Health & Lifestyle | Seventh-day Adventist Church

Tackle Mental Health Stigmas

Story by Amanda Blake

More than 200 Seventh-day Adventist churches across North America, including 34 in the Columbia Union Conference, hosted the short mental health series MindFit this past spring.

The Voice of Prophecy (VOP) produced the event to empower churches as practical and spiritual resources for their communities in battling a continent-wide mental health crisis.

“On a global scale, one in eight people struggle daily with mental illness—one in five
in North America. The implication is clear: It is nearly impossible to live on this Earth and not be affected by mental illness,” says Alex Rodriguez, associate speaker for VOP and host of the series.

Calling Dr Patel

Kettering Health's Dr. Patel and his team

Story by Ben Riggs

Get Dr. Akil Patel talking about his kids, and you’ll hear his fatherly pride. He leans forward, grins ear to ear, and has countless pictures on his phone. Get him talking about the human brain, and you’ll hear his child-like wonder. He explains it using his hands, eyes widened behind his thin, black- rimmed glasses, and has stories galore on his mind.

The 37-year-old vascular neurosurgeon knows a thing or two about the three-pound organ between our ears. From residency at the University of Maryland to training at Johns Hopkins and Seattle’s Swedish Neuroscience Institute, he has committed all his brain to understanding ours.

Support for Abuse Victims: How Can I Help?

The church community can be a great support in cases of abuse, but pastors and lay leaders are often not professionally trained in this area. Michelle Perez, a domestic abuse prevention educator, shares some tips on what not to say or do when approached by an abused survivor. For ideas on best practices, read the feature here.

What NOT to Say to Someone Experiencing Abuse

Keep it Natural: Your Health Ministries Director Was Right About This

A recent study has confirmed what your Health Ministries director has long preached: It’s healthier to eat foods closer to their natural state than processed.

The study found that a high consumption of more ultra-processed foods with more additives, artificial flavors, sweeteners and preservatives is associated with a greater risk of cancer, especially ovarian and brain cancer.

Here are some resources from our archives to help:

Kettering Health and Kettering Adventist Church Team Up for Health Nights for Healthier Lives

Story by Christina Keresoma

Kettering Health physicians and the Kettering Adventist church teamed up to teach members and the community how to live healthier lives.

Cardiologist Harvey Hahn, MD, has a strong passion for healthy living and promoting a healthy lifestyle. So much so, he created a community initiative called Health Night. Health Night is a series of health-related talks Dr. Hahn started in late 2021. Since then, attendees have learned about intermittent fasting, exercise, sleep, skin, stress and anxiety, and building better habits.