"And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people” (Matthew 4:23).

It must be an awesome challenge to be declared and commissioned as “the right arm of the message.” I remember as a youngster hearing this phrase often repeated among Adventist adults. It seemed at the time to be mostly connected to medical evangelism that our church was conducting throughout the world. In fact, Loma Linda University was then known as the College of Medical Evangelists.

There is a lot of satisfaction in seeing this great challenge, this awesome commission being so well fulfilled by the Adventist Health System Sunbelt Corporation in general, and the Midwest Region in particular. I have the privilege of associating with this energetic group of Adventist professionals who take very seriously the example that Jesus set for doing health ministry.

Much time is invested in making sure that the “mission” is clearly articulated and conveyed to every department and employee. It is kept front and center for all to see and practice. They recognize their duty first of all as a ministry, and yet great care is exercised in selecting the very best, dedicated Christian business people to care for the “bottom line.” The bottom line, you know, supports and makes the mission possible.

You would thrill to hear some of the marvelous testimonies that come from patients and staff. I think of one in particular. A young paraplegic was so depressed with her situation that she was in true despair. After repeated contact with a Hinsdale Hospital physical therapist, she is now a Seventh-day Adventist, committed to studying for the ministry so that she, too, can emulate the example of Jesus in “preaching the gospel of the kingdom.”

I had a very personal, up-close look at the hospital back in 1997. While attending an AHS convention, I took seriously ill. They rushed me to the emergency department, and I was treated with professional, yet tender care. Even my wife and some other family members were received with Christian courtesy. And all this was done long before anyone in that emergency room knew that I was a board member.

Let us pray for our health care institutions and the dedicated administrators and staff. I know they are not perfect, but on a day to day basis they represent this church very well. And they accept, with joy, the challenge and the commission.