Medical, Dental, Health Professionals Celebrate 50th Anniversary
R. Steven Norman III
R. Steven Norman III
R. Steven Norman III
R. Steven Norman III
R. Steven Norman III
Rick Norskov
R. Steven Norman III
R. Steven Norman III
A lot changes in 50 years. Fifty years ago, Lyndon Johnson was President. The United States was fighting in the Vietnam War, and the price of gasoline was .32 cents per gallon. A first class stamp cost five cents, and the average price of a home was $23,300. It was in 1966 that Medicare was instituted, and the last Studebaker rolled off the assembly line. Yes, things certainly changed in 50 years!
However, one thing has not changed, and that is the impact that physicians/dentists and health professionals have upon ministry and outreach throughout the Southern Union. The Seventh-day Adventist Church since its inception has been active in utilizing health professionals to further the Gospel commission.
One of the methods by which this Church view is kept vibrant in the Southern Union is by holding a biennial convention for health care professionals. The first of these was held 50 years ago.
It was in 1966 that the Southern Union held the very first medical/dental convention in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. More than 200 gathered to fellowship, worship, and exchange ideas of how to impact their communities for Christ. That tradition continues in the Southern Union.
October 6-9, 2016, saw more than 400 health professionals and their families gathered at the Marriott Evergreen Resort in Stone Mountain, Georgia, for the 50-year anniversary of this event. Even though hurricane Matthew was threatening the coast and prevented a number from attending, God blessed Stone Mountain with perfect fall weather.
As the attendees gathered, there were only a few who had been present 50 years earlier for the first convention. One of those was James Ray McKinney, M.D., who began practicing medicine in Greeneville, Tennessee, in 1960, and today is still practicing medicine. He remembers the work of the late Harold Roll, Southern Union executive secretary in 1966, and the late Joe Crews, M.D., as being instrumental in the beginning of this work.
That first convention took place at the Mountain View Hotel in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Though the hotel was destroyed long ago, the memories are still fresh in the minds of those who attended. George Mills, M.D., prior to his recent death, remembered the rich fellowship that took place among the health professionals who attended. Not only did Mills attend the first convention, but soon was bringing with him his family. One of his sons, Rob Mills, M.D., remembers growing up attending these conventions, and that they were always a highlight for their family — a time to see friends whom they hadn’t seen, perhaps in a long while. This family tradition continues into the third generation of physicians with Jonathan Mills, M.D., of Charleston, South Carolina, and Christina Mills Bersan, M.D., of Chattanooga, Tennessee. What a special time it was to see this family gathered to continue in the rich tradition that was begun 50 years ago.
David Smith, Ph.D., president of Southern Adventist University in Collegedale, Tennessee, was the speaker for the weekend. He challenged each person to be balanced in their life, and to make sure that the heavy demands of their profession did not crowd out time with God and their families. John S. Nixon Sr., D.Min., executive secretary of the South Central Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, provided a dynamic Sabbath School discussion. Inspiring music was provided by the Kings Heralds Quartet, I Cantori of Southern Adventist University, Judy and Josianne Bailey, and Jaclyn Pruehs. There was also wonderful children’s programming for all ages, coordinated by Marlene and Dave Colburn.
While this was the 50th anniversary of the convention, it was not focused on the past. Future health professionals were represented by eight students from the pre-medical/pre-dental clubs of Southern Adventist University. These students were sponsored by the Southern Union, and chosen by Southern Adventist University to attend the convention. Each student was paired with a host family for the weekend. This host family was a physician or dentist who spent time with the student, and was available to them for any questions they might have.
An expanded number of continuing education classes were offered that included not only physicians and dentists, but nurses, physical therapists, optometrists, nurse practitioners, and more. These classes not only keep health professionals current with the latest developments in their field, but weave into the classes how the participants can use their professions for witness and leadership for Christ. As Jonathan Mills, M.D., stated, “These are not only continuing medical education (CME) credits, but ‘Christian medical education’ credits as well.”
Indeed, these men and women are making large impacts in their local churches and communities throughout the Southern Union. From ministering to their patients in the office and hospital settings, to conducting diabetes prevention clinics, to serving as leaders in their local churches, these dedicated professionals are making a big difference for God.
Another way a difference is made is by volunteering for medical mission trips throughout the world. The Southern Union has entered into a partnership with Florida Hospital Global Mission to provide opportunity for health professionals to share their talents through Florida Hospital’s dynamic mission initiatives. Ruth Bowling of Global Mission, gave a presentation on Sabbath morning inviting the attendees to participate in one of Florida Hospital’s mission trips. Florida Hospital is providing much needed medical services around the globe, including the countries of Peru, Haiti, and Ethiopia. As the different health care specialties that were represented at the convention, as well as others, join with these mission endeavors, it will expand the mission outreach of the Southern Union far beyond its borders. If any health care provider is interested in joining one of these mission outreaches, please contact the Medical/Dental/Health Professional Department of the Southern Union or Global Mission at Florida Hospital.
Also, an illustration was given of the difference that can be made in someone’s life right here at home by Tim Pursley, M.D., a practicing physician from Orlando, Florida. He is participating in a research program called “Faith in Practice.” This research project evaluates physicians’ thoughts on introducing a spiritual component to the physician/patient relationship. This research project is being done throughout the Adventist Health System network.
Each physician has agreed to ask their patients three simple questions:
- Do you have a religious or spiritual support system in times of need?
- Do you have any religious beliefs that might influence your medical decisions?
- Do you have any other spiritual concerns that you would like someone to address?
The responses to these questions are then documented in the patient’s chart as a “spiritual history.” Pursley shared that these three simple questions have opened many doors with his patients. It has provided him with many opportunities to discuss spiritual matters, and to pray with his patients.
Pursley said, “Many patients have responded with statements such as, ‘I have never had a physician pray with me before,’ and ‘I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to pray with me.’ Others just responded with simple tears in their eyes, and a look of such deep appreciation that no words were necessary for the impact of what just happened in their lives.”
In sharing his experiences with the convention, Pursley added, “One of my patients opened my eyes to the power of prayer, and to the unique opportunity that we as health care providers have to witness to our patients. This particular patient writes a blog on the Internet. After one office visit she wrote this on her blog:
My general physician is wonderful. He is young and dedicated, and cares deeply for his patients.
When I was at the very lowest point, after losing the love of my life, I went to see him. I weighed 92 pounds. I had all the classic signs of major depression, and fought anxiety minute by minute. Much to my chagrin, I burst out sobbing in his office. He wasn’t shocked in the least at seeing a 67-year-old woman crying over a broken heart.
He sat quietly and listened intently, while I poured out my heart. He prescribed short-term anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication, but he did something much more healing than merely providing chemical solutions. He said, “In some situations there is only one way I can really help my patients,” and he took my hand and started to pray. I am not a praying person, and I was rather shocked, but I remember the wonderfully calm feeling that came over me because someone cared enough to intercede for me. He prayed that my heart would heal, and that I would find peace and friendship. He asked for healing to come to me.
It made me think differently about religion. This was not proselytizing, or “thine is the kingdom and the glory” kind of preaching heard so often in churches and on TV. This man felt empathy and sympathy for a fellow human being who was in trouble. He cared enough to use his spiritual resources to help me through the pain and darkness I was feeling.
I can relate to this kind of religion.
Pursley added, “I look at each and every visit now as an opportunity to do more than just treat illness and manage chronic disease. I look at it as an opportunity to introduce someone to the healing power of Christ. It has invigorated my practice and makes me feel much more excited about getting up and going to work every day, wondering, ‘Which heart am I going to touch today?’”
It is this kind of experience and this kind of fervor that permeates those who attend the convention. These kinds of stories are duplicated many times over throughout the Southern Union as physicians and dentists, nurses and physical therapists, pharmacists and nurse practitioners, and other health professionals daily go about their jobs, ever remembering that God has placed them where they are so they can represent Him.
McKinney said, “These conventions keep our focus on the healing ministry of Christ … and that has been a blessing to me, and to many physicians and dentists.”
At the first convention, there was a quotation from the Spirit of Prophecy that was printed in their program bulletin. That same quotation was again printed in the program booklet this year, 50 years later. This quotation is instructive and still represents the position of the Southern Union. Ellen White wrote, “Medical missionary work is in no case to be divorced from the gospel ministry. The Lord has specified that the two shall be as closely connected as the arm is with the body. Without this union neither part of the work is complete,” Testimonies, volume 6, pages 240, 241.
We are so thankful for the host of medical professionals in the Southern Union who are daily representing Jesus to thousands of people.
is the executive secretary and medical/dental/health professionals director at the Southern Union in Norcross, Georgia.
Southern Union | December 2016
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