Bro Andrew obtained his Naturopathic Doctor (ND) qualification from Trinity College of Natural Health, USA. He works with various alternative practitioners to help people find answer to their health problems, and conducts natural health seminars for corporations and churches. He is a practicing member of the Malaysian Society of Complementary Medicine.
Andrew was the director of training of an internationally affiliated training company before he was grounded at home for several years due to a health crisis. Symptoms started in 1995 and culminated in a near death situation by 1999, characterized by severe constriction and inflammation of the entire gastro-intestinal tract; profuse nose-bleed, muscle cramps, brain retardation and extreme chills. Having gone for a merry-go-round treatment with at least 36 medical and alternative doctors, Andrew was finally left alone to fend for himself. At 112 lbs. (from 165 lbs.) his fragile body was failing and degenerating rapidly.
With God helping him through extensive research and self-help, he is now being restored, and reaches out to others with his message, YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE SICK.
Bro. Andrew conducted a seminar title “Christian Health and Healing” at Wesley Methodist Church, Klang on April 16, 2011.
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Q : We know a few details about your professional background, but could you share with us a bit about your personal life, your family.
A : My family consists of my wife, Joanna, and 2 children , Robin & Phebe, who are in their late twenties. Joanna takes care of the home for us.
As for myself, I am called to a ministry of RESTORATION, to help especially believers find answer to their health problems. This I do, via a personal patient profiling process whereby I gather all the facts and get to the ROOT CAUSE/S of their health condition. The Root Cause/s often originate from a mix of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual reasons.
Apart from that, I promote my corporate Holistic Stress Management seminar, and teach CHH classes whenever an opportunity comes along. By the way, this Ministry of Restoration is a self-funding ministry.
Q : We read about your health crisis. What do you think were the factors that triggered the crisis – was it purely physical, lifestyle, spiritual?
A : As far as I know the crisis was just waiting to happen. Hence, from 1995 symptoms started and culminated into a life and death situation by 1999, which was the darkest moment of my entire life.
Q : Was the crisis solved via methods advocated in this CH&H seminar? What were the CH&H principles that contributed to your health’s restoration?
A : The key CHH principles that I observed were:
a) total dependence on God for direction and wisdom;
b) relentless search for relevant information regarding my condition;
c) always striving to get to the suspect ROOT CAUSES of my health condition.
Q : How did the crisis affect your professional, family and spiritual life?
A : The crisis forced me to resign from my job in 1998. At that time my children were just forms 3 and 4 respectively. My wife was devastated as she watched me deteriorate and waste away day by day, in spite of so many visits to various doctors. She too resigned to look after me.
Spiritually, I could not see anything further, except to pray a dying man’s prayer which goes like this: “O GOD, I HAVE NO MORE STRENGTH TO HOLD ON TO YOU. PLEASE HOLD ME AND DON’T LET ME SLIP AWAY.” Darkness and confusion was the order of the day.
Q : They say “Ignorance is bliss”. Would you say that many Christians aren’t ignorant about their health condition perse, but choose NOT to find out the true state of their health because they fear what they will find out?
A : Yes, people generally don’t like personal responsibility as far as health is concerned. However, the Bible demands it as you can find in Rom 12:1-2 and 1 Cor 3:16. Hence, to love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength is quite LITERAL. Remember, a curse (of a disease) causeless, shall not come to you (Prov 26:2).
Repentance from sins, faith in God, and our Christian walk is about “facing ourselves”, without fearing facts and reality. Bible references on “how to face ourselves” can be found here: Luke 18:9-14 and Rev 3:14-19.
Q : What advice would you have for Christians who “fear” the truth.
“Fear” is acceptable to me as long as we are still human. But to fear to the point of not wanting to seek out biblical truth and admonishment is DISOBEDIENCE as far as I am concerned. The antidote: “Consider your ways,” Haggai says, and return unto the Lord and His infallible Word. Do not mock your tender loving God, for whatsoever you sow that you shall also reap in due course (Gal 6:7). We can’t break God’s laws of health; only His eternal laws can break us. Period.
Q : Medical costs are skyrocketing these days. Would you consider this to be part of the reason why many Christians choose to be “ignorant” about their health? Would it be sensible and practical to follow the suggested CH&H principles as a means to prevent one from getting sick, hence saving medical bills?
A : Medical costs are already rising beyond the reach of an average person worldwide. The world’s “health management” system is actually a disease management model that will lead you to doom. It’s God’s will that believers do not fall sick in the first place (Psalm 1:3). Which is why CHH emphasizes on PREVENTIVE HEALTH before proceeding to Restorative Health Initiatives.
Being ignorant or avoiding the health principles of the Bible is tantamount to DISOBEDIENCE. Please read Deuteronomy chapter 28 and see for yourself all the diseases that will afflict those who choose the pathway of destruction which is broad and its gate, wide. My pastor friend just got a massive heart attack and went on a by-pass surgery immediately about 8 weeks ago. All these just happened suddenly on a Sunday morning in the midst of his teaching engagement with a church!
I want to point out that it’s not only the exorbitant medical bill one has to foot, but also the other heavy “COSTS” such as loss of productivity, daily suffering, disability, and distress for our loved ones. Ezekiel 33:11 says, ‘Why will you die, people of Israel?’
Q : CH&H advocates Bible based teachings that are dominantly spiritual or supernatural. As such, would it be correct to say that when it comes to health problems, we should look into the spiritual (sin, emotions, mindset, etc) first before we consider the natural causes (meaning our lifestyle, physical activities, food, etc)
A : Absolutely. Everything begins with the Spirit (Gen 1:2) as you can see in the creation story. When we fall sick, the first step to restoration is always the process of self-searching and confession (Psalm 139: 23-24). From here, we expand to examining our lifestyle pace and food choices, etc, in order to seek out the suspect ROOT CAUSES of our health problems.
Q : There are many who believe that Christian healing is akin to self-treatment or “be your own doctor”. What is your opinion?
A : The Bible is our manual of life for it covers all areas of competency in righteous, peaceful and effective living. “God is the Lord of all, or none at all”. The Holy Bible teaches us on how to gain and sustain abundant life from birth till death and even thereafter. Amen?
At present there is a Christian movement worldwide, trying to regain Christian influences on the so called “lost grounds”, which pertain to the Family, Education, Business, Arts & Entertainment, Media, Government or Politics, and of course, Health itself. Somehow along the way, we Christians have forgotten that all these “pillars of society” originally belonged to the children of God, and we have let go of them one by one, except for areas like the church, family and home education, perhaps.
Q : Do you believe that ANY health issue can be dealt with using the methods and techniques of Christian health and healing?
A : Health & Disease; Life & Death, have always been the prerogative of God our Creator. Isaiah 45:7 says, “I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the LORD, do all these things.’ He is the Porter and we are the clay. CHH teaches the principles and doctrines of total health and wellness enshrined in the Bible. CHH further teaches how to balance between the works of FAITH with the works of OBEDIENCE, by constantly seeking direction and wisdom from our great Physician, Jesus Christ. Yes, we want to cast all our health issues upon Him, for He cares for us.
Q : Under what circumstances (if any) should a Christian seek ‘modern, mainstream /scientific’ medical treatment?
A : Under all circumstances as long as one is unsure of the nature of his or her ailments. I normally advise my patient to see a caring doctor for a diagnosis first, before attending to them. These ailments include infections, inflammation, pains, unusual fever to name a few. In CHH, I teach that a man of God should not assume and become “reckless” especially when handling a patient. After the “sciences” comes the “DISCERNMENT” on how to get to the ROOT CAUSE/S of a patient’s condition. And believe me, most of the time, a doctor will have no clue about it.
At this juncture, I must acknowledge that the medical community do have their strength too, as in the areas of emergency resuscitation (such as heart attack/stroke); accident or trauma treatments; acute poisoning, serious infections, and educational resources pertaining to anatomy and physiology.
Q : Paul said in Romans 7:15 “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” How would you encourage Christians who KNOW they need to change their lifestyle for the sake of their health, but simply lack the self-discipline to even begin.
A : If a Christian is serious with Roms 7:15, then Matthew 5:3-6 will be a good admonishment to him or her, too. If one needs assistance, he can get an accountability partner to help him stay on track. But one must have a DESIRE to OBEY God’s laws of health. Jesus always asked or tested His subject for that DESIRE, before he carried out any healing miracle. So the fundamental question is: “Do you truly desire to walk in the fullness of life with God, and be salt of the earth and light of the world to glorify God?”
Q : What are the major changes that you made to your lifestyle as youpersonally practice Bible-based health and healing?
A : Though not perfect and still lacking in various resources, I strive to EAT RIGHT, THINK RIGHT, AND FEEL RIGHT, LIVE RIGHT, according to the measure of grace and wisdom extended to me by God. Learning to “die daily” has always been a great challenge to me.
Q : Does practicing Bible-based health and healing mean you have to give up the “fun stuff” like fried chicken, pizza, burgers?
I call these “naughty foods”. Sometimes, I indulge in them due to social compulsion or omission or by reason of Roms 7:15 ?? Nonetheless, I take them in very small quantities such as a vanilla ice cream, a few potato chips, a piece of pizza, etc.
Consistency is the key, and I try to stick to my dietary motto: “NO FIBER NO EAT”. The reason being, fiber food normally comes along with the whole range of nutrients such as minerals, vitamins, good carbo, amino acids, good fats, and enzymes. Now you know that bother Andrew Leong is still flesh and blood like you all. Hah
Q : Your final thoughts, please?
A : The top lifestyle and diet related diseases are Heart disease, Stroke, Diabetes, Arthritis, Infections & Inflammation, Cancer. Do you honestly feel that these diseases are part of a Christian “package” just like trials and persecution for righteousness’ sake? (Jn 15:20)
If yours is a resounding “NO”, then I invite you to learn more about CHRISTIAN MEDICINE with me.
Information on various Seminars conducted by Bro Andrew Leong:
http://www.beyourowndr.com/seminars/index.html
Health Articles :
http://www.beyourowndr.com/resources/index.html
From the offering of this poor widow, we learn about a woman who understood the principle of giving. God doesn’t call us to give for the sake of giving. Giving is to be done as an act of obedience – “Obedience is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
