I was recently a guest at a luncheon hosted by Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital in a suburb of Chicago. The luncheon's purpose was to reach out to the community surrounding our hospital. The hospital's purchase several years ago brought with it much suspicion and many rumors that left the community with a tense and uncertain attitude.

“What will these Adventists do to our community?”

“Will the hospital still be accessible to all people, no matter what faith?”

“If it is accessible, will we be comfortable there?”

These and other questions ran throughout the area. Since that time, much has been done to relieve those concerns. I was privileged to conduct worship for all staff members in the facility, and we had a wonderful time together.

And now I was at a luncheon to intentionally communicate our mission in the community. It was interesting to me to hear the introduction of Francis Eugene George, a cardinal and eighth archbishop of Chicago Catholic churches, and then to watch the reaction as I was introduced as the leader of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Chicago area and throughout the Great Lakes region.

Many people in the audience were closely connected with Adventist La Grange and Adventist Hinsdale hospitals, and they were familiar with me as Adventist Health System Board chairman. But many more were not aware, and it was obvious they were impressed, that both church leaders occupied the same dais. The archbishop spoke on the mission of not-for-profit, faith-based health delivery, something we Adventists, in general, and Adventist Midwest Health, in particular, are very good at.

You can imagine my surprise when the meeting ended and some came forward to say to me, “You know, I’m really a closet Adventist,” or “We are absolutely amazed at what you Adventists have accomplished in turning this hospital around in such a short period of time.”

I realize that as a church we have very serious concerns about some doctrines of other churches, but we have, or should have, no problem loving their members. They, like us, are eligible recipients of the salvation provided by Jesus’ great sacrifice on Calvary. We may be limited in some aspects of partnering, but loving outreach must never be limited. Kudos to Adventist La Grange Memorial leadership.