Here on this land, about 30 miles north of Sacramento, one hour from Lake Tahoe,
lies a property that has been involved in health work for the last 100 years.
Today it is the home of Weimar Institute, and houses a college, an academy,
an elementary school, a health food store, and a health and lifestyle centre.
In 1919, a small tuberculosis sanatorium opened on this plot of land,
due to its ideal location in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains.
The location was ideal for recovery from respiratory disease.
It would grow to become a hospital and in 1960 it was renamed the Weimar Medical Center.
by 1966 it was a general community hospital,
but it was closed in 1972 due to governmental financial cuts.
In 1975 the institution would become the Hope Village under the direction of Ruth Graham and others,
and was a housing facility for over 1,000 Vietnamese refugees.
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In 1977, a group of over 70 Adventists gathered in the Youth Chapel of the Carmichael Seventh-day Adventist Church
to see if their vision of acquiring the Weimar property could become a reality.
Following a season of prayer, everyone voted in favor of moving ahead with the purchase of the 457 acre property.
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There was wide support for this new health institution right from the start.
From laity, other supporting ministries, ministers, and church administrators.
The General Conference was supportive from the start,
with both presidents Robert Pearson and Neil Wilson either visiting or showing support through letters.
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In 1978 the dream became a reality, and Weimar Institute of Health and Education was opened.
The early years were a story of faith, courage, perseverance, and sacrifice.
On one occasion a mortgage payment of twelve thousand dollars
needed to be made but there was less than $100 in the bank
amongst the staff who were getting paid minimal salary there was little hope of
raising the money but by 3:15 p.m. on the afternoon the payment needed to be
made an envelope was received containing five checks totaling the exact amount of $12,000.
Over the years the institution grew but they never forgot their original vision
to be a center for health and education and to be an outpost center Reema is
also the founder of the much known acronym today new stir with the first 25
day living program taking place in may 1978 and it was adopted as the official
name in January of 1981 new start stands for nutrition exercise water sunshine
temperance air rest and trust in God. These eight natural principles form the
basis for lifestyle medicine and healthy living and have changed countless lives
not just here but around the world
throughout the 1980s and 90s the institution group in the early 2000s
Weimar would go through some struggles and the college closed down in 2008
however a small core of staff and supporters felt the need to reopen the
school this occurred in 2009 a board was appointed and the call was extended to
Dr Neil Nedley to serve as the president which after much prayer he
accepted he has now been the longest-serving president in we Mars
history presiding over a quarter of its existence
during this time a licensed nursing program has been opened this was only a
lab of the state of California due to the unique lifestyle focus that we ma
has in 2018 the college achieved accreditation a miraculous achievement
and one which did not involve any compromise and has led to an increase in
student numbers once again the accreditors were impressed by the unique
comprehensive lifestyle program that Weimar practices and promotes the college
now offers theology nursing pre-med psychology business and education programs.
Sensing a need for faculty and students to practically engage the community
every week led to the development of total community involvement or TCI
a form of the GC total member involvement this has unified students
and faculty in weekly service and brought spiritual revival in their lives
each year nearly 100 people commit or recommit their lives to the seventh-day
Adventist Church through Bible baptism a discipleship focused church has been
opened on campus that gives students a welcoming place to invite new members
and contacts from the community
when we must started there were only 45 students and a shared dream by the staff
here God isn't interested so much in numbers but in a dedication commitment
and vision of those involved today we ma is fulfilling the words of Ellen White
in 2nd selected messages page 358 repeatedly the Lord has instructed us
that we are to work the cities from outpost centers in these cities we are
to have houses of worship as memorials for God but institutions for the
publication of our literature for the healing of the sick and for the training
of our workers are to be established may this vision continues to strengthen here and be duplicated further afield.