Who are we?
According to the church manual (revised in 2022) “The Church believes its responsibility to make Christ known to the world includes a moral obligation to preserve human dignity by promoting optimal levels of physical, mental, and spiritual health. In addition to ministering to those who are ill, this responsibility extends to the prevention of disease through effective health education and leadership in promoting optimum health, free of tobacco, alcohol, other drugs, and unclean foods. Where possible, members shall be encouraged to follow a primarily vegetarian diet”. Ref: 2022 Seventh-day Adventist Church Manual: https://www.adventist.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/2022-Seventh-day-Adventist-Church-Manual.pdf
In order to revitalize the health reform in the territory of the Inter-American Division, the health ministries department launched the Total Health Movement. This initiative aims to involve all church members, church departments, healthcare institutions, and other entities in the field of health ministry.
The IAD will achieve Total Member Involvement in health ministry by PRACTICING, SHARING, and SERVING our communities. We aim to influence the lives of one million or more individuals annually in the IAD.
What is the Total Health Movement (THM)?
The Total Health Movement (THM) is an initiative of the IAD Health Ministries that aims to inspire, motivate, equip, guide, and reward health leaders, promoters, ambassadors, and health friends to actively engage in health-promoting and health-conscious initiatives, as well as to share and serve their community.
This movement aims to establish a favorable environment for church members, friends of the church, and Adventist groups and entities to spread the Adventist Health Message. These entities include small group ministries, sabbath schools, local church communities, unions and local field offices, health and educational institutions, bookstores, restaurants, food industries, and more.
Philosophy of the Total Health Movement:
VISION: Build healthy communities
MISSION: Actively demonstrate the love of Jesus.
VALUES:
OBJECTIVES
TARGET: Implement “DREAM” health initiatives to influence the lives of 1 million individuals or more annually.
Key features of the Total Health Movement
Key Actions
Each participant to the movement commit to live and promote the Adventist health message, honoring and glorifying God through their actions, decisions and lifestyle. This includes adopting healthy habits, participating in wellness programs, and being an example of love and service in the community.
Community mobilization for church members and institutions by connecting with the community using different communication methods and technologies to share the Adventist Health Message.
Developing and implementing Adventist health initiatives aligned with biblical principles, the spirit of prophecy, and science according to the Bible. environments.
Key Service areas
Participants (whether they are individuals or institutions) should implement health initiatives that emphasize promotion using the DREAM model.
Key Leadership functions
Key Recognition and Acknowledgement
This level of motivation aims solely to recognize individual dedication to health principles and an active, healthy lifestyle. All members and friends of the Adventist church can and should take the commitment to live a healthy life and get their FoH pin in public.
The local field and/or the local church may grant the “Friends of Health” distinction to all individuals who declare publicly their commitment to practice healthy habits and to become health advocates.
Type of Distinction: Pin.
This level of recognition acknowledges the individual efforts of those who proactively make an effort to offer compassionate presence or other forms of support to individuals who require physical, mental, spiritual, social, or financial support.
It is recommended that health companions enhance their abilities and expertise in the field of compassionate presence ministry. However, they are recognized by the church for their actions, not their knowledge.
The local field and/or the local church may bestow the Health Companion of Ambassador’s distinction on anyone who has been recommended to the church board for such recognition by the church’s health commission or department. This recommendation must be based on verifiable demonstrations of commitment to the advancement of holistic well-being, health support, active listening, and dedication to service.
Type of Distinction: Pin + Certificate.
Those who have successfully completed training to become health promoters by the Union and/or the Division/University of Montemorelos are recognized at this level.
A person is eligible for health promoter training if they are recommended by and requested by the local church. We strongly advise choosing the upcoming generations of promoters from among those who have already been recognized as ambassadors and friends. The Total Health movement is motivated by the desire to recognize individuals for their actions and dedication, rather than solely on the basis of a training process.
At the request of the Unions, Montemorelos University and the Inter-American Division provide the training and award the “Health Promoter’s” distinction. Certification with academic value may be granted by Montemorelos University for courses that are conducted either in person or online.
Type of Distinction: Pin + Health Promoter Certificate.
This degree of acknowledgment is granted to individuals who have exhibited leadership commitment, relevant contributions, service, discipline, and the intentional implementation of life-changing or social transformation initiatives.
These are individuals who, through their proactivity, resources, knowledge, or generosity, have made meaningful contributions to the health, well-being, or overall welfare of the community, thereby enriching the Adventist Health Ministry.
This esteemed distinction is normally bestowed upon members of Adventist health professional associations, regardless of whether they are Adventists, Adventist healthcare leaders, directors, or providers, as well as exceptional local or national health actors that the church wishes to acknowledge.
The Union Board recommends that the Inter-American Division award the “Health Leaders” distinction. Every year, Union can suggest anywhere from 0 to 2 Adventists and 1 non-Adventist to be recognized as “Total Health Leaders.”
Type of Distinction: Pin + Health Leader Certificate + Plaque or Price.
Adventist organizations qualify for the health promoter entity distinction. Their active involvement in the community’s welfare, quantifiable results in the implementation of health plans, ongoing training, and community and evangelistic impact in health promotion are all reasons for the Union or Division to recognize them.
Upon the recommendation of unions, the InterAmerican division determines whether or not to recognize these entities. Furthermore, a non-Adventist organization may be acknowledged for its substantial contribution to the community’s welfare.
Type of Distinction: Plaque & Price.
Key Monitoring and reporting mechanism
The unions’ health directors report all accomplishments. OneMillon.org is the Inter-American Division’s health ministry’s exclusive reporting outlet.
ALL RESOURCES OF THE TOTAL HEALTH MOVEMENT FOR HEALTH DIRECTORS ARE ACCESSIBLE BELOW.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1H0oeJs1wlP3pId0MhcSvX5ZCStbtAkL8?usp=drive_link
