This month's Lake Union Herald features the Adventist Midwest Health (AMH) region of Adventist Health System (AHS). In thinking about that I realized some of our readers may not be familiar with just what AMH is. Here is a quick explanation.

AHS is the corporate parent company made up of two divisions, the Florida Hospital Division and the Interstate Division. It comprises 38 hospitals and nursing homes—the largest not-for-profit, protestant hospital system in the United States. The AMH region is located in the Lake Union. There are other regions located in the Southern Union, the Mid-America Union, and the Southwestern Union, all of which comprise the Interstate Division. The four Union presidents are the Board leadership for the main company located in Orlando, Florida. That gives a little overview of the organization our AMH region is affiliated with.

When I was a young ministerial intern, I was a member of the board of another Adventist health system. It was not a pleasant experience. The "churchmen" and the healthcare leaders were in constant conflict with each other. The church and the hospital seemed to be headed down different roads. I was young and inexperienced, but it didn't seem right to me, especially since I had heard from childhood that the "medical work is the right arm of the message."

Let me tell you that it is a blessing to be affiliated with a system that has at its head the "churchmen" who lead the various territories where the hospitals locate. When there are questions, and there are, since none of us are perfect or have figured out the perfect will of God on every issue, they can be corrected early on through consultation and prayer. That way, we are able to stay on mission, which is "extending the healing ministry of Jesus Christ."

And so, I say they are more than just hospitals because they really are ministry centers that offer healing. Much to my surprise, David Crane, president and CEO of AMH, entered my hospital room. This was not so unusual because David has visited me before, along with the chief of chaplains, John Rapp. But this time they brought with them eight other officials from the region. That included the president/CEO of each hospital, the CFO of the region, the chief of the medical staff of the two largest hospitals, and other vice presidents.

These Christian gentlemen entered my room bearing a card and a large sign with the words: "Blessings to you." John offered up a most beautiful prayer for me and Jackie. I said to them, "I am not allowed to have flowers in my room, but today each of you is a big bouquet that fills my room with joy." What a blessing!

I have watched these men. This is what they do. They take seriously the words of Jesus when He said, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me." Amen! With leaders like this, ours are more than just hospitals.