Personal Ministry Needed
Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Savior mingled with people as one who desired their good. He showed sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He invited them, “Follow Me.”MHH 73.4
We need to come close to the people by personal effort. If we would give less time to sermonizing and more time to personal ministry, greater results would be seen. The poor are to be relieved, the sick cared for, the sorrowing and the bereaved comforted, the ignorant instructed, the inexperienced counseled. We are to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice. Accompanied by the power of persuasion, the power of prayer, the power of the love of God, this work will not, cannot, be without fruit.MHH 73.5
We should ever remember that the object of medical missionary work is to point sin-sick men and women to the Man of Calvary, who takes away the sin of the world. By holding Him in view, they will be changed into His likeness. We are to encourage the sick and suffering to look to Jesus and live. Let the workers keep Christ, the Great Physician, constantly before those to whom disease of body and soul has brought discouragement. Point them to the One who can heal both physical and spiritual disease. Tell them of the One who is touched with the feeling of their infirmities. Encourage them to place themselves in the care of Him who gave His life to make it possible for them to have life eternal. Talk of His love. Tell of His power to save.MHH 73.6
This is the high duty and precious privilege of the medical missionary. And personal ministry often prepares the way for this. God often reaches hearts through our efforts to relieve physical suffering.MHH 74.1
Medical missionary work is the pioneer work of the gospel. In the ministry of the Word and in the medical missionary work, the gospel is to be preached and practiced.MHH 74.2
In almost every community there are large numbers who do not listen to the preaching of God’s Word or attend any religious service. But they can be reached by the gospel as missionary nurses bring relief of their physical needs in their homes. As missionary nurses care for the sick and relieve the distress of the poor, they will find many opportunities to pray with them, read from God’s Word, and speak to them of the Savior. They can pray with and for those who do not have the strength of will to control the appetites that passion has degraded. They can bring a ray of hope into the lives of the defeated and disheartened. Their unselfish love, manifested in acts of disinterested kindness, will make it easier for these suffering ones to believe in the love of Christ.MHH 74.3
Many have no faith in God and have lost confidence in their fellow mortals. But they appreciate acts of sympathy and helpfulness. As they see one with no inducement of earthly praise or compensation come into their homes, ministering to the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, comforting the sad, and tenderly pointing all to Him of whose love and pity the human worker is but the messenger—as they see this, their hearts are touched. Gratitude springs up. Faith is kindled. They see that God cares for them, and they are prepared to listen as His Word is opened.MHH 74.4
Whether in foreign missions or in the home field, all workers, both men and women, will gain much more ready access to the people and will find their usefulness greatly increased if they are able to minister to the sick. When every other door of access is closed, women who go for service in lands afar may thus find opportunity for giving the gospel to the women of these lands. All gospel workers should know how to give simple treatments that do much to relieve pain and remove disease.MHH 74.5