What Can Be Done in the Cities?

1. What Can Be Done in the Cities? • “Center of Influence” City EvangelismIdeas from SOP and other Studies • Recommendations from the Health Ministries Department

2. I. THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING THE CITIES The importance of making our way in the great cities is still kept before me. For many years the Lord has been urging upon us this duty, and yet we see but comparatively little accomplished in our great centers of population. If we do not take up this work in a determined manner, Satan will multiply difficulties which will not be easy to surmount.

3. We are far behind in doing the work that should have been done in these long-neglected cities. The work will now be more difficult than it would have been a few years ago. But if we take up the work in the name of the Lord, barriers will be broken down, and decided victories will be ours.

4. Who are Needed? • In this work physicians and gospel ministers are needed. We must press our petitions to the Lord and do our best, pressing forward with all the energy possible to make an opening in the large cities. Had we in the past worked after the Lord’s plans, many lights would be shining brightly that are going out. MM 301, 302.

5. E G White said: “In almost every community, there are large numbers of people who do not listen to the preaching of God's word, or attend to any religious meeting. Often, the relief of their physical needs (or meetingtheirfelt needs) is the only avenue by which they can be approached.” [EGW, Reflecting Christ (Wash., DC: Review & Herald, 1983), 254, emphasis and italics supplied]. If we take these statements into consideration (plus others in this documents) our mind should begin to expand as to other avenues whereby we can reach people for the kingdom.

6. The Changing Culture in Cities… Urbanites seem to be less responsive to SDA traditional evangelism approaches, such as, public and personal evangelism. The “traditional evangelism seldom works” in urban contexts [Teresa S. Caine, “Selected Ministry of the Ghetto,” Ministry (August 1992), 16-17, 31]. It has been observed that “overt acts of evangelism” becoming “unacceptable in wide areas of urban society” [Roger S. Greenway, “Introduction,” in Planting and Growing Urban Churches: From Dream to Reality, ed. by Harvie M. Conn (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 1997), 19].

7. The Changing Culture in Cities… Urban people are seen to be less receptive or “not responsive to evangelism” compared to their rural counterparts [Alfred C. McClure, “The Cry of the Cities,” Adventist Review (January 1998), 10]. Factors may include the following: (1) “common distrust of city dwellers to strangers,” (2) the prevailing “mind-your-own-business” mentality or individualism, (3) secularization of urban society [C. W. Brister, “Person-Centered Ministry,” in Toward Creative Urban Strategy, Comp. by George A. Torney (Waco, TX: Word Books, Inc., 1970), 126].

8. The Changing Culture in Cities… • “Life in Technopolis (highly urbanized areas) is enormously complex, highly mobile, specialized, and constantly changing. It is manipulative, materialistic, and very much self-and-success oriented. In this civilization, religion and church as we know them cease to be influential. Theology becomes obsolete and traditional roles of the ministers, and priests are taken over by specialists, marriage counselors, health educators, social workers and psychotherapists. Consequently, institutional religion as a factor in shaping human life continues to decline, and religious institutions lose their function and authority” [G. Oosterwal, "Mission to Technopolis: Adventist Outreach in a Changing World," Dialogue 1 (1989), 6, emphasis supplied].

9. Redeeming the Time • The time is near when large cities will be swept away, and all should be warned of these coming judgments. - MM 135

12. Ship on the Road

13. Ship on the Road

15. b. The terrible disasters that are befalling great cities ought to arouse us to intense activity in giving the warning message to the people in these congested centers of population while we still have an opportunity. The most favorable time for the presentation of our message in the cities has passed by. Sin and wickedness are rapidly increasing; and now we shall have to redeem the time by laboring all the more…

16. c. “We must do more than we have done to reach the people of our cities. We are not to erect large buildings in the cities, but over and over again, the light has been given me that we should establish in all our cities small plants which shall be centers of influence.” - EGW, CH 481

17. d. Light has been given me that the cities will be filled with confusion, violence, and crime, and that these things will increase till the end of this earth’s history. - 7T 84

18. e. There is coming rapidly and surely an almost universal guilt upon the inhabitants of the cities, because of the steady increase of determined wickedness. The corruption that prevails, is beyond the power of the human pen to describe. Every day testifies to the increase of insanity, murder, and suicide. - PK 275

19. f. Oh, that we might see the needs of these cities as God sees them! At such a time as this every hand is to be employed. The Lord is coming; the end is near, yea, it hasteth greatly! In a little while we shall be unable to work with the freedom that we now enjoy. Terrible scenes are before us, and what we do we must do quickly. - 9T 101

20. g. The work which the church has failed to do in a time of peace and prosperity she will have to do in a terrible crisis under most discouraging, forbidding circumstances. - 5T 463

21. h. Henceforth medical missionary work is to be carried forward with an earnestness with which it has never yet been carried. This work is the door through which the truth is to find entrance to the large cities. - 9T 167

22. Ellen G. White’s Approach for Urban Mission • “We must do more than we have done to reach the people of our cities. We are not to erect large buildings in the cities, but over and over again, the light has been given me that we should establish in all our cities small plants which shall be centers of influence” - EGW, CH 481. Thus Ellen G. White’s encouragement to take some “decisive steps to establish ‘centers of influence’ in large cities”. - 9T 71

23. EG White statements suggest that the “centers of influence” is not limited to health food stores, restaurants, and treatment rooms. Other similar institutions or facilities may be incorporated later as the opportunity opens up. She states: “As yet, there are comparatively few places in the South that have been worked. There are many, many cities in which nothing has been done. Centers of influence may be established in many places by opening uphealth food stores, hygienic restaurants, and treatment rooms.Not all that needs to be done can be specified before a beginning is made.” - 7T 234, emphasis supplied

24. The purpose of this center is “to bring us in contact with many people” and to call the attention of urban people to the “present truth.” White states: “I have been instructed that one of the principal reasons why hygienic restaurants and treatment rooms should be established in the centers of large cities, is that by this means the attention of leading men will be called to the third angel’s message.” - 7T 122-23, emphasis supplied “The Lord has given much instruction regarding the establishment of hygienic restaurants in large cities...as centers of influence, by which the attention of thinking men would be called to the principles that make us ‘peculiar’ people.” - EGW, Review and Herald, June 14, 1906

25. Recommended Avenues of Ministries through Organized Group Effort (Or Organization) can reach the Cities: Sanitariums and Wellness Centers “Let all our sanitariums be erected for health and happiness; let them be so located that the patients will have the blessing of the sunlight; let them be so arranged that every unnecessary step will be saved.” — Id., Vol. 7, page 61. “It is through the agency of our sanitariums and kindred enterprises that much of this work is to be done. These institutions are to be God’s memorials, where His healing power can reach all classes, high and low, rich and poor.” — Id., Vol. 7, pages 58, 59.

26. Restaurants “In addition to this, hygienic restaurants are to be established in the cities, and by them the message of temperance is to be proclaimed. Arrangements should be made to hold meetings in connection with our restaurants. Whenever possible, let a room be provided where the patrons can be invited to lectures on the science of health and Christian temperance, where they can receive instruction on the preparation of wholesome food and on other important subjects.” — Id., Vol. 7, p. 115:2

27. c. Treatment Rooms • “I have been instructed that one of the principal reasons why hygienic restaurants and treatment rooms should be established in the centers of large cities is that by this means the attention of leading men will be called to the third angel’s message.” — Id., Vol. 7, pages 122, 123 

28. Health Institutions “It is the Lord’s purpose that in every part of our world health institutions shall be established as a branch of the gospel work. These institutions are to be His agencies for reaching a class whom nothing else will reach. They need not be large buildings, but should be so arranged that effective work may be done.” — Id., Vol. 6, p. 113:2

29. e. Churches • “The medical missionary work should be part of the work of every church in our land.” — Id., Vol. 6, page 289:1 • “Medical missionary work should have its representative in every place in connection with the establishment of our churches. The relief of bodily suffering opens the way for the healing of the sin-sick soul.” — Medical Ministry, p. 322:1

30. Health Clinics “In every city where we have a church, there is need of a place where treatments can be given.” — “Testimonies” Vol. 76, page 113:1. “Every church should be a training school for Christian workers. Its members should be taught how to give Bible readings, how to conduct and teach Sabbath school classes, how best to help the poor and to care for the sick, how to work for the unconverted.” — Ministry of Healing, p. 149:2

31. Objectives of Which these Institutions are Called Upon: To provide avenues whereby those who live in the cities can find answer to their physical and spiritual needs To utilize church capabilities in reaching everyone through established institutions doing specific health intervention and lifestyle modification program.

32. Health Ministries Department Recommendations • All Adventist Hospitals seek to establish small Center of Influence satellite clinics (feeders) in large Cities with following services: • Health food stores • Consultation, treatment and massage rooms, blood pressure, simple health screenings, • Bible reading place with shelves, flyers of Bible verses and DVDs are available • Lecture room where cooking classes are regularly scheduled. • Small healthy vegetarian restaurants • Shelves with health books and magazine are available • Space where people can relax and get free wifi internet access. A space should be provided sufficient enough for clients to: • Hang around, read books, get free wifi internet access, buy healthy cookies, healthy sandwiches or bread, friendly chat with attendants, etc. • Personnel are trained to develop friendly relationship with clienteles.

33. Big Churches in Cities/Towns a “Center of Influence” and “Movie Houses” • Designate a beautiful, elegant space in the church where health professional members can provide regular lifestyle modification program • Space for cooking classes, simple treatment, massage, etc. • Shelves for health books • Health food store where healthy pure fruit drinks are available • Church conducts regular health program inviting various elite friends or organization. • Regular livelihood training for community are being done. • Churches conduct regular movie showing of all Bible doctrinal, spiritual and health videos with “Now Showing” digital advertisement at the gate of the church.

34. Franchise with Healthy Products Company in Malls – Example: Moonleaf is a chain of stores that provide public with healthy fresh fruit juices. This company has chains of hundreds of Moonleaf in the Country. If we cannot get space of our own, let’s franchise with Moonleaf and offer good fruits juices to public. But the service is more than serving fruit juices. A space should be provided sufficient enough for clients to: • Hang around, read books, get free WiFi internet access, buy healthy cookies, health sandwiches or bread, friendly chat with attendants, etc. • Provide space for healthy massage, Free Blood pressure, simple health screenings, Bible reading place • Personnel are trained to develop friendly relationship with clientele.

35. Headquarters and Literature Seminary become a “Center of Influence” • All headquarters be designated as Center of Influence where advertised program are regularly scheduled: Health promotion, CHIP, Family Life, Youth, Livelihood for organized groups smoking cessation clinic– GO and NGO • All Literature Ministry Seminary be designated as Center of Influence where lifestyle modification program is offered regularly to the public in collaboration with health professionals • All Literature Ministry Seminaries collaborate with health Ministries Department of the Union and Conference to conduct yearly training for Medical Missionary Volunteers to be deployed in the Communities.

36. Country for Christ Through Ministry of Healing • Division/Union/Missions/Conferences take a bold initiative to provide every hotel room in the City/Town with the book Ministry of Healing similar to Gideon Bible ministry. With Ministry of Healing a booklet “Vegetarian Advantage” can be added. • Provide a companion Bible study guide to supplement Gideon Bible • Budget Projection for Sizable Space can be considered by local body whether rented or own building.1. Hospital Satellites • 2. Churches 3. Franchise 4. LMS Headquarters 5. Headquarters.

37. Budget Resources • Eph. 4:19 – God will supply all our needs • John 6:5,6 – God’s impression has equal provision

38. 2. Conclusion The above statements have full of ideas on various ministries which the church can provide to reach the perishing world. Every church entity must be organized into action with the purpose to prepare a people for the kingdom. Ellen White says: “As a people we have been given the work of making known the principles of health reform. There are some who think that the question on diet is not of sufficient importance to be included in their evangelistic work. But such make a great mistake… The subject of temperance, in all its bearings, has an important place in the work of salvation. ” 9T p112. Indeed the challenge is great. But we need not overwhelm by such enormity of things to be done before us. We just need to start doing one thing at a time. Start in your church with what is available at hand and do it in an organized manner. See how the Lord will work wonders.”