The Massage and Hydrotherapy Seminar held from November 24 to 27, 2024 in Banepa, Nepal, marked a new chapter for the Nepal Church’s health ministries. Jacob Ko, Director of the Health Ministries of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), led this seminar and emphasized the importance of holistic well-being, encompassing physical, emotional, social, and spiritual health, and left a lasting impact on its participants.
Jacob Ko, visiting Nepal for the first time, was warmly welcomed by Umesh Kumar Pokharel, the President of the Nepal Section, and Sundar Thapa, director of the Nepal Section Health Ministries department.
President Pokharel reflected on John 8:31–32, encouraging participants to wholeheartedly embrace Jesus and live as true disciples who find freedom in His truth. Sundar Thapa followed with a message highlighting the seminar’s focus on integrating various aspects of health and equipping church leaders with practical knowledge to serve their communities effectively.
Dr. Ko’s sessions provided in-depth training on health principles and practical techniques for massage and hydrotherapy, demonstrating how simple and accessible natural remedies can alleviate pain and promote healing. His teachings emphasized the potential of these methods to bring comfort and restoration to church members and local communities. Dr. Hector Gayares, representing the Scheer Memorial Health and Educational Trust, contributed valuable insights into integrating health ministries with the church’s mission. Nurses from the Scheer Memorial Hospital further enriched the seminar by offering practical demonstrations, ensuring participants thoroughly understood the techniques.
The seminar achieved a significant impact by equipping 45 church leaders, including pastors, Bible workers, and GO volunteers, with practical skills and knowledge to address health challenges in their congregations and communities. The event provided solutions for regions with limited access to advanced medical facilities by focusing on affordable and natural remedies. It also reaffirmed the Adventist belief that physical healing can lead to spiritual transformation, highlighting health ministries as essential to the church’s mission.
Pastor Umesh remarked, “This seminar offered invaluable health training while also deepening the connection between church leaders and their holistic mission to serve.” He further emphasized, “Dr. Ko’s unwavering passion for the health ministry, coupled with the collaborative efforts of all contributors, exemplified how practical health initiatives can profoundly support the church’s mission.”