A program for enhancing competency in interpreting Ellen White’s writings on foods and diet among gospel workers in the South-Central Ethiopia Field

Abstract

The Holy Bible teaches us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit that we have received from God for which we are steward not owner of it. Believers are responsible to keep their body healthy, and keep it from different things that affect its purity and healthiness. Ellen White’s teaching on diet and food is one of teachings in Seventh-day Adventist Church that enable the believers to take responsibility of their own body which was written in 1 Corinthians chapter 6 verse 19. This teaching bases on the one of the three messages of the Angels that was revealed to Apostle John and wings of teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Ellen White explained on her writings to understand her writings and teachings on diet and food as writings that give explanation of the Holy Bible teaching, not as the Bible itself. However, the gospel workers in the South-Central Ethiopia Adventist Field face a significant challenge in interpreting Ellen White's writings especially on food and diet. Only few Gospel workers got formal theological training which caused significant gap in understanding, interpretation, and application of Ellen G. White teachings on diet and food. This in turn causing significant problems ranging from minor to major problems among believers like separation among followers due to extremist’s views ad teachings due to gap in understanding, interpretation and application of Ellen G. White’s teachings. It is fact that without proper guidance, many workers struggle to grasp the nuanced meanings and theological implications of White's writing on food and diet, leading to potential misinterpretations and theological errors. The gap in awareness among Gospel workers about interpretation of Ellen White’s writing on food and diet is believed to be major cause of the above-mentioned consequences among churches in South-Central Ethiopia. There are 76 gospel workers in South-Central Ethiopia Field comprises, yet only a one-third of them (25) has received formal theological training, with even fewer holding a BA in theology (12). Consequently, a large portion of the workforce lacks the foundational knowledge required to interpret Ellen White's writings accurately. This deficiency in training has led to various challenges, including the propagation of non-biblical teachings by splintering groups who misinterpret White's writings. Such misunderstandings can hinder the church's growth and mission, lead to theological confusion highlighting the urgent need for a solution. To address this problem effectively, there was a need for a workshop-based program that provides gospel workers with the skills and knowledge necessary to interpret White's writing on food and diet accurately. The accurate interpretation of Ellen White's writing on food and diet is crucial for the growth and mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. This project was designed and delivered to mitigate this problem by delivering training to the Gospel workers in South-Central Ethiopia Field. The training workshop was implemented at Wolaita Sodo Adventist Church compound. The checklist with questions was administered to assess pre-training and post-training understanding of trainees on Ellen G. White’s writings on diet and food. Faced with significant challenges in interpreting White’s writings, many gospel workers lacked formal theological training, which led to widespread misconceptions regarding her health principles. The intervention successfully engaged participants in interactive sessions that fostered a deeper understanding of her dietary teachings, resulting in notable positive shifts in knowledge, attitudes, and practices before and after the workshops. The findings revealed that while initial perceptions were mixed, the post-training survey results demonstrated a remarkable increase in the recognition of Ellen White’s teachings as essential to spiritual well-being and community health. This comprehensive program not only addressed the urgent need to clarify and unify interpretations of White’s counsels but also empowered gospel workers to effect meaningful change in their congregations, thereby reinforcing the church’s mission and enhancing overall community health. Participants voiced concerns about prevalent misinterpretations of dietary principles, such as the misconception that consumption of certain foods directly affects salvation status. Insights from the training emphasized the need for unity and better comprehension of Ellen White’s writings to mitigate division within the church. Moreover, the expressed desire for continued educational support illustrates a proactive approach to furthering understanding and adherence to Ellen White’s counsel. The participants’ reflections on the misinterpretations and the recommendations for ongoing training suggest a pathway toward a more unified application of dietary teachings within the Adventist community. To build on the momentum generated by the workshop and further enhance the understanding of Ellen G. White’s dietary counsel among gospel workers and church members, ongoing education and training, integration of Ellen White’s dietary teachings in various church activities, support and resource provision and monitoring and research is recommended.