Your ShelfYour Projects

Gospel Workers' Department

5%

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park, Washington, D. C. · Jul 11, 1912

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 89, No. 28.

Read the full edition

Gospel Workers' Department

By Arthur Grosvenor Daniells

Their divine calling, qualification, and preparation. Methods of labor, plans, etc.

Conducted by A. G. Daniells

Council of City Evangelists

How Can We Combine Most Effectively the Evangelical and Medical Missionary Phases of Our Message

How to connect the medical missionary phase of our message with our regular evangelistic efforts everywhere, proved to be a question of deep interest in the council of city evangelists. This topic occupied two sessions of the council.
The Chairman: "From the interviews I have had with the ministers attending this meeting I find that there is an earnest desire to know how to unite the evangelical and medical missionary features of our work to the very best advantage. We find that different methods have been adopted in different places. One plan is for the minister to read up the best he can on anatomy, physiology, hygiene, and temperance, and give addresses on this subject the same as on theological questions. Another plan is for the minister to have a physician associated with him, to take the burden of the medical missionary part of the work. Still another plan is to have a competent nurse or two associated with a minister in his evangelistic work.
"I believe there are workers attending this council who have tried all these different plans, and I feel sure that all the information they can give the members of the council as to how their methods have worked, will be gladly received."
W. J. Stone: "I have been very much interested for a long time in the question now before us, and of late I have been making earnest efforts to have the evangelistic and medical missionary lines of work carried forward together in the conference of which I am president. The men who have led out in this effort are Brethren J. H. Tindall and C. E. Garnsey. They are both present, and I would suggest that we hear first from Brother Garnsey, our medical evangelist."
C. E. Garnsey: "In our experience we find that the medical work is an entering wedge, helping us to get into the homes of the people and break down their prejudice. As a rule, people are not opposed to this phase of our message. We have labored in places where strong opposition to our evangelical work was overcome by the medical missionary work which we connected with it, and which gave us entrance to the homes and hearts of the people.
"In every large city we find a great deal of sickness and disease, and we find that we can more readily reach those who are afflicted than those who are well. It seems that people are more willing when suffering to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. We find men and women using poisonous drugs, intoxicating liquors, and tobacco, whom we can not bring into the truth unless we can help them to break these habits. When we talk to them about the message of salvation, they tell us of their bondage to these habits, and declare that it is impossible for them to overcome them. But we show them the better way to live, and then point them to Christ, who is able to deliver them from their sins and all their established habits; and in many cases they are delivered.
"I recall one case, a man who had used tobacco so excessively that it seemed impossible for him to hold the truth in mind, much less to obey it. He came to our meetings, was deeply interested, and wanted to know what he could do. I went to his home, gave him some treatments, and knelt at his bedside, praying with him. I never give a treatment without first kneeling by the side of the patient and asking God to bless the treatment. After giving this man a number of treatments, he finally embraced the truth. He has since given between eight and ten thousand dollars to our work. I believe it was the medical missionary phase of our work that enabled us to reach this man.
"In giving my public lectures, I use the Bible, Ministry of Healing, and Testimonies for the Church, adding to the statements I read such scientific proof as may be necessary. This helps the people to realize the importance of carefulness in living.
"I also make use of the stereopticon. I have a large number of the best slides I have been able to secure. After the meeting has been opened and I have introduced the subject, at a simple signal, perhaps a motion of the hand, the lights are extinguished and an illustration is thrown on the screen. This helps very much in explaining the subject I am presenting. After a brief explanation of the slide, another signal is given, when the picture is removed and the lights are turned on. The address is continued until another illustration is wanted. In this way the lecture is illustrated with scarcely any interruption, the people are interested, and gain a much clearer understanding of the subject than they could without the illustrations.
"We usually give our health lectures on Monday night, or any other night when the attendance is liable to be small."
W. J. Stone: "These illustrated health and temperance addresses attract people to our meetings, thus increasing our attendance and making a very favorable impression. They bring in a class of intelligent people. As a rule, the contributions are excellent, sometimes more than covering the expenses of the meetings. I am glad to know that this combined work is now being opened here in the city of Washington in connection with the Sanitarium and the Seminary. I think we should now hear from Brother Tindall, the evangelist with whom Brother Garnsey has been associated."
J. H. Tindall: "The evangelist and the medical worker of a company can work together to most excellent advantage. The evangelist should keep in close touch with the audience and all the interested persons, and as he comes in contact with those who especially need the help of the medical worker, the latter can render most valuable help. For instance, the evangelist meets a man, and mentions that he has noticed he has not been out to the meetings for several nights. The man replies that he has not been feeling well. The evangelist then calls the attention of the medical worker to this case. In a series of meetings we find many men who are kept away by physical disease, missing perhaps the most important truths.
"In giving a definite message, presenting our testing truths, we are in a warfare with wicked spirits. Opposition may be created and prejudice aroused. The medical feature of our work is effective in meeting opposition and allaying prejudice, pouring oil on the troubled waters, as it were.
"The presentation of medical subjects should be in a manner to appeal to intelligent people, with scientific reasons for the things stated. This work is educational and appeals to a good class of people. A well-qualified physician or a properly educated nurse can do good service. Every company in a city effort should have connected with it a lady nurse to minister to the women. If we can send a nurse to the homes where there are sick ones, perhaps sick children, we shall win the hearts of the mothers, and make an appeal to the fathers, thus helping to bring them to our meetings."
Further discussion of the subject will be reported next week.
A. G. Daniells, Chairman; Thaddeus Legg, Secretary.