Lew Keith Brings Lifestyle Medicine to Wayne County

Lew Keith was introduced to Lifestyle Medicine when he took his pregnant wife to the emergency room at Wildwood Hospital, a small missionary hospital near Chattanooga, TN. The child was stillborn. Just prior to that difficult time, Lew had experienced a conversion to Christianity; he saw the value of health care blended with ministry to the soul, and how caring and compassion aided the healing process.

A year later, Lew and his wife Darlene joined the Wildwood Hospital staff. For the next three years Lew, studied under a retired medical evangelist named W. D. Frazee. Recognizing that health is more valuable than wealth, and that simple lifestyle changes can halt and even reverse many lifestyle diseases, Lew began a career as an administrator and teacher that would span three decades.

Q: Lew, looking back over the last 30 years, what experiences are most memorable?

A: Lew: There have been plenty of challenges and blessings. The most difficult experience was during our first overseas mission assignment. In 1996, Darlene and I moved to the Philippines; we lived in the jungle and resided in a bamboo house—quite a change from life back home. We didn’t speak the language or understand the culture; we didn’t recognize many of the foods. Just getting from point A to point B was an adventure—we rode on motorcycles with sidecars and open buses called jeepneys. And we were homesick. Often Darlene would cry and say, “I want to go home.”

Over the next year, our experience changed - we developed friendships and realized that all people are the same on the inside. We worked with people suffering from serious health problems and saw firsthand how simple lifestyle changes proved to be absolutely effective when put into practice.

Another interesting experience was in the desert in northern Kenya in a place called Kakuma, a refugee camp of about 175,000 people. We lived with the people in their mud huts, ate their food, and became part of their families. Most of the people were war refugees; they led troubled lives, both mentally and physically. I’ll never forget, in spite of the poverty and disease, the kindness and hospitality of the people. Although our purpose was to minister to their physical and spiritual needs, we ended up receiving far more than we gave. Though poor in this world’s goods, they were rich in faith, charity, and hope.

What few difficult times we had were forgotten as we witnessed changed lives and renewed hearts. We had a young lady from Tennessee come to one of our programs who was addicted to heroin. Her life was in shambles - she lost her children, her health, and her happiness. Her life was out of control and spiraling downward.

This young lady attended our 30-day program and had a tremendous experience. She left as a renewed woman with a hopeful future. I knew it wasn’t the “essential elements” of good diet, exercise, going to bed early, health education classes, and other parts of our wellness program. The essential element in her experience was what God did for her. That’s the reason I’ve been working as a medical evangelist for 30 years - to point people to the Great Physician who heals body, mind, and soul. Exodus 15:26: “I am the LORD that heals thee.”

On November 11, Lew Keith will begin a 15-night Bible-based health seminar in Waynesboro, Tennessee. The meetings will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday evenings. The seminar will be at the Woodmen Life Hall, located next door to the Waynesboro post office. All are invited to attend this free program. Health is by choice, not by chance.