***NEWS RELEASE***
For Immediate Release
May 30, 2017
CONTACT:
Beth Harrison, Hamilton Strategies, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, or Deborah Hamilton, 215.815.7716 or 610.584.1096, ext. 102
Financial Expert Engages In Health Care Sharing Through Samaritan Ministries
Dan Celia: Financial Savings Using Biblical Principles Is a Win-Win
PEORIA, Ill.—Financial expert and nationally syndicated radio and television host Dan Celia doesn’t make any monetary decision without extensive research.
His move to health care sharing through Samaritan Ministries International (samaritanministries.org), one of the leading health care sharing ministries in America, was no different.
Celia, who hosts the daily radio and TV program “Financial Issues,” which helps Christians know how to honor God with their money, is one of more than 200,000 members of Samaritan. He, along with other members, sends a monthly share directly to other families to help them with their medical bills.
For Celia, the decision wasn’t only financial, but also Biblical, as Samaritan members also pray for one another and include notes and cards of encouragement with their monthly shares, following the Bible’s teachings to “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2 | ESV).
“I watched as health care costs skyrocketed, and I needed to know what to do for my own family, so I was sure that millions of my listeners were faced with the same difficulties,” Celia said. “I first heard about health care sharing through friends. I was always fascinated by health care sharing, and when I saw my own premiums increase dramatically, I said, ‘It’s time,’ and I took a long, hard look at health care sharing ministries.”
Celia was also interested in providing information on health care sharing to his listeners and viewers. So Samaritan invited Celia to its Peoria, Ill., headquarters and explained the mission, vision and process of health care sharing.
After further research, reflection and prayer, Celia and his wife became members in January 2015.
“This is what God intended, getting back to the book of Acts,” Celia said. “I still think it’s amazing how well it works. My wife, who is a nurse and was working in hospital administration, was skeptical about health care sharing. But now she is sold out.”
Celia said he understands why people would be hesitant to join a health care sharing ministry, but it helps to put it in the proper context of the Christian life.
“I always tell them, we talk about the ‘good old days,’ what the church ought to be doing,” Celia said. “This is it, this is what it’s all about, this is exactly what we’ve read about in the Bible. The biggest fear I hear from people is that they can’t make the leap to depend on someone else to write them a check for their medical needs. I say, ‘Well, if you’re a Christian, if you believe other Christians are as sold out for Christ as you are, it shouldn’t be an issue.’”
Celia even thinks that health care sharing can play a role in an American revival.
“If we are ever going to have revival in this country, then we must get back to where God’s people are dependent on God’s people,” he said. “Samaritan is a way in which we can be God’s instrument to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. My wife and I have taken it upon ourselves to look at the ministry that way and take great joy in praying through the prayer list we get every month. We also always give to a Special Prayer Need (needs that are above and beyond shareable needs) because we have the attitude that we would certainly want people to do it for us if we were in that position. And my wife writes notes to people we send shares to. She feels connected to members of the Body of Christ she doesn’t even know.”
Read a Samaritan blog post featuring an interview with Dan Celia here.
Thousands of other members around the country appreciate Samaritan for many of the same reasons as Celia.
“Wow! It really works! We heard about Samaritan Ministries from friends, but we thought, ‘Yeah, right.’ We were always taught to believe you ‘need’ health insurance. But, not only does it ‘work’ financially, it also works in that we were so humbled, encouraged and blessed by all of the cards and people praying for us. We were blown away by the support we received. We got more cards and prayers from people we don’t even know than from our family! Samaritan Ministries is the only check I write each month (of) which I am glad to send.” — Lester and Laura, Colorado
“With the recent changes in our health care system, our family was suddenly priced out of anything affordable to protect us from the unexpected. Unaware such an organization existed, we were mightily blessed by our Father to find Samaritan Ministries as a Biblical alternative for medical care. When we had to rely on our membership family for that help, the financial resources were supplied and, more importantly, people from around the country were praying for a speedy and full recovery for Doug. We thank our Lord for pointing us to Samaritan Ministries, for the work of the staff, and for the faithfulness of the members.” — Doug and Janine, Michigan
Learn more about Samaritan Ministries International here; visit the Samaritan website at www.samaritanministries.org, or follow the ministry on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
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To interview a representative from Samaritan Ministries International, contact Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096, ext. 104, Media@HamiltonStrategies.com or Deborah Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 102, or 215.815.7716.