Preparedness by Stephen Nelson Haskell

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · May 25, 1916

Preparedness

By Stephen Nelson Haskell

We are on the verge of the greatest crisis this world has ever known. A mighty work is to be done in a short time. While the nations of earth are preparing to fight on land, in the air, on the water, and under the water, as a denomination we should spare neither pains nor expense in preparing efficient workers in all lines of work. From “Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, pp. 169, 170, we quote as follows:—

“If ever the Lord has spoken by me, he speaks when I say that the workers engaged in educational lines, in ministerial lines, and in medical missionary lines, must stand as a unit, all laboring under the supervision of God, one helping the other, each blessing each.” The three lines of work are to stand as a unit, workers in each line as soul-winners for God.

Says the servant of the Lord, “There is no missionary field more important than that occupied by the faithful, God-fearing physician. There is no field where a man may accomplish greater good, or win more jewels to shine in the crown of his rejoicing. He may carry the grace of Christ, as a sweet perfume, into all the sick-rooms he enters; he may carry the true healing balm to the sin-sick soul.”—Id., Vol. V, p. 448.

The three divisions of the Lord’s great army are given as workers “in educational lines, in ministerial lines, and in medical missionary lines.” Every teacher, from the head of our colleges to the humblest church-school teacher, is expected to be a soul-winner. A host of unconverted youth enter our schools year by year, and under the influence of godly teachers are led to Christ, and in turn are trained to become soul-winners themselves. Our ministers, in halls and tents, year by year, are bringing thousands from darkness to light. Why should not our medical workers be successful soul-winners?

In our North American Division we have five colleges and twenty-three academies, besides several seminaries, for the education and training of ministers and teachers. At a very conservative estimate each one of these five colleges has cost us nearly $150,000, while some of them have cost more than that; but who would think of regretting the expense when he looks upon the army of youth who pass from our schools out into the home and foreign fields as soul-winners?

While we have more than thirty advanced schools in America for the training of workers in the “ministerial lines” and in the “educational lines,” there are none of these schools that can give the necessary training that will fit one to do efficient work in “medical missionary lines.”

For many years, according to the light given by the servant of the Lord, we have understood that our medical missionary workers—physicians and nurses—will be the last workers in the field. When our schools are turned into barracks

for soldiers and our sanitariums are taken for hospitals for the wounded, and many of our ministers and teachers are forced to choose between active service in the army or imprisonment, then God-fearing physicians and nurses will be left free to carry the truth to thousands as they minister to their physical needs.

Is it not time for Seventh-day Adventists to study preparedness, and make rapid improvement in getting ready for the future? We have more than thirty well-equipped advanced schools for the training of two classes of workers, and only one school, and that with inadequate equipment at present, to train the workers that will in the near future largely have the responsibility of finishing the work.

Advance moves should be made without delay in preparing educational advantages for those wishing to fit themselves to work in medical missionary lines. We cannot leave this class of workers to receive their training in worldly schools, and expect them to come forth efficient soul-winners.

It will cost something fully to equip our Loma Linda medical school and bring it up to the standard outlined by the Spirit of prophecy. We have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in equipping colleges to train ministers and teachers. Why not equip one medical school to train workers in “medical missionary lines”? We should not delay in doing all in our power to make our medical missionary workers strong soul-winners. Our nation senses the needs of the time, and is spending millions in preparing for the crisis before us. This is being done because, by their human wisdom, men sense the needs of the hour. Surely we who have the light of prophecy shining on our pathway, warning us to prepare for what is before us, should not hesitate.

In one of Sister White’s last talks at the General Conference, she said, “Henceforth medical missionary work is to be carried forward with an earnestness with which it has never yet been carried.”—“Testimonies for the Church,” Vol. IX, p. 167.

Shall we fulfil this word, and that speedily, by preparing the necessary equipment to give our medical missionaries a training in our own school?

Instruction has been given that “facilities should be provided at Loma Linda, that the necessary instruction in medical lines may be given by instructors who fear God and who are in harmony with his plans for the treatment of the sick.”—“Medical Evangelist Library,” No. 6, p. 29. Much instruction similar to this has come to us during the past seven or eight years, but we have been slow to comprehend it.

The enemy of souls, who has retarded this work for years, will suggest doubts in regard to the government’s recognizing our medical schools, etc., but so far, the leading medical men of the country have met us more than halfway.

The same God that opened the Red Sea before his people, after he had told them to “go forward,” lives and reigns today. We are bidden “to establish a thoroughly equipped medical school, the graduates from which shall be able to take State board examinations, and become registered, qualified physicians.”—Id., p. 30. He will open the way before us if we go forward in his name.

Whenever, in the past, God’s people have been ready and willing to go forward, he has always opened the way before them, whether it was through rivers, seas, or mountains.

In view of the great need before us, is it not time, in the name of the Lord, for all who sense the time in which we are living, and believe the instruction given by the Spirit of prophecy to say, as did Nehemiah of old, “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build”? Neh. 2:20.

S. N. HASKELL.