Manuscript Releases, vol. 19 [Nos. 1360-1419]

Medical Missionary Training Schools

W. C. White: In Battle Creek, one reason why the sanitarium did not pay its debts faster was because they felt the burden of educating workers for other parts of the world. If the burden of educating workers on the pacific coast is ever taken up and borne by the people on the coast, it would seem to rest here. We have always depended largely upon drawing experienced workers from Battle Creek, but it seems as if the time has come when we ought to make an earnest effort to educate workers here. 19MR 45.3

A question has been in the minds of some of us, as to whether the work of educating nurses, and matrons, and stewards, and managers of different departments, for the numerous institutions that are being established here on the coast, should be borne by this sanitarium as a sanitarium; or whether the time has come when we ought to put our educational work for sanitariums on the coast more by itself, and ask the people and the conferences to support it as a training school rather than to have that burden rest upon this institution as a. sanitarium. I have felt as if we ought to work toward the end of having a good medical missionary training school on the pacific coast, which will be supported as a school, and not rest as a burden upon any one sanitarium. 19MR 45.4

Mrs. E. G. White: In the place of allowing all our young men and women to drift to Battle Creek to receive a training for sanitarium work, we must provide educational advantages in the different conferences. Altogether too many are already in the training school at Battle Creek. The attendance is so large that many of the students do not come out full-fledged. It is impossible for them all to receive thorough training. 19MR 46.1

All our medical workers must not receive the stamp of one man's mind. In different places there should be sanitariums of a high order, where our young people can receive a thorough training. We are not to countenance the carrying on of sanitariums of an inferior order in which incompetent instructors will do slipshod work, and call it educational work. The instructors in our medical missionary training schools must be picked men and women of ability. 19MR 46.2

W. C. White: Should such an educational center be established in every one of our union conferences? 19MR 46.3

Mrs. E. G. White: In one sense, yes. A beginning should be made in every conference, and these schools can gradually attain to perfection. In every conference, educational advantages should be provided for our young people. The very best instructors should be chosen to train workers. We are suffering from a dearth of workers. Time and again God has said that the training schools in Battle Creek were in a congested condition. The influences in that place are such that it became necessary to remove the college to another place. 19MR 46.4

In the past, Dr. Kellogg has said: “I have often wished that these sanitarium buildings were not half so large as they are. If we were not situated as we are, with all these buildings, we would move away from Battle Creek to some other place where we should have an altogether different climate.” This was a sensible view to take. But to build an enormous sanitarium in Battle Creek is just as much out of harmony with the Lord's will and with all that has been said and done in regard to this matter, as light is different from darkness. In the place of making a mammoth plant in one place, this institution should have made smaller plants in different places and in many cities. 19MR 46.5

There are many unworked fields in the East and in various other places. If the means that is used to erect the new sanitarium building were distributed in many places, the congested condition of things in Battle Creek would be somewhat relieved, and the stamp of one man's mind would not be placed on all who receive a medical missionary training. 19MR 47.1

While we desire to stand on the right platform and to be in unity in regard to the medical missionary work, we also desire to understand individually what true medical missionary work is, as outlined in the Word of God. We desire to understand the length, breadth, height, and depth of this work. It is an unselfish work. Some things that are said to be medical missionary work are not rightly named. The medical missionary work is a most exalted work. It is one of the principal means of preparing a people to stand as God's family in the last days. It is not merely something that will gain for us a round of applause from the world. 19MR 47.2

True medical missionary work is in accordance with pure gospel religion. Those who study its principles are learning of Christ. His methods of teaching are to be brought into the training of helpers who are to engage in this branch of our work. “Who eateth My flesh,” He says, “and drinketh My blood, hath eternal life.” How can we eat His flesh and drink His blood? His answer is, “The flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The Word of God is to underlie everything. 19MR 47.3

I repeat, brethren, we need to be resoldered. This is the best word I can think of. While writing I tried to think of a suitable word to describe our need of coming into connection with God and His truth through the agency of the Holy Spirit, and finally the word resoldered came to me. I wrote it down quickly. 19MR 48.1

A. T. Jones: That is it. It describes it. It is a fitting word. We appreciate it. 19MR 48.2

Mrs. E G. White: Another point. We are not to think that when we have training schools for the education of sanitarium workers, the sanitarium itself is not to be an educational agency. It is to sustain the closest relationship with these schools. Every day the nurses are to be taught in regard to their line of work. They should learn how to walk and talk with Jesus, coming close to Him, as He comes close to them. 19MR 48.3

Let the helpers in the institution fully understand that in their daily work they are gaining an education more valuable than anything which they could gain merely in a schoolroom. A practical training is worth far more than theoretical knowledge. The common words by which we know simple remedies are as useful as are the technical terms used by physicians for these same remedies. To request a nurse to prepare some catnip tea, answers the purpose fully as well as would directions given to her in language understood only after long study. 19MR 48.4

The Lord does not use words that are meaningless to the ordinary person. When Hezekiah was sick, the prophet Isaiah said, “Let them take a lump of figs, and lay it for a plaster upon the boil, and he shall recover.” The Lord speaks in a language so plain that everyone can understand Him. In order to become a competent nurse, it is not necessary to learn so many technical terms that are understood by comparatively few. To acquire a familiarity with these long words, students use much precious time that they could use otherwise to better profit. These difficult names are a device to cover up the nature of poisonous drugs. 19MR 48.5

Christ is our great Physician. He is ready to come into our medical missionary training schools to work for the students, and to heal them. 19MR 49.1

During Christ's ministry on the earth, His great heart of love struck a sympathetic cord of tenderness in the hearts of the people. When He told the sick that they were whole, they believed Him. His very words seemed to be accompanied by the power of conviction, and the people believed that He spoke the truth. 19MR 49.2

Unbelievers have inquired, “Why are not miracles wrought among those who claim to be God's people?” Brethren, the greatest miracle that can be wrought is the conversion of the human heart. We need to be reconverted, losing sight of self and human ideas, and beholding Christ, that we may be transformed into His likeness. When this, the greatest of all miracles, is wrought within our hearts, we shall see the working of other miracles. 19MR 49.3

God cannot work through us miraculously while we are unconverted. It would spoil us, for we would take it as an evidence that we were perfect before Him. Our first work is to become perfect in His sight, by living faith claiming His promise of forgiveness. “Ask what ye will,” Christ declared to His disciples, “and it shall be done unto you.” 19MR 49.4

Let us remember that He also said, “He that believeth on Me, believeth not on Me, but on Him that sent Me. And he that seeth Me seeth Him that sent Me. I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness” [John 12:44-46]. “Yet a little while, and the world seeth Me no more; but ye see Me: because I live, ye shall live also” [John 14:19]. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in Me” [John 15:4]. Those who see Christ by living faith, those who abide in Him, will have power to work miracles for His glory. 19MR 49.5