The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the West Venezuela Union recently celebrated the impact of a yearlong health outreach initiative carried out in the southwestern region of the country. The program, known as Health in Mission, mobilized Adventist health professionals and active church members to meet the pressing physical and emotional needs of thousands of people throughout 2025.

Orlando Ramírez, president of the West Venezuela Union, explained that the health outreach has become essential as Venezuela continues to face severe economic and medical challenges.

“Many people cannot access sufficient services through the public health system, while private care is unattainable for most,” he said.

In response, the church developed a continuous strategy combining free medical assistance, emotional support, and discipleship while mobilizing local congregations into small community health groups.

Preparing for community impact

Before each major medical brigade, churches formed small health groups that conducted several weeks of wellness classes and built relationships with community members, Ramírez explained. After this preparation period, volunteer Adventist physicians, the union’s missionary team, and external donors collaborated to offer free clinics.

This year’s outreach provided medical services to more than 5,000 people in San Cristóbal, in the Táchira State, organizers said. Services included dental, gynecology, pediatrics, geriatrics, cardiology, gastroenterology, nutrition, psychology, physiotherapy, general surgery, and ophthalmology.

“From the first months of the year, our organizing team worked intensely to ensure the spiritual, logistical, and medical preparation needed to effectively impact the communities of San Cristóbal,” said Nancy Perdomo de Rivas, health ministries director of the West Venezuela Union. “During this initial phase, we strengthened partnerships with Adventist health institutions, local congregations, and dedicated volunteers who share the message of hope that characterizes the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”

Five-phases of outreach

Church leaders said Health in Mission unfolded in five phases, beginning in January in coordination with the Southwest Venezuela Conference. The process moved from training and organizing small health groups, to connecting with community members, offering medical clinics, and sharing the gospel, and concluded with preserving new interests through discipleship, which culminated in November.

“After receiving three or four weeks of health instruction, people are invited to the free medical clinics,” Rivas said. “The people were completely ready and eager to come and receive care.”

From October 18 to 24, medical professionals and church members worked together in eight preaching centers across six districts of metropolitan San Cristóbal, offering what Rivas described as the “triple ministry of Jesus,” which includes teaching, preaching, and healing.

Administrators, departmental leaders, pastors, elders, teachers, and lay members joined forces with health professionals from the Adventist hospital in Barquisimeto, Adventist clinics, and several wellness centers to serve thousands.

Ramírez noted that donor ministries and Samaritan’s Purse, which provided medications, have played a key role in supporting the initiative.

Baptisms and continued disciple-making

As the health outreach drew to a close on October 25, more than 1,200 church leaders and members gathered at the Arminio Gutiérrez Gymnasium to celebrate the baptisms of 10 new believers and to reflect on the initiative’s spiritual impact. In total, 353 individuals joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church as a result of the combined medical and evangelistic efforts.

“During this week, we witnessed the glorious manifestation of God’s power. Through the influence of the Holy Spirit, many hearts were touched—men, women, and children who gave their lives to Jesus,” said Ramírez. “The project not only serves the community but also fully mobilizes the church, so organizing into small groups has been essential.”

The original article was published on the Inter-American Division news site.