More than three years after the last health summit in Taiwan, SSD Health Department holds its annual gathering in Legazpi, Bicol Region, Philippines, on August 23-25. Representatives from the division’s fourteen countries graced the meeting with the objective to fellowship and learn new trends in the health ministry. More than 200 delegates representing health directors, professors, and medical practitioners attended the meeting to convene with counterparts and reinforce networks between co-health missionaries.
Dr.Peter Landless, Health Director of the Adventist World Church, opened the summit with a devotional thought about following the example that Jesus’ left for His people. Landless highlighted Jesus’ ministry of healing and how relative health ministry is a powerful opportunity to bring the message of salvation to people longing for hope and salvation.
The three-day summit covers topics about modern scientific discoveries and their relevance to the scriptures, medical practitioners as lifestyle evangelists, the call for medical missionary involvement, global public health issues, and the need for comprehensive ministry. Seasoned speakers specializing in different medical fields imparted essential points about the healing ministries.
“This summit ignited the zeal, passion, and commitment of the health professionals that whatever may betide, whatever may befall - medical missionaries will press on and carry the task of touching lives through the healing ministry,” expressed Dr.Lalaine Alfanoso, SSD Health Director.
“For the past two years, many experienced so many maladies and mental distress, and we as health professionals should carry the task of touching lives through the healing ministries. This summit is the venue wherein we get different ideas and strategies on how we could accomplish it. Ministers to the lost, last, and least and encourage them to achieve optimum health and share the greatest hope above all, and that is Jesus,” Alfanoso added.
Missionary Health Couples, Dr. Jan-Harry Cabungcal, lecturer and neuroscientist from Vulliens, Switzerland, and wife, Sabina Sarah Cabungcal, Specialist in Internal Medicine, together with Dr. Richard Nelson, Vice President for Institutional Advancement Professor for Adventist International Institute of Advance Studies and wife, Dr. Anna Nelson, associate professor and senior program director of Public Health practice programs at Loma Linda University leads exciting topics during the summit.
Dr. Jan-Harry Cabungcal talks about neurodevelopment in kids and how crucial the physical, moral, and character molding begins in infancy. Parents play a vital role in imprinting a Christ-like character in a child’s mind and heart. Early intervention by parents should be taken seriously with an understanding that a kid’s personality will depend on a parent’s dedication and focus on bringing the best out of their children.
“Latest discoveries on health are just scratching the surface of what the Spirit of Prophecy has already been teaching,” Dr. Cabungcal said. “The Spirit of Prophecy speaks not only about medical intervention but how a holistic approach to health can benefit individuals,” he added.
Science teaches consistency and diligence. With continuous utilization of the mind, its power and efficiency increase. Dr. Cabungcal highlights the Spirit of Prophecy and its reminder to act with consistency and diligence. He stressed the importance of consistency and persistence with an earnest purpose. This resolve will give no chance for the enemy to hinder daily improvement for His children.
“Health message is the right arm of the gospel,” Dr. Richard Nelson reminded delegates about God’s call and responsibility to extend the healing ministry to others. Nelson cited studies reinforcing the health message and how scientists have proven that following a healthy lifestyle can lead to remarkable progress in health development. The Lifestyle Heart Trial highlights a 4.5% improvement after one year of lifestyle change documented by quantitative coronary angiography. After five years of continuous and consistent lifestyle development, the patients manifested a remarkable 7.9% improvement.
Nelson also presented studies on evidence-based lifestyle medicine to prevent, treat effectively, and reverse non-communicable and chronic diseases.
Dr. Anna Nelson opens her talk by introducing the emergence of global health threats. Significantly, climate change and public health is becoming a world concern, affecting countries worldwide. The recent pandemic has drastically changed lifestyles in the past two years and has forced individuals to isolate themselves from society. These concerns resulted in an increasing number of individuals experiencing lifestyle diseases and mental health issues.
“Our church is in the advantage of helping communities understand facts and learn strategies to counter world health issues through practical health messages and scripture,” Anna Nelson said. “Our church should be ready to be front liners in helping people cope and find healing coming out of this pandemic,” she added.
Part of the summit is the recognition of medical practitioners from all over the Southern Asia-Pacific Division. They have been front liners in medical missionary work in their territories. Dr. Ma. Lalaine Alfanozo, Health Director of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division, along with resource speakers and union counterparts, awarded the certificates to outstanding missionaries.
Speakers conveyed a very important reminder to delegates to utilize the knowledge they acquired in the health summit and multiply its results by practicing what they have learned and sharing this knowledge in their spheres of influence.
Edward Rodriguez, SSD Communication Department