Taiwan Conference (TWC) is following through with plans laid three years ago to train its Medical Missionary Training (MMT) with its train-the-trainer program. The Health Ministry Department has as its slogan: Every Church a Community Health Center; Every Member a Health Minister! In our world some sow and others reap, but nonetheless, all triumph at the end. “Medical missionary work is the right hand of the gospel” (7T, 59).
Christ’s method alone will be the model for this training: “Christ method alone will give true success in teaching the people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, ‘Follow Me’” (MH, 143).
In the Bible Matthew 9:35 talks about Christ’s four-fold earthly ministry “Jesus went through all the town and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness”. One other task that is not mentioned in this text is His discipleship for the 12. So as a Medical minister we need to teach, preach, bring the sick to Jesus for healing, and we educate for the prevention of sickness, relieve human suffering by use simple home remedies.
The MMT certification program is delivered in three stages:
1) Basic Medical Missionary Training Certificate
2) Intermediate Medical Missionary Training Certificate
3) Advanced Medical Missionary Training Certificate
The first stage includes: Basic health ministries, cooking school, emotion health, practical health ministries, and vibrant discipleship.
The second stage includes: How to start a plant-basedcooking school in the community/church, emotional health training, specific program in exercise, stress management, weight management, massage and grant proposal writing to get money from Government/Foundation/Church. The trainees will have a six-hour training on how to give Bible studies.
The third stage includes: First aid, CPR, giving a full Bible study to a seeker under the supervision of achurch leader, run a health program in Church/community under the supervision of the Conference Health director.
After completing all 3 stages, participants will graduate with the Medical Missionary Teacher Certificate from NSD and TWC Health Department.
We havegraduated 22 from our program and they are all equipped to go two by two to do this work. “The history of the advent movement has been characterized by a dual ministry. Health and temperance work has always been a part of world evangelism. Many important reforms in healthful living are recognized as being closely interwoven with the advent gospel message. Pointing the way to a full observance of God’s law has included the recognition of the law of health” (A Call To Medical Evangelism and Health Education, 7).
Article by Barbara Choi, NSD Health Ministries Director