Health Leaders and Advocates Gather to Reflect, Share, and Improve

July 28, 2023 | Miami, Florida, United States | Marcos Paseggi for the Inter-American Division News

Scores of church leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Inter-American Division gathered for the IAD Health Symposium “Together in Mission” in Miami, Florida, United States, July 27. The three-day event, a joint initiative of Adventist Healthcare Services Inter-America (AHSIA) and the church’s health ministries department, saw other 2,500 leaders, local church pastors, and members from across the territory register for online participation.

The symposium is geared to administrators, pastors, and lay church members involved in health ministries of the Adventist Church. It includes Adventist hospitals and clinic administrators and union presidents who chair hospital and clinic boards. It also includes members who are committed to making health ministries “the right arm of the gospel,” as Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White defines it more than a century ago.

“Whenever we say, ‘Together in Mission,’ here at the Inter-American Division we are excited,” said Pastor Elie Henry, president of the IAD, “because everything we do is about mission.”

In that regard, Pastor Henry explained that as a church territory, the IAD is on a journey to make health ministries even more effective, “thinking strategies, embracing research, and fostering a culture of improvement in our health-care services. And we are here to talk about that,” Pastor Henry said. He added, “By collaborating and combining our efforts, we can create a force for positive change.”

Heartfelt recognitions

The first part of the opening program included moments to recognize leaders and institutions that have somehow make an impact for their performance and dedication to mission. Recognitions presented by AHSIA included a special award given to Patrick Rutherford, who recently retired as the CEO of Andrews Memorial Hospital in Jamaica. The award was received by Donmayne Gyles, current CEO of the same health-care institution. The plaque read, “in recognition of your outstanding service as administrator of Andrews Memorial Hospital in Jamaica,” adding, “We thank you for your devotion, dedication, and hard work.”

Leaders also presented awards to the leaders of Trinidad Community Hospital, “for successfully implementing the restructuring plan of the hospital in 2022,” and to the Antillean Adventist Hospital in Curacao, “in recognition of its successful establishment of a quality assurance program required for international accreditation as a world class hospital.” The institution is working hard to be accredited by 2024. Finally, leaders recognized Puerto Rico’s Bella Vista Hospital, “for successfully achieving the requirements for renewing its accreditation as a world-class hospital.” Bella Vista Hospital has been accredited by the Joint Commission since 1980.

Our Final Work

After the awards ceremony, the July 27 opening program featured a General Conference Health Ministries video that reminded participants about the origin, purpose, and goals of Adventist health ministries. The video traced the first messages Ellen G. White received on topics of health, and how those revelations impacted the new emphasis of the fledgling denomination on promoting healthy food and habits. Moreover, it made the Adventist Church to open dispensaries, clinics, and later hospitals to share that knowledge and put Bible-based health principles into practice. And all of that, with a constant heart for mission, the video explained.

The scope of comprehensive health ministry is a ministry of good news, comfort, freedom, hope, joy, and restoration to all who are suffering in this world, the video stated.

General Conference Health Ministries Director Peter Landless, M.D., spoke via online, reminding participants that God did not ask Seventh-day Adventists to be healthy just to live longer. “Ellen G. White made clear that we should take special care of our health because our work is not yet done,” he said.

Landless shared some of what he called “exciting” health ministries initiatives taking place around the world. Among them, he mentioned the award-winning “10,000 Toes Initiative” in the South Pacific, which is fighting the prevalence of diabetes among Pacific Islander populations. He also highlighted the work of the Angelia Team in Ukraine, who are supporting emergency health-care efforts through clinics in Kiev and Chernivski.

At the same time, Landless referenced the scientific health research on Adventist health habits which was launched in North America years ago and which is now being carried out across Africa, with results that, according to him, look promising. “The Adventist health message is supported by modern science,” Landless said.

But besides these and many other projects, Adventists should never forget what the purpose of Adventist healthcare around the world is. “It is not to provide a ‘franchise’ of healthcare, but rather to extend the healing ministry of Jesus Christ,” he emphasized. “It is not to provide a ‘franchise’ of medical education, but rather to train medical professionals to be the right hand of this healing ministry and touch a broken world.”

In closing, AHSIA president Franck Géneus, M.D., agreed. “Let’s remember that comprehensive health ministry is the gospel in action,” he said.