Sarah Nadarajan
AMEN Student Conference
How does true medical ministry persist in the 21st century? More importantly, how does one incorporate the true ministry of healing into a medical or dental practice?
The United States, along with many firstworld countries, is notorious for encouraging a generation of post-modern, secular, materialists in all professions, including medicine and dentistry. In a society where God is removed, the Bible is frequently mocked, and religion is discredited, some may argue that it is impossible to share the gospel in a health care setting. But now more than ever, the world desperately needs to experience the teaching and healing ministry of Jesus.
Many students come to Loma Linda University to obtain a Christian education. Their dreams and academic pursuits are focused on changing the world, making a difference, reaching underserved communities, and fulfilling their personal goals. Yet, as the workload increases, the loans accumulate, and the pressures rise, those early ambitions of being mission-minded and service-driven may be set aside for survival, titles, and getting ahead professionally. To guard against losing sight of the vision, students need to be continually challenged to a higher standard of practice. Ellen G. White, who helped establish this school, reminded us that Loma Linda was no ordinary place, and that its graduates should not be ordinary healthcare workers.
On October 10, 2015, a new chapter was written, as 130 Loma Linda students gathered at Dr. Israel Chambi’s house for the first AMEN Student Conference. With representatives from medicine, dentistry, dental hygiene, pharmacy, nursing, physical therapy, orthotics & prosthetics, and chaplaincy, the attendees were charged to remember why they were called to serve.
The theme for the conference, “CrossTraining: Be the Hands of Jesus,” emphasized the true purpose of medical ministry. As the arm is not separate from the body, healthcare workers were encouraged to never detach their practice from evangelism. Participants were encouraged to network with the 20 professionals who were present as mentors and guides. These interactions encompassed but weren’t limited to: mission trips; Deferred Missions Program; answering the critics; praying with patients; and how to practically apply spiritual care.
Dr. John Chung served as the main speaker for this event. Echoing Paul’s command to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:12, he challenged students to “Preach the Word.” A medical missionary in modern society does more than just treat patients. As written in Daniel 12:3, the goal is to: “…turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever.”
Scripture reminds us that we can’t experience wholeness and restoration apart from Christ. While it may appear unpopular to introduce patients to the Great Physician, the participants were urged to uplift the true source of healing. Dr. John Chung put it best when he stated, “You can prolong people’s lives, but you cannot give them eternal life through your work.” If healthcare professionals are solely focused on treating the body, they extend the quality of life for individuals to continue in their sin. But the improved condition is only temporal. However, through allowing the Holy Spirit to partner with the healthcare worker, patients can receive more than just physical healing. They will be offered eternal life.
To underscore these principles, Dr. Chung drew from his own practice as a dermatologist. He related to the students two notable experiences of lessons learned from a beggar and hairdresser… During a cold winter, Dr. Chung’s church passed out coats to the homeless. After a few weeks of this, Dr. John Chung became troubled that one particular beggar repeatedly came to the station to pick up coats. He decided to follow the beggar and was surprised by what he saw. The poor man was distributing coats to other homeless individuals who were physically unable to pick one up themselves. In the midst of delivering coats, the poor man was left without one. The Holy Spirit impressed Dr. Chung to take off his coat and give it to the poor man. This man may never practice in the medical field, but his selfless act demonstrated the quality of care that too often many health care workers fail to provide. A beggar, in the cold winter, on a dark night, rekindled the spirit of love that Jesus spoke of in John 15:12, “This is my commandment, that ye love one another, as I have loved you.”
That lesson of love touched Dr. Chung’s heart on a more personal note when he performed a procedure for a hairdresser. For this type of procedure, Dr. John Chung has a partnership with a plastic surgeon. He will do a certain amount as a dermatologist, and then refer the patient to the plastic surgeon to finish up the procedure. However, when performing the initial procedure on this particular patient (‘the hairdresser’), Chung was surprised to feel a strong impression from the Holy Spirit to finish the procedure. At first, Dr. Chung resisted the conviction. Should he finish the procedure, if he did, he would likely lose the respect and established relationship with his plastic surgeon colleague. Additionally, the plastic surgeon would lose money, because the time slot reserved for the hairdresser in the OR would be cancelled. Chung had to make a decision. Since he had committed his practice to the Lord, he finished the procedure – despite its consequences. But the Holy Spirit took the experience one step further and impressed him not to charge the patient. Chung wagered with the Holy Spirit. What if he did not charge the full amount? The wager went from several thousand dollars, to hundreds of dollars, and finally to the amount that satisfied the Holy Spirit – FREE! The hairdresser never paid a cent for the procedure. As Dr. Chung feared would happen, the plastic surgeon no longer referred cases to Dr. Chung’s office.
However, the story doesn’t end there…Years later, while Dr. Chung was conducting bible studies in his home, one of the men attending was wavering with his decision to follow Christ. Ironically, that same man received a haircut in Tennessee from ‘the hairdresser’. As they chatted, she was surprised to learn that her client knew of Dr. Chung. After relating the story of Dr. Chung’s bestowal of kindness, the man returned to Georgia and decided to accept Christ. In fact, Dr. Chung believes that ‘the hairdresser’ has referred more cases to his office than the plastic surgeon ever did! We may never know the extent of our influence or why we are impressed to speak certain words or act in a particular manner. But if our hearts beat rhythmically with a divine mission as we work in our practices, we have the privilege of bringing true healing to our patients as we bring them to the very heart of God.
As students attending Loma Linda University, we know that we have been called to serve. The far-reaching impact of our service depends on how in tune our lives are with the Holy Spirit’s leading. Sometimes our convictions may not provide dramatic results like that of the man and the hairdresser. But if our practice is committed to God, we can trust that He will write the end of the story. Even as students, we can create a habit of service that will be intertwined with our careers until Jesus comes.
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