The 2022 Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) Presidents’ Council of the Adventist HealthCare Association (AHCA) was held on October 4–6, 2022. About 30 Adventist hospital administrators, medical doctors, department heads, and guest speakers, together representing 11 member hospitals from the NSD and one associate member, participated in the council.
AHCA is an organization that is based on the biblical principles of health and healthcare, particularly as amplified by Ellen G. White’s writings. The main goal of AHCA is to help healthcare institutions provide excellent medical services while being an integral part of the proclamation of the everlasting gospel to the world in the context of the Three Angels’ Messages.
AHCA consisted of 11 full members and one associate member: Adventist Medical Center, Eden Adventist Hospital, Hong Kong Adventist Hospitals (Stubbs Road and Tsuen Wan), Kobe Adventist Hospital, Sahmyook Adventist Dental Hospital, Sahmyook Medical Centers (Busan and Seoul), Taiwan Adventist Hospital, Tokyo Adventist Hospital, and Yeosu Sanitarium Hospital; and an associate member, Penang Adventist Hospital.
NSD has held the AHCA Presidents’ Council every year. Due to COVID-19, the annual meeting was held online in 2020 and 2021. Dr. Toshihiro Nishino, president of Tokyo Adventist Hospital, and Dr. Huang Hui-Ting, president of Taiwan Adventist Hospital, were reelected as the AHCA president and secretary, respectively, in 2021.
This year, AHCA decided to have an onsite Presidents’ Council in Tokyo. Many prayed over the meeting, asking God for attendees’ safety since it would take place during the ongoing pandemic. Thankfully, the Lord heard the many prayers and protected AHCA delegates who attended the meeting.
At the meeting, an agenda item was approved by AHCA Extraordinary Presidents’ Council from March 2022, agreeing to a supporting fund for the Mongolia Adventist AMOS Dental Clinic. Recently, the Mongolia Mission president expressed the critical need for a panoramic X-ray machine to help improve service quality at the clinic. Providing this fund is the first step. Staff training and technology sharing will follow in the near future. AHCA officers and members are planning to visit the AMOS Dental Clinic in 2023.
AHCA also invited Lyndon Edwards, COO of Loma Linda University Health Hospitals, to give special lectures regarding the vision and quality service of Loma Linda University Hospitals. He also talked about how Loma Linda University Hospitals met the great challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic in their region. The impressive stories of the doctors, nurses, and staff in their services to the COVID patients were shared. Attendees learned how Loma Linda focuses on the medical mission and the goal of comprehensive health ministries. They not only pursue the highest healthcare services but also spiritual health services.
One of the climaxes of the meeting was hearing reports from each hospital. Speakers gave thanks and glory to God for the blessings and honors received. They shared their burdens and challenges from the past and present. They also prayed and supported each other. Most of the reports focused on the health mission and spiritual work in their hospitals and communities. Also, AHCA members brought their souvenirs and gifts to share with each other. All the delegates were blessed at the AHCA gathering through this fellowship.