Health Promoters Trained to Train in Inter-America

By: Inter-American Division News

Montemorelos University operated by the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico, recently trained dozens of health professionals and enthusiasts during its fourth training session of the “I Want to Live Healthy” initiative earlier this month, in Montemorelos, Mexico.

The “I Want to Live Healthy” program network, which is comprised of different church institutions in the North Mexican Region and South Colombia, prepares health promoters to lead the initiative which consists of the eight steps to living a healthy lifestyle. The eight steps are drinking water, keeping a positive attitude, eating salads, exercising, resting, avoiding poor foods, eating a better breakfast, less at dinnertime and promoting happiness.

Nearly 200 delegates from the church’s Navojoa University and Linda Vista University as well as Colpac Foods, GEMA Editors, Montemorelos University, North Mexico, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Panama, Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, Costa Rica, St. Maarten, Mexico and the United States, took part in the one-week training from June 25 to July 1, 2017.

The session dealt with how to implement the programs and ministries of the initiative and how to encourage those registered to extend their knowledge in their homes, churches, and communities, said Roel Cea, director of the “I Want to Live Healthy” Network.

“Each health promoter was able to identify the health message as a work that prepares for the Second Coming of Christ and is useful for connecting with people to preach the gospel,” said Cea, who is also the health ministries director for the church in North Mexico.

The training by psychology, nutrition and physical education educators from Montemorelos University and pastors from North Mexico, brought technical and spiritual training as well as practical sessions on Growing Healthy, Let’s Move to Live, Healthy Cooking and Healthy Mind programs of the I Want to Live Healthy initiative.

Health Ministries Director for the Church in Inter-America Belkis Archbold spoke about the importance of health promoters learning about the body, its functions, and healthy habits in order to teach healthy living in their communities.

“We must first know so that we can proclaim,” said Archbold. She also expressed the need for churches to practice the health message given to Adventist co-founder Ellen G. White directly, which was the reason for such training to be held.

“We have a beautiful message which teaches us habits that can help prevent disease,” Archbold said.

Attendees had their height and weight assessed.

At the end of the event, each attendee took part in a special ceremony where each was granted a certificate as trainers to exercise a more positive and direct influence in their place of work and churches.

Each year, the “I Want to Live Healthy” Network trains people on health topics to strengthen their leadership and positive influence in churches and communities.

Health leaders are already planning another I Want to Live Healthy training for health and hope for July 2018.