their unselfish love, manifested in acts of
disinterested kindness, will make it easier for these suffering ones to
believe in the love of Christ.—
Ibid
.
Teach the People How to Keep Well—The medical missionary
work presents many opportunities for service. Intemperance in eat-
ing and ignorance of nature’s laws are causing much of the sickness
that exists and are robbing God of the glory due him.... Teach the
[127]
people that it is better to know how to keep well than to know how
to cure disease. We should be wise educators, warning all against
self-indulgence. As we see the wretchedness, deformity, and disease
that have come into the world as a result of ignorance, how can we
refrain from doing our part to enlighten the ignorant and relieve the
suffering?—
The Review and Herald, June 6, 1912
.
The Simple Principles All Should Master—God’s people are to
be genuine medical missionaries. They are to learn to minister to the
needs of soul and body. They should know how to give the simple
treatments that do so much to relieve pain and remove disease. They
should be familiar with the principles of health reform, that they may
show others how, by right habits of eating, drinking, and dressing,
disease may be prevented and health regained. A demonstration of the
value of the principles of health reform will do much toward removing
prejudice against our evangelical work. The Great Physician, the
originator of medical missionary work, will bless every one who will
go forward humbly and trustfully, seeking to impart the truth for this
time.—
The Review and Herald, May 5, 1904
.
A Continual Reform Essential—Reform, continual reform, must
be kept before the people, and by our example we must enforce our
teachings. True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand. It