In the Philippines, Literature Evangelists Are Trained in Preventive Health

By: Southern Asia-Pacific Division, and Adventist Review

Thirty-seven literature evangelists (LEs) from the North Philippine church region were deemed pioneers for completing the certification program for Preventive Health Education, offered by the Adventist University of the Philippines (AUP), on July 25, 2019. The Literature Ministries Seminar for LEs was offered in Lipa, Batangas, organizers said.

All 37 LEs, who usually sell religious books for a living, received their certificates from AUP’s vice-president for academics, Miriam Narbarte.

Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD) Health Ministries director Ma. Rizaline C. Alfanoso spoke at the ceremony and congratulated the pioneering LEs for completing the certification. In her message, Alfanoso challenged the LEs to make the most of what they learned.

“I challenge you to use your spheres of influence not only to share the gospel message through literature but to resort to the newly acquired knowledge on health to organize community-based health seminars on preventive health,” Alfanoso said.

Alfanoso added that literature evangelists could also be successful professionals if they model what they share and remember their mission.

“You will be effective salesmen if you live as role models on healthy lifestyle, and if you always point your customers to Jesus as the master healer, who can help them with their physical disorders and addictions,” Alfanoso told them.

The certification program in Preventive Health Education consists of a twelve-unit course to be completed in six months and is facilitated and offered by the AUP College of Health. It was designed by AUP’s Graduate School and implemented by the College of Health as a lead-up to a Master of Public Health degree, leaders reported.

“This certification program will also be made available to ministers who will take a Master in Public Health program in cooperation with the Health Ministries department and the SSD Ministerial Association,” Alfanoso explained. “It is a program that aims to equip more pastors to be acquainted with medical missionary work.”

The original story was posted on the Southern Asia-Pacific Division news site.