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The Ministry of Healing
and to speak of the Saviour. They can pray with and for the helpless
ones who have not strength of will to control the appetites that
passion has degraded. They can bring a ray of hope into the lives of
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the defeated and disheartened. Their unselfish love, manifested in
acts of disinterested kindness, will make it easier for these suffering
ones to believe in the love of Christ.
Many have no faith in God and have lost confidence in man. But
they appreciate acts of sympathy and helpfulness. As they see one
with no inducement of earthly praise or compensation come into
their homes, ministering to the sick, feeding the hungry, clothing
the naked, comforting the sad, and tenderly pointing all to Him of
whose love and pity the human worker is but the messenger—as
they see this, their hearts are touched. Gratitude springs up. Faith is
kindled. They see that God cares for them, and they are prepared to
listen as His word is opened.
Whether in foreign missions or in the home field, all mission-
aries, both men and women, will gain much more ready access to
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the people, and will find their usefulness greatly increased, if they
are able to minister to the sick. Women who go as missionaries to
heathen lands may thus find opportunity for giving the gospel to the
women of these lands, when every other door of access is closed.
All gospel workers should know how to give the simple treatments
that do so much to relieve pain and remove disease.
Teaching Health Principles
Gospel workers should be able also to give instruction in the
principles of healthful living. There is sickness everywhere, and
most of it might be prevented by attention to the laws of health.
The people need to see the bearing of health principles upon their
well-being, both for this life and for the life to come. They need to
be awakened to their responsibility for the human habitation fitted
up by their Creator as His dwelling place, and over which He desires
them to be faithful stewards. They need to be impressed with the
truth conveyed in the words of Holy Writ:
“Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will
dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be My people.”
2 Corinthians 6:16
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