According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease remains the #1 Killer! Every 33 seconds one person dies from cardiovascular disease in the United States. What is cardiovascular disease? The American Heart Association says that “it is a general terms that describes a disease of the heart or blood vessels. Blood flow to the heart, brain or body can be reduced because of a blood clot build-up of fatty deposits inside an artery, leading to the artery hardening and narrowing.” How does one get cardiovascular disease? It is from the dinner plates of a Standard American Diet (SAD) that contain excessive fat and cholesterol. That, combined with smoking and a sedentary lifestyle subsequently leads to developing high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Once someone has hardening and narrowing of arteries, the approach for treatment can vary, using medications, stent placement, or open heart surgery. Unfortunately this treatment is not a long term solution unless a lifestyle change is implemented. It is always better to prevent than to repair. The simple truth is that cardiovascular disease is currently defined as a disease of lifestyle. Now the next questions are: 1) Is cardiovascular disease reversible? 2) Is there a way out? The answers to both questions are YES!
The Seventh-Day Adventist Church has been blessed with a message to restore human beings into His image – physically, mentally, and spiritually. This is available to all! Cardiovascular disease is reversible when we follow Ellen G. White’s blue print on health shared in her books, Ministry of Healing and Counsels on Diet and Foods. Her counsels are very informative and relevant today which current scientific research confirming her wisdom. The writings of Ellen G. White inspire the concept of small centers of influence where they could teach and model health reform. “The work of health reform is the Lord’s means for lessening suffering in our world and purifying His church,” and where workers could “act as God’s helping hand by co-operating with the Master Worker in restoring physical and spiritual health.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p. 112. “The principles of health reform are found in the Word of God. The gospel of health is to be firmly linked with the ministry of the Word” Medical Ministry, p. 259. “As a means of overcoming prejudice and gaining access to minds, medical missionary work must be, not in one or two places only, but in many places where the truth has not been proclaimed…This work will break down prejudice as nothing else can.” Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 9, p.211. It is evident the blended pastoral and medical ministry is God designed and God ordained— and it works!
Following the above counsels and stepping out in faith, the Rice Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wisconsin will conduct a Health Immersion Program and Training in October, 2024 under the supervision of Dr. John Kelly, lifestyle medicine physician and Founder of American College of Lifestyle Medicine. The Immersion Program requires buy-in, collaboration, sacrifice, willingness to learn, and working together under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Training for the Health Immersion Program will occur October 9 – 23, 2024. The Health Immersion Program for guests to attend will occur October 13 – 23, 2024. Start a new healthy you through lifestyle changes and overcome disease!
Registration details to follow.
Yin Schaff, Health Ministries Coordinator