Wes Youngberg, DrPH, MPH, CNS, FACLM
Winsome Witnessing
One step forward, two steps back. That’s often the way it is when trying to rehabilitate the homeless and those addicted to drugs or alcohol.
But the love of Christ is more powerful than Satan’s devices. A lady in our church on Guam named Nellie Joy had a burden for the homeless. She felt impressed we should plan a Sabbath service in Liberty Park and invite them to join us. That Sabbath came, and Joe was the only homeless man who attended. We were impressed that he had made the effort to shower and dress well. Others from the homeless community waited across the road for the service to end and lunch to be served.
After that we resumed meeting in our church on the other side of the island. Since Joe lived in Liberty Park, he found a ride and began attending church regularly each Sabbath.
Soon after, Joe signed up to attend a ten-week depression recovery program at the Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic Wellness Center. Joe needed financial assistance so our church voted to sponsor him. Earlier in his life Joe had been a successful college instructor. A gifted linguist, he taught the native Chamorro language at the local university. But past service in the military and significant PTSD had gradually torn Joe’s life apart. He struggled with PTSD. He was estranged from his family, and now, homeless, he lived in Liberty Park.
The first day of the depression recovery program, I was busy preparing for the class when I realized we hadn’t arranged for anyone to pick Joe up. Since I was busy seeing patients, I contacted one of our members who works in construction. He called his wife Nina and asked if she would go get Joe. She had three kids and a baby.
“Sure,” she said. “I’ll be happy to pick up Joe.”
She jumped into her car with her kids and drove to Liberty Park . She walked over to the pavilion where Joe was still asleep. Everyone around there knows you don’t go up to Joe when he is sleeping because he is armed and dangerous. One night four guys attacked him in the dead of night. He jumped up and knocked them all out, which earned him the nickname Rambo.
So Nina walked up, tapped him on the shoulder, and said, “Joe, Joe, wake up. I’ve been asked to take you to the depression recovery program at the wellness center.”
He jolted awake, recognized her, and said, “Yes, that’s what I need right now.”
He cleaned up and shortly thereafter Nina drove him to our wellness center. A delicious lunch was served and people got to hear the PowerPoint lecture I gave utilizing both Nedley Solutions and Win Wellness slides.
With a heavy workload during the day, I had to prepare for each class the night before by watching Dr. Nedley’s presentation, then adding slides to it from Win Wellness. Integrating the two programs worked beautifully, and God made it happen.
Joe paid close attention as we explained our wholistic approach encompassing emotional, social, spiritual and physical health principles. As he listened, he took careful notes and decided to make every change we recommended, including eliminating junk food and beer, and adopting an anti-inflammatory diet. After going through the program, Joe went from suicidal ideation to a changed man. It was a modern day example of Jesus healing the demoniacs.
A year later I learned that he was so depressed the night before our program that he had decided to end his life the next morning. Instead, he awakened to a tap on his shoulder by Nina and the rest is history. Joe began memorizing Scripture and reading his Bible every morning. He started walking after meals.
Partway through the program his niece committed suicide. The tools he was learning in the depression recovery program enabled him to process the grief without returning to unhealthy habits. He moved in with his sister and the Lord began the work of healing his family. Joe became a support to them as they dealt with the loss.
By the end of the program, Joe was working at the University again. Reintroduced into society, “Rambo” was a changed, born-again new man.
Since I hosted a show on the local Adventist radio station, I said, “Joe, why don’t you come and do an interview with me on the radio show?”
He came and did it. As he learned of the programming we offered, he became agitated. He said, “You’re broadcasting programs in Korean, Japanese, and all these other languages, but there’s nothing for the Chamorro people.”
Seeing his offense, I responded, “Joe, that’s not our job.”
“What do you mean it’s not your job?”
“You’re the Chamorro linguist,” I said. “That’s your expertise. You should be in charge of doing a weekly radio show in the Chamorro language.”
“Really? You would let me do that?”
We talked to the manager Matt Dodd. I introduced him to Joe. “Would you like Joe to share Bible studies in Chamorro?” I asked.
“Absolutely!” Matt responded.
Joe immediately began translating Bible studies into the local Chamorro language and broadcasting them on our Adventist radio station. Joe’s ministry caught fire and quickly spread through many households on Guam, Rota and Saipan.
This opened an avenue to reach many of the Catholic islanders, who were eager to hear the gospel in their own local language.
After having worked on Guam for 14 years, a year or so later I ended up leaving. I look back on this story amazed to see how God clearly worked to impact the lives of tens of thousands of people all because of one man was willing to be led to Jesus.
Following the Holy Spirit’s impression to minister to the homeless ultimately led more people to hear the gospel message than all the sermons we had preached in church.
The health message is truly the right arm of the gospel!
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