Sanctuary Bible Church Health Ministry

Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria, gave a first-hand account of the disparity between Christian and pagan responses during two devastating epidemics of the third century, in which one half to one third of the population of the Roman Empire died:

“Certainly very many of our brethren, while, in their exceeding love and brotherly kindness, they did not spare themselves, but kept by each other, and visited the sick without thought of their own peril, and ministered to them assiduously, and treated them for their healing in Christ, died from time to time most joyfully along with them, lading themselves with pains derived from others, and drawing upon themselves their neighbor’s diseases, and willingly taking over to their own persons the burden of the sufferings of those around them…But among the heathen all was the very reverse.”

Rodney Stark, writing in “The Rise of Christianity” concludes that this witness of faithful Christians during this crisis played a decisive role in the phenomenal growth of early Christianity.

Throughout history, the Church has been intimately associated with health, with the alleviation of suffering, and with the promotion of wellness. From the earliest times, Christian ministry has included the care of the sick and the dying in its mission. Early hospitals and care providers have been an adjunct of the church since the time of Christ. The Bible has a lot to say about health and about our role in supporting each other in our quest for health. We have a Biblical mandate to preach, to teach, and to heal. We also have an outlook on suffering and death that can provide comfort and peace for those who are suffering and dying. Finally, our church recognizes that our bodies are a gift from God over which we are stewards.

We live in an age of impersonal medicine, fear of death and social isolation. These very factors provide the church with a unique opportunity to reach out into our community with Christ’s love and practical helps.

Dave
~Pastor Dave