“Healthy Lifestyle – Jesus to the Rescue Series”, A Movement of Hope, Healing, and Transformation

On February 9, the grounds of Washington Gardens Seventh-day Adventist Church was filled with energy, excitement, and purpose as members united with the Balcombe Drive Seventh-day Adventist Church and the community for a powerful outreach initiative—the inaugural 5K Walk/Run. The event started with an impressive 130 participants from the churches and community. Young and old laced up their sneakers and united not only for physical fitness but for a greater mission.

 

The walk/run event was the precursor for the much-anticipated “Healthy Lifestyle—Jesus to the Rescue Series”, which would see both churches partnering to make an on the Drews Land Community and its environs. The atmosphere was charged with joy and determination, reinforcing the message that caring for the body is an important part of honoring God.

The blessings of the day extended beyond physical exercise as bonds were formed between the participants and the citizens who observed the participants as they made their way briskly through the community. They were not too rushed, however, to share the printed or spoken word.   

 

On the very next Sabbath, Evangelist Pastor Owen Thomas, supported by Co-evangelist Elder Vernon McCallum began the series of life-changing presentations. While the world focused on temporal love and affairs of the heart, two precious souls demonstrated their changed hearts as they were baptized, publicly declaring their decision to follow Jesus Christ. It served as a powerful reminder that while the church promotes physical well-being, its highest mission remains spiritual transformation.

As would happen for the next four weeks, the evening segment culminated the day’s activities. In true Sabbath style, the blessing was multiplied.  

 

In the early afternoon, Pathfinders marched confidently through the Drews Land and Balcombe Drive communities, distributing tracts and sharing messages of hope. Their presence was both inspiring and impactful, inviting residents to participate in the upcoming series.

 

The spirit of service carried over into Sunday, February 15, with a comprehensive Health Clinic that ministered to over 120 community members. Free services included general health checks, eye screenings, drug abuse counseling, restorative justice guidance, and practical health presentations. The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive, this was more than a clinic; it was ministry,

Throughout the series, powerful and thought-provoking topics were presented, addressing both practical and spiritual needs.

These included:

• - Managing Your Stress
• - How to Conquer Your Demons
• - Did Christ Ever Abolish One of His Ten Commandments?
• - Did God Really Make Sex to Keep Me Happy?
• - Beat That Giant in the Room With Five Stones
• - My Dead Grandmother Visited Me Last Night
• - A Fight for Life: Big C vs. Big P
• - Five Strategies for Beating Depression, among many others.

 

Each message resonated deeply with attendees, offering guidance, hope, and biblical truth for everyday living.

By the end of the initiative, lives had been touched physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With baptisms marking new beginnings and hundreds impacted through health and outreach efforts, the partnership between Washington Gardens and Balcombe Drive Seventh-day Adventist Churches stands as a powerful testimony of what can happen when faith and service unite.

After four weeks of dynamic preaching, health education, and heartfelt appeals, the Healthy Lifestyle – Jesus to the Rescue Series concluded on a spiritual high. By the grace of God, 16 souls made the life-changing decision to follow Christ.

Indeed, this was not just an event—it was a movement of hope, healing, and rescue.