Susan’s Story: Finding Health Transformation And Eternal Salvation Through Health Ministry.
Susan joined our lifestyle class looking for a fresh start. The program attracted people from all walks of life—some dealing with diabetes, high blood pressure, or high cholesterol, others hoping to lose weight, and a few simply eager to learn how to prepare healthy, plant-based meals. Some just wanted guidance on how to live a healthier, more vibrant life. Whatever their reasons, everyone seemed motivated to try something new.
Over seven weeks, we offered three sessions a week: a lifestyle class, a hands-on cooking demonstration, and an evangelistic meeting on Friday nights. These sessions were not just about health—they were about transformation. Almost all the participants attended the weekly lifestyle class faithfully, and many committed to at least two, if not all three, meetings each week.
We had 60 participants, including 24 patients from my clinic. Those 24 patients were matched with volunteer health coaches who took their role very seriously. These health coaches met with their assigned participants daily for the entire seven weeks, helping them integrate the lessons they learned in class into their daily lives.
Support Beyond Expectations
Some volunteers and church members wondered if daily visits were too much. “Couldn’t we scale it back a little?” they’d ask. But we held firm. Seven weeks is a short time to tackle major health changes. To give these participants the best chance at success, the support had to be intensive.
The health coaches worked on practical things—reading class materials with their participants, showing them how to cook recipes from the class in their own kitchens, shopping with them for healthier ingredients, and encouraging them to stay committed to exercising, drinking water, and getting enough sleep. The coaches also prayed daily for their participants, often praying with them during visits, and found natural opportunities to talk about spiritual matters. These conversations weren’t forced—they grew out of genuine care and connection.
“Church members got out of the pews and into the community.”
To keep things safe and build relationships, the health coaches didn’t go alone. They always took a church member with them. This created a team dynamic. With this team approach, we witnessed deeper connections with the participants. And, just as significant, church members got out of the pews and into the community, making real friendships with people who needed their support.
A Transformation Begins
Susan, one of our participants, stood out. She wasn’t a Christian and had no prior connection to Seventh-day Adventists apart from her visits to my office. Her health challenges were significant, but she embraced the program wholeheartedly. Over those seven weeks, Susan made remarkable progress—not just in her physical health but also in her mindset. She became fast friends with her health coach and the church members who visited her regularly.
By the end of the program, Susan was a new person. Her health numbers had improved dramatically, and she’d experienced a total lifestyle transformation. But that wasn’t all. Susan had started attending church with the same volunteers and church members who had supported her. Even after the volunteers left, the church members continued to stay in touch, nurturing the friendships they had built.
“A Life-Changing Decision“
For six months, Susan faithfully attended Sabbath services, Sabbath School, and church events. One Sabbath, as I sat in church with my family, I saw her standing in the back, looking for a seat. I waved her over. She came and sat with my family. We sat quietly while we watched a baptism early in the church service. Later, after the baptism, Susan leaned over and whispered, “Doctor, I think I need to be baptized.”
I was surprised. “Why would you want to be baptized?” I asked. “You don’t even know the doctrines.”
“The way you people have loved me, I know it can’t be wrong”
Her answer humbled me: “That’s true—I don’t know the doctrines. But the way you people have loved me, I know it can’t be wrong. I’m committed to learning about my new church, and once I do, I’ll be baptized.”
Susan kept her word. She studied the Bible with her church friends, learning about the beliefs and doctrines of her new faith. Not long after, she was baptized, officially becoming a member of the church.
Giving Back
Susan didn’t stop there. After her baptism, she approached me with a request. “I want to help with the health programs,” she said. “I want others to experience what I did—to learn about Jesus through practical, everyday help.”
Susan became an active participant in several health outreach programs. In a single year, she completed an entire cycle of evangelism, going from someone with no knowledge of Jesus to a baptized church member and finally to a dedicated medical missionary with a passion for sharing His love. Her transformation inspired everyone who knew her.
A Life Fulfilled
Six months after her baptism, Susan passed away. It was sudden, but she passed with hope and trust in her Savior. She had discovered and embraced the truth wholeheartedly, leaving a legacy of faith and service.
Susan’s story is a powerful reminder of what happens when medical ministry and gospel work combine. She experienced healing—not just physically, but spiritually also—and became a beacon of hope for others. On her behalf I often think of the Bible promise, “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord… They will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them” (Revelation 14:13).
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