Traveling all over the world from place to place to share the gospel as part of the Light Bearers Ministry team is especially rewarding when hearts are healed and lives transformed by the power of God. Many of you are reading these words because you attended a series of meetings in your area and now receive our monthly newsletter. The Mission Update offers ongoing spiritual encouragement, communicates the latest on the mission of Light Bearers and offers timely health tips in the newly formatted Alive articles.
Some of you have confessed, though, that the health section is the first section you turn to (you know who you are). Others have shared how the health article was the right information at the just the right time for a personal need.
Often extra copies of the health article have been ordered to share with friends and relatives or to be placed in doctors’ offices and other outreach venues (this is one of the reasons Alive is a stand-alone tract). We recognize that the circulation of our health publications is a most important work. It is a work in which all who believe the special truths for this time should have an interest. Now, as never before, the minds of the people everywhere are being deeply stirred to investigate the principles underlying true health transformation.
In His dealing with men, Jesus sought to prepare the mind for the reception of truth.
When Risë and I began dating 25 years ago we believed God was calling us to do a double work for Him, combining the gospel and health. After we were married, we traveled everywhere together with Risë giving a short health lecture before I preached. We experienced that in giving attention to this branch of the work, prejudice was removed from minds that had been barred from the reception of truth. We still believe that this matter must not be passed over as nonessential. When people become intelligent on the question of health reform, the way is prepared to give attention to the present truth for these last days. In this way, our health literature is the helping hand of the gospel, opening the way for the truth to enter.
In His dealing with men, Jesus sought to prepare the mind for the reception of truth. He made inroads into the mind by the gentle introduction of light and by healing them physically.
True religion and the laws of health go hand in hand. It is impossible to work for the salvation of men and women without presenting to them the need of breaking away from gratifications which destroy health, debases our soul, and prevents divine truth from impressing the mind.
When someone’s personal health is helped, an interest is created that may not have been piqued, to see or read anything about important Bible subjects. Truth that comes to people on the return of health grabs their attention.
Many people are down-and-out and often looked upon as hopeless, but when one comes disinterestedly seeking to encourage them, taking an interest in their physical well-being, they will come to respect the genuine interest in their spiritual well-being also. Then their lives can be radically changed and God can use them to reach out to others. This is one reason why Light Bearers wants to fill your hands with good health material while God fills your hearts with the love of Christ for others.
We need to, “Educate, educate, educate.”1 Young people can go out among the crowds, doing their utmost to share health principles, because, as never before, there are many in the world who are anxious to know more in regard to a better lifestyle.
Now is the time to focus more attention on the circulation of the health principles. Every member of the church should work earnestly to share health literature as much as we do gospel literature. Risë and I have seen in our united ministry that there is no friction between the gospel and health. They blend together in perfect unity.
The health message will reach people that otherwise would never have been reached by the truth. There is a great necessity for labor being put forth to help the people, believers and unbelievers, at the present time by health talks and publications. This is why Light Bearers has made the health message a consistent part of our ministry, in meetings, publications and at our yearly convocation. This message, we believe, has a permanent place in the proclamation of the gospel to all the world. The Lord has shown His regard for it by giving it abundant prosperity. And God will continue to prosper every effort you make in the Spirit of Christ to minister to a hurting world through the combination of the health message and the gospel. Amen!
- Ellen White, Colporteur Ministry, pp. 131-134.
James Rafferty
James has spent more than 30 years preaching the gospel around the world in revival seminars and evangelistic meetings. He and his wife Risë have two adult children, Jeiel and Kierra.
