Bermuda Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Following Seventh-day Adventists’ history of teaching people to live healthy lives, health professionals and hard-working lay members of the Southampton, Bermuda SDA Church Health Ministries team planned and plunged into a very active week of health evangelism.

From October 30 to November 7, scores of individuals attended an exciting eight-day lifestyle change program conducted at the Southampton SDA Church. This program explored health topics such as Longevity Secrets and natural approaches to Diabetes Management, Hypertension, Arthritis and Immune Dysfunction. Under the leadership of Dr. Leonard Gibbons, participants were introduced to natural remedies for common illnesses; and good food was highlighted as effective medicine to prevent disease and assist nature in bringing about healing for the unwell. 

Opening night featured Secretes to a Long Healthy Life. Participants took a look at research showing that combinations of diet, exercise, weight control/body mass index, snacking, smoking and sleeping habits - aspects of an overall healthy lifestyle - can promote life expectancy up to a decade or 10 years for the SDA, non-SDA, male and female alike. 

What would the organs say if they could speak? Well, they did. A captivated Saturday afternoon audience moved from the fellowship hall to the sanctuary where a group of adolescents, directed by Sis. Joan Robinson, presented If the Organs Could Speak. One would have to personally witness the convincing connections made between diet and disease.

Sunday evening’s discourse, Building the Immune System, focused on managing colds and the flu with the use of natural remedies. ’Feel a cold coming on? This tried and tested syrup, formulated by trained health professionals at Wildwood (one of several SDA residential preventive care and training facilities in the U.S.) will set you on the path to feeling fine again, . . . and you won’t have those drowsy side effects. This popular recipe was among many handouts received during the course of eight days:

NATURAL COUGH SYRUP

1 cup fresh lemon juice
1cup honey (aloe option for diabetics)
1med. or half large Purple Onion (may use regular white onion)
4-6 large cloves of Garlic
10-15 drops of Eucalyptus Oil

Blend lemon juice, onion and garlic thoroughly until smooth. Add honey till blended. Then add the Eucalyptus Oil, and blend slightly. Pour into a clean bottle and seal.

This may be taken 2 tablespoons at a time every 4 hours, or as needed.

Several delectable low fat, high fiber food samples helped make the next night memorable, following an excellent presentation on weight management.

“We need more nights just for this subject,” voiced one budding health enthusiast. 

 Weight Loss - A Way of Life: Monday’s theme will not be easily forgotten.

Which preventable disease reduces life expectancy five to ten years or more; contributes to 160,000 deaths each year; adds two to twelve times the negative health risks of heart disease; two to four times the risk of stroke; is the number one cause of blindness in adults; and a factor in half of all foot and leg amputations?

“For the first time I understand what really happens when someone has diabetes,” someone remarked with gratitude to the presenter after her talk on Reversing Diabetes.

Following, came Wednesday’s natural approaches to relieving and possibly alleviating arthritis. The subject of Managing Arthritis involved exploring the roll of plants that fight pain and inflammation. A berry-rich drink made for a perfectly healthy food sample.

Everyone returned to the subject of Lowering Cholesterol Levels following a break on Thursday night. One of three health professionals on the team, elaborated on effective drug-free options that could be utilized in efforts to lower LDL (bad) levels of cholesterol, and boost HDL (good) levels. 

November 7, 2009 was truly a ‘high day in Zion’! The Southampton Health Ministries team and the entire Sabbath morning congregation joined the island community in recognizing Mr. Calvin Smith, a former senator, as Bermuda’s 1st Statistician. - leading the way for more effective data collection and positive lifestyle program planning for our community. Both Jeanine and Calvin Smith have adopted positive lifestyle habits in fighting illness, while contributing significantly to the Bermudian community. The Southampton Sanctuary Choir then set an appropriately worshipful tone as they sang lustily We’ll Understand It Better By and By.    

Using his striking gift of delivery, Health Team Leader Dr. Leonard L. Gibbons -- Preventive Care Specialist, Registered Dietician, Allergy Counselor and current Wellness Coordinator for Bermuda hospitals -- assumed his roll as Guest Speaker of the day. In the morning he addressed the congregation, identifying a number of inefficiencies of a symptom-based approach to health care. Rather, Dr. Gibbons worked towards highlighting the true value of heeding the Creator’s mandate for optimum health and wholeness. Crisis, he indicated, may be seen as bringing us to a point of strength in Christ.

Following the sermon, all were invited to a specially prepared wholesome and tasty lunch personally prepared by members of the health team. Only the insatiable need to know more could match the crowd’s positive reaction to the well-prepared fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. Many tarried for the final session which began at 3:00 p.m.

Hypertension and Cancer were the subjects featured in the afternoon. During the two-hour episode Dr. Leonard presented on natural methods of healing and blood pressure control. The second subject, a discourse on cancer, provided a sensible extension to Joylyn Isaac’s A.Y. (Advent Youth) presentation on Breast Cancer the week prior.

This close-up look at prevention and natural supportive treatment therapies for various forms of Cancer instigated an environment for prepared questions and meaningful extended discussion.              

In the end, Health Age reports were distributed, and about 35 individuals - full participants - were issued certificates. All are reportedly healthier individuals for having attended the sessions and embarking on an individualized longevity plan. 

The title of this program, Eight Days to a Healthier You was more than just a catch phrase to attract participants to this program. The experience continues to be life-changing as indicated by testimonials. One of many was shared with the team leader by a participant from the community:

She was a diabetic with poor control, but after putting into practice the health principles taught, she began to experience blood sugar levels better than ever before - in less than eight days. Truly, God’s methods of healing do work.

Standing before her church congregation, Sister Theresa Wright, talked about the value of this program in her life:

She was encouraged, she said. Participating in another health program inspired her and her family to keep up their positive lifestyle practices. She expressed the need for us to do this sort of thing more frequently, as it helps us to adhere more consistently to what we know we should be doing.       

In Bible times, God’s word went out to Israel in the wilderness, “…If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I [am] the LORD that healeth thee.”  Exodus 15:26

Today, we are admonished that our maladies may be reversed, if not avoided, given our lifestyle choices. Then again, for those of us who suffer through inherited or gradually invited degrees of ill health, we are still reminded that there is often great value in crisis. We truly can be encouraged by recognizing that crises such as these (Arthritis, Immune Dysfunction, Diabetes & its complications, Hypertension, Cancer, Depression) may feature in bringing us to a point of dependence, strength, service and salvation in Jesus Christ. To this end there is no sweeter victory. 

Rosamund Williams-Gibbons is an educator, health professional, seminar presenter, and writer/editor whose collaborative contributions to the mental, spiritual and physical health of families -- to the glory of God -- bring her the greatest satisfaction.

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