Dear AMEN Family,
The holidays can be a difficult time when you are dealing with a major illness, and in the world of oncology, many patients struggle to find hope. I recently saw a 60-year-old man named Andrew with widespread metastatic prostate cancer who was very nervous to meet with me. He had so much bone involvement from his cancer that he had developed several pathologic fractures. As I explained to Andrew that metastatic prostate cancer was not curable but treatable, his eyes went wide with terror. The more I talked about the medications, potential side effects, and treatment logistics, I could tell that he was not really hearing anything I was saying, and his bottom lip was trembling. I then asked him, “Andrew, do you have a faith background?” He nodded and said he was a part of the Church of Christ. I then told him that I too was a believer and said, “I don’t know why God allowed you to develop this cancer, but I do know that He matches up patients with providers. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that He led you to me in this clinic, and perhaps the fact that we are talking about God’s providence right now is evidence that He is directing your cancer care.”
I went on to tell Andrew that I will do everything I can from a medical standpoint but that ultimately, all healing comes from God, and we must put our trust in Him. I told him that winning the fight against cancer was not about how long he lived, but rather, how well he lived whatever life he had left. If we let the fear of cancer and what tomorrow might bring rob us of the ability to enjoy the blessing of today, then the cancer has won. But if we live each day grateful for the gift of life that God has given us and entrust our tomorrow into His hands, then joy is possible even in the context of a terminal illness. I offered to pray with Andrew which he gladly accepted, and in my prayer I asked God to give him the peace that can only come from trusting in Him. After I finished my prayer, Andrew burst into tears and thanked me saying, “I feel like I have hope now going into this Christmas.”
It’s moments like these that remind me of why AMEN exists.
At its core, AMEN seeks to show the world the beauty and power of Jesus’ healing ministry—a ministry that He entrusted to His disciples and to all of us. Ellen White says,“It is the divine plan that we shall work as the disciples worked. Physical healing is bound up with the gospel commission.” (Ministry of Healing, p. 140)
We don’t engage in medical ministry because we are healthcare professionals, but rather, we engage in medical ministry because it is inseparably bound up with the gospel commission. The fact that we work in healthcare is an added bonus that we can leverage in pointing people’s eyes to Jesus and sharing His love. It is AMEN’s goal to inspire all healthcare workers with this vision so that they can accept the highest calling – the calling to follow in Christ’s footsteps.
This Christmas season, I want to thank you for what you do to touch lives for the Lord. Only eternity will reveal the true impact of the innumerable ways in which you show God’s love to your patients on a daily basis. And I want to thank you for standing with AMEN because we could not do what we do without your continued support.
As this year draws to a close, please prayerfully consider making a tax-deductible donation to AMEN.
Your gift will allow us to continue our mission of inspiring and equipping healthcare professionals around the world to dedicate their careers and their lives to the Lord.
May God bless you and your family, and from all of us at AMEN, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
In Christ,
John Shin, MD
AMEN President
Adventist Medical Evangelism Network
