You Can Dissolve Prejudices

In Brooklyn, New York, lived an eighty-plus-year-old woman who had a live-in home supervisor, whom I’ll call Elena (not her real name).

Elena’s job was to supervise home health aides sent to care for the elderly woman. I worked for an agency that assigned me a four-day live-in schedule in that home. Due to circumstances, I was an unemployed chaplain but a functioning medical missionary. I was content to work as a home health aide for income and as an outlet for medical evangelism. One Monday part of my duty was to prepare a meal for all three of us: the elderly woman, Elena, and myself. I faithfully prepared the food and drink and then set the table for two. Elena inquired about what I would eat.

She was surprised when I informed her that I had brought my own food since I don’t include meat and meat products in my diet.

Intrigued, she said, “I will eat what you eat.” Without reservation, I shared my food with her. She was incredibly pleased, seeming to enjoy it.

My meatless diet generated a chain of questions regarding lifestyle issues. When I told her my denomination worships on the seventh day of the week, she said, “No wonder!” Then she shared with me her childhood experiences related to my church while growing up in her country of origin. I listened with rapt attention and some sadness as she unraveled some of her misguided prejudices regarding my denomination as well as Christianity in general. She had decided to become an atheist.

Eventually, she shared her entire life story and said, “God purposely sent you here to rescue me because I was dying!” Before I left that Friday, she asked, “Could you come and pick me up tomorrow? I will go to church with you.” I was excited to be able to take her to church! I gave her a Bible and other books.

Though Elena was overweight and had other health challenges, she made changes in her lifestyle practices and lost more than ten pounds within two weeks. How happy she was! She now attends church with me and is taking Bible studies.

Ellen G. White wrote, “When people become interested in this subject [health], the way is often prepared for the entrance of other truths.

If they see that we are intelligent [about] health, they will be more ready to believe that we are sound in Bible doctrines.”* With whom can you share a health tip or two?

Ekele P. Ukegbu-Nwankwo