Few if any religions incorporate health with the gospel in their evangelistic efforts. I believe Christ had a dual ministry-- to heal those that were sick and those that were in sin. Most Christians acknowledge that we are to obey God's Ten Commandments, but the same Christians fail to recognize that we should be obeying God's laws of health also. There is a great need for God's elect to go out into "the highways and byways" that God's house may be filled.

     "A forward step is imperative; a new note must be struck. Thousands of laymen must now hear and repeat the call to medical missionary evangelism. Nurses should engage in medical missionary evangelism. Scores of young men should qualify to be lecturers. Physicians should sense fully their responsibility of imparting the message of health and temperance in talks and lectures in churches in the larger cities. Ministers should lead out as organizers and teachers of bands of young evangelists." A Call to Medical Evangelism and Health Education, Foreword, General Conference Medical Department, penned in 1950.

     I am sorry that the church has failed to fulfill her God-given obligation in presenting to the world the true medical missionary work. Instead, the church is in a terrible backslidden condition, and the physicians are teaching for doctrines the Babylonian method of healing--the use of drug therapy, chemotherapy, radiation, etc. Instead of educating people in natural remedies like good nutrition, drinking pure water, exercise, fresh air, sunshine, self-control, rest, and trusting in Divine power, doctors are writing prescriptions for drugs that produce dangerous side effects and rarely cure the patient. Drugs do not cure. They only relieve symptoms. Prevention is KEY!

      Instead of educating people in the use of hydrotherapy, the rational use of herbs, how to cleanse the elimination organs of the body, and so forth, we have become like all the other doctors and hospitals practicing orthodox, allopathic medicine. On the other hand, we should be teaching prevention and the simple remedies that can be used to reverse chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and even cancers. Teaching how we can prevent them by obeying God's health laws! Disease is often caused by deficiency and toxicity, and most of the people are ignorant of this fact. Our health reform message originally embraced the message of natural hygiene--using the simple remedies of nature, not drugs, to heal the patient. 

     May we all respond to the call to Medical Evangelism and each of us do our part. "As we approach the close of this earth's history, we will find that the whole world is becoming a lazar house of disease, and transgression of the law of God is bringing the sure result." 18MR 353. What an opportune time for the church to be the head and not the tail!

      When you understand "the medical missionary work is to be a great entering wedge, whereby the diseased soul may be reached (see Counsels on Health, p. 535)," you may wonder why more Christians are not following this wise and timely counsel.

      "The evangelization of the world is the work that God has given to those who go forth in His name. They are to be colaborers with Christ, revealing to those ready to perish His tender, pitying love. God calls for thousands to go to work for Him, not by preaching to those who know the truth, going over and over the same ground, but by warning those who have never heard the last message of mercy. Work with a heart filled with an earnest longing for souls. Do medical missionary work. Thus you will gain access to the hearts of the people. The way will be prepared for more decided proclamation of the truth. You will find that relieving their physical suffering gives an opportunity to minister to their spiritual needs."

      Friends, for 30 years I have known the medical missionary work to be the "great entering wedge" to reach the hearts of the people. That is why Modern Manna hosted 12 Health and Healing Crusades in an effort to teach people from all walks of life and religious denominations the message of health reform. That is why we produced a radio show that aired all over the country for 12 years. That is why we opened a vegetarian restaurant in Lodi and served healthy, vegan food to the residents and placed free health tracks on the table between the Celtic Salt and cayenne pepper. That is why we conducted health and vegetarian cooking classes at the colleges, schools and churches, reaching both the young and the old. That is precisely why we held evangelistic meetings in far away places like Africa and other countries. That is the main reason why we started BellaVita Lifestyle Center where we educate the guests on natural hygiene, raw food preparation, and how to cleanse and regenerate the physical body to avoid and reverse disease. That is why we are airing Adventures in Health, via satellite, on AMAZING FACTS TV for 22 weeks. That is why we will be offering R I S E N (Remedial and Integrated School of Evangelism and Naturopathy) and BellaVegan School of Raw Cuisine. That is why we are holding evangelistic meeting in churches all over the country! The time is at hand!

     Just this week, Charmaine noticed a poster advertising the Health and Wellness weekend sponsored by Lodi Chamber of Commerce. This month they will be featuring a run and 80 booths at Lodi Lake to promote health awareness in our community. There focus is children's health. Charmaine and I, realizing another opportunity, went to see the president of the Chamber and were cordially welcomed. He knew of our work in the community, and quickly asked if I would be willing to give a health lecture at the event and Charmaine give a exercise demonstration. We left his office smiling and knowing God had opened yet another door.  

       I have witnessed, many times, when ministering to the sick, that if Jesus is presented as the True Healer, and His natural remedies from the earth as His true medicines, the hearts and minds of the people will open wide for the entrance of other Bible truths. I call the ministry of healing "The Ministry of Compassion." I believe there will be many, many souls in the kingdom, because they were reached through God's medical missionaries doing health evangelism. The true health work is God's blueprint for reaching souls. It is Christ's ministry, and the work of healing the sick and preaching the gospel of the kingdom are to blend. (See Matthew 4:23-25).

      The health work is called the entering wedge because it gets into the crack of the heart when nothing else can fit. It widens the entrance for the Word of God and the Three Angels' Messages of Revelation 14. Especially at a time when the churches of the land continue are giving sleeping people the junk food and entertainment of Babylon, thus feeding the carnal desires of their hearts! Oh, yes, the drums, dancing, and noise are here! Please, remember the music played right before the Israelites were commanded to bow down to the image of gold in Babylon in Daniel Chapter 2! What the church desperately needs today is not the entertainment of Hollywood, but the Word of God and medical missionary evangelists! 

Happy Sabbath,

Danny Vierra