Medical Missionary Work in the Last Days

Christ, Our Example

Matthew 4:23,24 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

During His ministry, Jesus devoted more time to healing the sick than to preaching. — Ministry of Healing, p. 19.

The Saviour made each work of healing an occasion for implanting divine principles in the mind and soul. This was the purpose of His work. He imparted earthly blessings, that He might incline the hearts of men to receive the gospel of His grace. — Ministry of Healing, p. 20.

Jesus Commissions the Twelve Disciples

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Jesus Commissions the Seventy

Luke 10:9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Jesus Gives the Great Commission to all Christians

Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Christ is no longer in this world in person, to go through our cities and towns and villages, healing the sick; but He has commissioned us to carry forward the medical missionary work that He began. –Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 168

The principles of health reform are found in the Word of God. The gospel of health is to be firmly linked with the ministry of the Word. It is the Lord’s design that the restoring influence of health reform shall be a part of the last great efforts to proclaim the gospel message. – Medical Ministry, p. 259.

We have come to a time when every member of the church should take hold of medical missionary work. Everywhere people are perishing for lack of a knowledge of the truths that have been committed to us. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 62

There are souls in many places who have not yet heard the message. Henceforth medical missionary work is to be carried forward with an earnestness with which it has never yet been carried. This work is the door through which the truth is to find entrance to the large cities, and sanitariums are to be established in many places. –Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 167

What is Medical Missionary Work?

Medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel. It is necessary to the advancement of the cause of God. As through it men and women are led to see the importance of right habits of living, the saving power of the truth will be made known. Every city is to be entered by workers trained to do medical missionary work. As the right hand of the third angel’s message, God’s methods of treating disease will open doors for the entrance of present truth. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 59

The right hand is used to open doors through which the body may find entrance. This is the part the medical missionary work is to act. It is to largely prepare the way for the reception of the truth for this time. — Medical Ministry, p. 238

Medical missionary work brings to humanity the gospel of release from suffering. It is the pioneer work of the gospel. It is the gospel practiced, the compassion of Christ revealed. Of this work there is great need, and the world is open for it. God grant that the importance of medical missionary work shall be understood, and that new fields may be immediately entered. –Medical Ministry, p. 239

In one hand they are to carry remedies for the relief of physical suffering, and in the other the gospel for the relief of sin-burdened souls. Thus they are to work as true medical missionaries. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 80

Short Training Courses Needed

The Lord calls upon our young people to enter our schools and quickly fit themselves for service. In various places outside of cities, schools are to be established where our youth can receive an education that will prepare them to go forth to do evangelical work and medical missionary work. –Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 170

Workers-gospel medical missionaries-are needed now. You cannot afford to spend years in preparation. Soon doors now open to the truth will be forever closed. Carry the message now. Do not wait, allowing the enemy to take possession of the fields now open before you. Let little companies go forth to do the work to which Christ appointed His disciples. Let them labor as evangelists, scattering our publications, and talking of the truth to those they meet. Let them pray for the sick, ministering to their necessities, not with drugs, but with nature’s remedies, and teaching them how to regain health and avoid disease. –Testimonies, Vol. 9, pp. 171, 172.

A Promise for New Schools in the Last Days

“I [the Lord] will instruct the ignorant, and anoint with heavenly eyesalve the eyes of many who are now in spiritual blindness. I will raise up agents who will carry out My will to prepare a people to stand before Me in the time of the end. In many places that ought to have been provided before with sanitariums and schools, I will establish My institutions, and these institutions will become educational centers for the training of workers.” – 7T 101

Sanitariums and Training schools to work together

The Lord has instructed us that with our training schools there should be connected small sanitariums that the students may have opportunity to gain a knowledge of medical missionary work. This line of work is to be brought into our schools as part of the regular instruction. — The Gospel Herald, May 1, 1908 par. 6

In the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah the Lord tells us plainly what the work is that he requires of us. In order that our young people may be fully prepared to do this work, small sanitariums are to be connected with our schools. The students are to be taught how to use nature’s simple remedies in the treatment of disease. And as they learn to care for the sick, they are to be taught to act under the direction of the Lord Jesus Christ. –Review & Herald, September 9, 1902 par. 12

Clear light has been given that our educational institutions should be connected with our sanitariums wherever this is possible. The work of the two institutions is to blend. –Counsels on Diet and Foods pp. 450

In every sanitarium established, young men and young women should be trained to be medical missionaries. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 100

In every place where schools are established we are to study what industries can be started that will give the students employment. Small sanitariums should be established in connection with our larger schools, that the students may have opportunity to gain a knowledge of medical missionary work. This line of work is to be brought into our schools as part of the regular instruction. — Medical Ministry pp. 323

Location of Training Schools and Sanitariums

Let men of sound judgment be appointed, not to publish abroad their intentions, but to search for such properties in the rural districts, in easy access to the cities, suitable for small training schools for workers, and where facilities may also be provided for treating the sick and weary souls who know not the truth. Look for such places just out from the large cities, where suitable buildings may be secured, either as a gift from the owners or purchased at a reasonable price by the gifts of our people. Do not erect buildings in the noisy cities. –Evangelism pp. 77

These smaller sanitariums should have been established where land could be secured for agricultural purposes. It is God’s plan that agriculture shall be connected with the work of our sanitariums and schools. Our youth need the education to be gained from this line of work. It is well, and more than well,–it is essential,–that efforts be made to carry out the Lord’s plan in this respect. –Testimonies, Vol. 8, pp. 227

Value of Outdoor Life

The things of nature are God’s blessings, provided to give health to body, mind, and soul. They are given to the well to keep them well and to the sick to make them well. Connected with water treatment, they are more effective in restoring health than all the drug medication in the world. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 76

Nature is God’s physician. The pure air, the glad sunshine, the beautiful flowers and trees, the orchards and vineyards, and outdoor exercise amid these surroundings, are health-giving–the elixir of life. Outdoor life is the only medicine that many invalids need. Its influence is powerful to heal sickness caused by fashionable life, a life that weakens and destroys the physical, mental, and spiritual powers. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 76

Locate sanitariums on extensive tracts of land, where, in the cultivation of the soil, patients can have opportunity for healthful, outdoor exercise. Such exercise, combined with hygienic treatment, will work miracles in restoring and invigorating the diseased body and refreshing the worn and weary mind. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 78

Small Beginnings

The Lord has instructed me to warn those who in the future establish sanitariums in new places, to begin their work in humility, consecrating their abilities to His service. The buildings erected are not to be large or expensive. Small local sanitariums are to be established in connection with our training schools. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 59

In this work it is best to make small beginnings in many places and allow God’s providence to indicate how rapidly facilities should be increased. The small plants established will grow into larger institutions. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 61

Why establish Sanitariums?

Why do we establish sanitariums? That the sick who come to them for treatment may receive relief from physical suffering and may also receive spiritual help. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 95

Our sanitariums are to be established for one object, the advancement of present truth. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 97

Work to Expand throughout the World

In foreign countries many enterprises for the advancement of this message must yet be begun and carried forward. … Men and women who unselfishly do what they can to establish sanitariums and treatment rooms in many lands will be richly rewarded. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 51

The sight of souls perishing in sin should arouse us to put forth greater effort to give the light of present truth to those who are in darkness, and especially to those in fields where as yet very little has been done to establish memorials for God. In all parts of the world a work that should have been done long ago is now to be entered upon and carried forward to completion. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 52

Sanitariums are to be established in different countries that are entered by our missionaries and are to be centers from which a work of healing, restoring, and educating shall be carried on. –Testimonies, Vol. 6, pp. 225

The Lord has signified that His work should be carried forward in the same spirit in which it was begun. The world is to be warned. Field after field is to be entered. The command given us is: “Add new territory; add new territory.” –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 54

Plan to Multiply the Work

The Lord will give to our sanitariums whose work is already established an opportunity to co-operate with Him in assisting newly established plants. Every new institution is to be regarded as a sister helper in the great work of proclaiming the third angel’s message. –Testimonies, Vol. 7, pp. 59

Financial Philosophy – Give Ye Them to Eat?

The means in our possession may not seem to be sufficient for the work; but if we will move forward in faith, believing in the all-sufficient power of God, abundant resources will open before us. If the work be of God, He Himself will provide the means for its accomplishment. He will reward honest, simple reliance upon Him. The little that is wisely and economically used in the service of the Lord of heaven will increase in the very act of imparting. In the hand of Christ the small supply of food remained undiminished until the famished multitude were satisfied. If we go to the Source of all strength, with our hands of faith outstretched to receive, we shall be sustained in our work, even under the most forbidding circumstances, and shall be enabled to give to others the bread of life. — Desire of Ages pp. 371