About Acts 4 Project

Mission Statement

Acts 4 Project has been designed to provide a mechanism for people in local communities to identify and access the best health care.

Vision Statement

We want to teach people how to live healthy lives, thus avoiding many costly illnesses.

We want to encourage people to save for their routine health care needs and have the ability to access the best health care at the lowest cost.

We want to encourage health care providers to offer their services at the best price, unencumbered by third party influence, be it insurance companies or the government.

We want to facilitate the principles outlined in Acts 4, where people can help other members each month.

Core Values

Life is a gift from God and each individual must be treated with the utmost respect and dignity.

Individuals have been given the responsibility to take care of their own bodies.

We believe that applying Biblical principles will provide the best formula for health, community and prosperity.

BIBLICAL BASIS:  Old Testament

The Book of Malachi in the Old Testament of the Bible was written 400 years before the time of Christ. At that time God's people were blending into the system of the world so that their way of life was indistinguishable from those who did not acknowledge God at all. They were facing hard economic times and tended to feel that God did not really care about their everyday lives and the struggles they were facing. Through his prophet Malachi, God chided his people for holding back, for taking part in religious services and failing to put His principles into practice. He scolded the priests because they showed favoritism, overlooking the sins of those they did not want to offend. The people who called themselves believers in God were acting just like the people who did not know God at all, even taking their marriage vows too lightly.  God wanted to purify His people and to see them live godly, fruitful and faithful lives.

God called on His people to "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house."  And this instruction came with a remarkable promise. "Test me in this, and see if I will not open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have enough room for it... Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land." (Malachi 3:10-12)

"Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other and the Lord listened and heard."  He said, "I will spare them, just as, in compassion, a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve him and those who do not." (Malachi 3:16-18)

BIBLICAL BASIS: New Testament

We have a small glimpse into the operation of the early Church in Acts 4. The fledgling church had no seminaries to train church leaders, but it developed a natural progression of faith into action.  Followers of Jesus were met with opposition from established religious and political leaders, and Peter and John were thrown into prison.  When they were released, they prayed for boldness, healing and miraculous signs through Jesus.  The meeting place shook and the Holy Spirit came upon them in great power.

"All the believers were in one heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need." (Acts 4:32-35)

Acts 4 Project in the 21st Century

Health care is part of what we consider important to live long and productive lives. "Health care" implies access to medical care and the means to see that health care bills are paid.  For the most part, those with insurance heave a sigh of relief that they have their own "coverage," but are not sure how to respond to those who have none.

Since health insurance is usually tied to employment, those who lose their jobs lose the coverage that once made them feel secure. Governments sense the unease of the people, and want to fill that void, but every country that has enacted some sort of government health care system has found costs to escalate dramatically. That have all inevitably had to devise a system of saying "no," of rationing care and causing long waiting lines.

In studying the principles of Malachi and Acts, it seems probable that God would have the Church respond to the health care crisis in a Biblical way. Relying on God and His people is the most reasonable way for a local church to proceed. In fact, it seems clear that this would be very pleasing to God, for he would be honored.

Zarephath Health Center

The Acts 4 Project is a Ministry of Zarephath Health Center. Started in 2003, it currently sees 300-400 poor patients per month, helping them to access primary care and medicines.  It has limited hours and is operated by volunteer physicians and nurses.

Located on the picturesque campus of Zarephath in central New Jersey, it is equipped to handle many simple outpatient needs.

We have determined to live out our faith by following the example of the Good Samaritan. When we see people in need, we are not going to demand another government program. We believe that God would have us show compassion to the poor by meeting their physical, emotional, spiritual and relational needs as best we can.