Adventists promote health and spread hope in North Colombia
Seventh-day Adventists spread the message of living healthy with the eight natural remedies on the streets of Cúcuta in North Colombia, during a two-day city-wide health impact, May 9-10, 2015. Images by Shirley Rueda/IAD
June 1, 2015 | Cúcuta, Colombia | Shirley Rueda/IAD
Governor of Colombia’s North Santander state Edgar Jesús Díaz praises the impact of the Adventist Church in the city of Cúcuta on May 10, 2015.
Governor of Colombia’s North Santander state Edgar Jesús Díaz, commended the work of the Seventh-day Adventist Church for its health impact across the city of Cúcuta during a two-day impact earlier last month. During the event, more than 20,000 books on health and hope were distributed, a health expo on the eight natural remedies was held, dozens of disabled individuals raced on their wheelchairs and dozens of fruits and grain sacs were distributed on May 9-10, 2015.
“I want to thank you immensely,” said Governor Díaz. “What we seek is to take a solution to the most needy communities and today we have seen the hand of the Adventist Church taking hope and better health to the citizens of North Santander through exercise habits and healthy foods,” he added.
Dozens participated in the wheelchair race held at the Patinodromo in Cúcuta.
Governor Díaz said it was the second time the government joined the church’s initiatives to benefit communities across the state. “There are many people in jail who need psycho-social support, and health and physical activities, and we have been able to, with the Adventist church, aid the most needy in communities like single mothers and children.
The governor also invited other churches to join in these types of activities.
“We are calling all the churches, from whichever religious background, to support and be witnesses of the results of these actions expressed in the visible joy and gratitude of those benefitted,” said Governor Díaz.
Health promoters take blood pressure during the health expo held at the Tlecom Plaza in Cucuta, Colombia.
Church members led creative activities like mime performances, a health train activity led by children, a drama performance of members carrying a coffin representing the short life of someone who does not take care of his/her health, held up positive health messages at traffic lights and more.
More than 200 people engaged in the health expo which featured eight main stations on the eight natural remedies “I Want to Be Healthy” initiative led by the church throughout the Inter-American Division territory.
The church joined the efforts with Jesus Romero, who is a Colombian Paralympic champion and former national gymnastic champion in the 1990s and early 2000s. Romero became wheelchair-bound after suffering an accident in 2002 and led dozens of people to race in their wheelchairs at Cucuta’s Patinodromo track.
Winners of the race received a medal, a cash bonus and a bag of goodies from the Adventist Church.
The health and hope impact in Cúcuta was an evangelistic one which falls under the world church’s evangelism during this year, said Pastor Joel Jaimes, president of the church in Northeast Conference, and organizer of the event.
“I am so glad because the church is understanding that we need to get out of our four walls and head to the streets to share the message of hope we have,” said Jaimes.
Church members went early to church and left their pews at 10 in the morning to distribute some 20,000 books featured this year across the Adventist world church called “Health and Wellness: Secrets that will change your life,” edited by Mark Finley and Peter Landless.
Members meet early at a Adventist Church in Cúcuta before distributing thousands of books on health and hope throughout the city.
“Our fellow citizens are so happy because they have a program that helps them and fills their moral, physical and spiritual needs,” added Jaimes.
Manuel Hernan Cuevas, one who benefited from the health expo activities, said that more health activities need to take place in his city of Cucuta “so that we can be conscious of what health really means in our lives.”
Alexander Mendoza and Beatriz Silva also enjoyed a massage during the activity and said they would love to see more organized initiatives in the city. “Having more alternatives for a healthy lifestyle is exceptional, said Silva.
Church leaders said the activity was not only for the public but a valuable experience to church members as well.
“My heart is filled by helping people and teaching them about health,” said Sandra Ropero who joined the church a year ago and participated in the health impact activity for the first time.
Governor Díaz (third from the left) poses with race winner along with Pastor Joel Jaimes (right) president of the church in Northeast Colombia and organizer of the event in Cúcuta.
Iris Maya, a church member, was also excited to take part in the activity. “The Lord really used us as instruments so that others could learn of the eight natural remedies and make the right changes and choices for a healthy lifestyle,” said Maya.
The activity in the city of Cúcuta, which borders Venezuela, becomes the fourth city-wide health impact to be organized by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in North Colombia during the past three years. The church has done impact in the cities of Bucaramanga and most recently in Medellin this year where thousands took to the streets to offer hope and a healthier lifestyle through a number of activities.
To view a photo gallery of the event in the city of Cucuta, Colombia, click HERE.