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Adventist Health Association Revives
Adelaide, South Australia
Melody Tan
The Adventist Health Association (AHA), a network for health professionals and church members interested in health evangelism, is being revived in Australia.
A new AHA chapter is anticipated to be established in South Australia (SA) next year after its constitution is approved by the Adventist Church in South Australia. 22 people have expressed interest in becoming members and AHA SA’s coordinator Drusilla Nowicki is hoping for more participation by health professionals, students and church members upon its establishment.
AHA works in partnership with the local regional church offices and its primary function is to nurture health professionals, giving them the opportunity to meet with their Adventist counterparts and receive encouragement and support.
Ms Nowicki says AHA SA was formed initially to support Adventist health professionals in the region. It is also designed to encourage them and church members to promote “health within the context of the gospel”.
“My dream is that there will be an effective base at local churches so that the health ministry coordinators will be well supported with resources and training to motivate people to commit to live the health message of the church and to become involved in health evangelism,” says Ms Nowicki, who is a member of College Park Seventh-day Adventist Church.
AHA chapters used to be in major Australian cities in the 1970s but have dwindled to two in recent times, with one in South East Queensland and one in Western Australia.
“AHA networks teams for health evangelism and seminars,” says Mr Daniel de Bruyn, president of the Queensland chapter. “It is especially beneficial for smaller churches.”
As AHA’s members include health professionals like doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and dietitians, it is able to supply people to help at a local church’s health program, give health talks or with doing promotions at exhibitions or shows.
Mr de Bruyn says health professionals and students can contact him to be on AHA Queensland’s mailing list. They will also receive free CD with health resources.
“Improving one’s personal health has become a general concern and although our church has had the health message for more than 100 years, it is not something that we have promoted well in the community,” says Ms Nowicki. “At present, there are other denominations who are beginning to realise that the interest of the community in health is an avenue for contact and friendship. The Adventist Church should utilise our skilled health professionals in health evangelism and ensure the community know that Adventists care about and support good health for body, mind and spirit.”
Adventist health director for the South Pacific, Jonathan Duffy says he would “love to see every state have an active AHA working relationship with their local conferences. Health professionals have a tough job and we want to provide them with an environment where they can feel nurtured and where they will be able to meet with other Adventist health professionals.”
To find out more about AHA or about setting up local AHA chapters, contact Adventist Health.
Adelaide, South Australia
Melody Tan
The Adventist Health Association (AHA), a network for health professionals and church members interested in health evangelism, is being revived in Australia.
A new AHA chapter is anticipated to be established in South Australia (SA) next year after its constitution is approved by the Adventist Church in South Australia. 22 people have expressed interest in becoming members and AHA SA’s coordinator Drusilla Nowicki is hoping for more participation by health professionals, students and church members upon its establishment.
AHA works in partnership with the local regional church offices and its primary function is to nurture health professionals, giving them the opportunity to meet with their Adventist counterparts and receive encouragement and support.
Ms Nowicki says AHA SA was formed initially to support Adventist health professionals in the region. It is also designed to encourage them and church members to promote “health within the context of the gospel”.
“My dream is that there will be an effective base at local churches so that the health ministry coordinators will be well supported with resources and training to motivate people to commit to live the health message of the church and to become involved in health evangelism,” says Ms Nowicki, who is a member of College Park Seventh-day Adventist Church.
AHA chapters used to be in major Australian cities in the 1970s but have dwindled to two in recent times, with one in South East Queensland and one in Western Australia.
“AHA networks teams for health evangelism and seminars,” says Mr Daniel de Bruyn, president of the Queensland chapter. “It is especially beneficial for smaller churches.”
As AHA’s members include health professionals like doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, social workers and dietitians, it is able to supply people to help at a local church’s health program, give health talks or with doing promotions at exhibitions or shows.Mr de Bruyn says health professionals and students can contact him to be on AHA Queensland’s mailing list. They will also receive free CD with health resources.
“Improving one’s personal health has become a general concern and although our church has had the health message for more than 100 years, it is not something that we have promoted well in the community,” says Ms Nowicki. “At present, there are other denominations who are beginning to realise that the interest of the community in health is an avenue for contact and friendship. The Adventist Church should utilise our skilled health professionals in health evangelism and ensure the community know that Adventists care about and support good health for body, mind and spirit.”
Adventist health director for the South Pacific, Jonathan Duffy says he would “love to see every state have an active AHA working relationship with their local conferences. Health professionals have a tough job and we want to provide them with an environment where they can feel nurtured and where they will be able to meet with other Adventist health professionals.”
To find out more about AHA or about setting up local AHA chapters, contact Adventist Health.
