Bethany Helm, PA
“Story Time”
At the Guam SDA Clinic we begin our work day outside with a small staff devotional or prayer. Even though this is an SDA Clinic, the majority of our medical staff and employees are not Adventist. Many of them are not even church goers. The majority are Catholics or Protestants by tradition of their family heritage and frequent the pews on Sunday mornings, but without personal spiritual identity. It is during these 10-minute morning devotionals that we come together with discussion and prayer to center our day. Sounds good, right?
While it has been nice to start our day off with prayer and a meaningful Bible passage, it has also been frustrating to see lack of interaction within our small group. We engage easily with one another throughout the work day, but for some reason interaction during worship is minimal. I finally asked a few of nurses why.
“Ms. Bethany, we go to church but we do not know any of the Bible stories because they don’t preach about that. They only talk about church traditions and we don’t use the Bible much.” I was completely astounded. Finally, it all made sense. I had been doing morning worship for years without realizing my staff knew nothing of basic Bible stories or passages. This had to change. “Would you guys like to know more of the Bible?” I asked. “Oh yes!” they replied. The next morning as I gathered my staff for a quick prayer, I asked them, “Where would you like to begin?”
“Let’s start at the very beginning!” they eagerly responded, a lot of them giddy with excitement.
They decided they would like to read the Bible from beginning to end together during our morning worships, starting with the great controversy in heaven that involved Lucifer’s rebellion which sets the stage for Genesis.
As we started reading each morning, the number in our group grew to include staff members from other departments. Morning worship became affectionately known as “story time.” One staff member would even Zoom in on her day off so she did not miss out! When one staff member changed departments, they even suggested we start worship earlier so she would not have to miss our time together. We all decided to show up for work earlier than before so we would have adequate time.
Over the past 10 months, we have gone from Genesis to Ruth, spending only 10 minutes per day and discussing how each passage relates to us personally in present time.
Recently, at the group’s request we paused our progression and jumped ahead to the book of Daniel. In light of current events, we felt it was necessary to study Daniel and his friends and how they stood for conscience. We are currently going through the prophecies in the book of Daniel and ask for your prayers as we grow together as a group. By God’s grace, we will get through the entire Bible in His time.
Now as we begin each day with reading, discussion, and prayer, the group is much more interactive. Some have gone home and shared with their family members what they have been learning. Others still call in on Zoom for worship if they are not going to be working that day. And at least one now listens to the Bible on audio while driving to work in case she misses anything.
The changes have been drastic and exciting! But I must admit I feel like I have been on the receiving end of the greater blessing. Leading out in these studies has forced me to see God and biblical events in a much different and brighter way. He is preparing us for the end of time. Just as my staff is learning things for the first time, I am seeing things in new ways also and deepening my Bible study. I challenge each of you to take opportunity wherever it arises, whether it be seconds or minutes. Understand your audience and be willing to meet their needs. This truly is the “last work.”
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