Health evangelism as a strategy for small groups in Korean Seventh-day Adventist churches

Abstract

The stated problem of this study is that small groups have been losing their evangelical functions, and health evangelism no longer engages the participation of lay people in Korean Seventh-day Adventist churches. Based on the study of the various aspects of small groups and health evangelism--including positive Korean cultural and religious influences and the current climate of Korean Seventh-day Adventist churches--this research provides "Small Groups Health Outreach" as a solution to the problem. Small Groups Health Outreach is an evangelical strategy that divides a local church into small groups and adopts health evangelism into the outreach activities of the groups. A "Small Health Group" is an intentional, regular, outreach-oriented gathering of eight to fifteen people with the purpose of planning and carrying out of activities that will fill the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of the community by combining health-related activities with the work of delivering the gospel. Small Groups Health Outreach chooses and develops its activities depending on the circumstances of the individual church and the community. Groups may vary their structures based upon cooperation with other local Seventh-day Adventist churches, cooperation with agencies in the community, or adaptation as one of the departments of a church. Small Health Groups may be implemented using the following steps: surveys and analysis of the church and the community, choosing activities and leaders and the members, organization of groups, functioning, evaluation, and termination. The activities of small groups using this strategy will attract the support and involvement of laymen. The various aspects of health evangelism should provide practical and effective outreach methods for the implementing churches. Proper implementation of this strategy may provide fellowship among group members, bring lay involvment in evangelism and outreach, build good community relations, and produce numerical and spiritual growth to Korean loca Seventh-day Adventist churches.