GREAT OPTIONS FOR SERVICE:
Sanyati Baptist Hospital, Zimbabwe, Africa, Extreme Makeover.
The Sanyati Baptist Hospital dedicated its first building on Christmas Day, 1953, with 40 beds with wards for men, women, and children. It has grown through the years to 90 beds to serve as a base for sharing the Gospel and planting churches throughout the region for almost 60 years. It is currently the best medical care for some 100,000 people in a 60 mile radius.
Non-medical needs:
· Now, the buildings are heavily damaged from African termites and tropical weather. Materials are already on hand to replace the roofs and install solar panels. Wiring and plumbing need replacing, as well as cabinets, windows, and a well pump.
· Individuals and smaller teams can coordinate their travel and work with other teams that are already planned.
· Language is not a problem as English is one of the official languages and is generally understood in the hospital region. Interpreters are available to help when needed.
For more complete information, check out their website: www.sanyatimakeover.com. If you might like to participate in the project, contact Peter Sierson, General Coordinator of the Sanyati Makeover Project, psierson@pleasantheights.com,
Medical needs at Sanyati:
For years we have held up in prayer our medical personnel: Drs. Giles and Wana Anne Fort, Dr. Sam and Ginny Cannata, Dr. Frances Greenway, Dr. Maurice Randall, Dr. Paul Boone, Dentist John Monroe, and Dr. Rob Garrett, as well as numerous nurses and volunteers from the US and from Zimbabwe.
Dr. Mark Byler has led the hospital for the last six years on a volunteer basis. You can get a feeling for his daily routine with the video: www.africastories.org/a-hospital-in-need/video-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-rural-doctor/
The urgent need is for medical and dental personnel to assist and to spell the staff, and to provide eye clinics, dental clinics. There is also a great need for training for: nurses, midwives, physical therapists, lab techs, x-ray techs, and hospital administrators, just to name a few possibilities.
· Dr. Mark Byler would be glad to be in contact with you for more details on opportunities to help in the medical / dental field: <byler@uuplus.net>, or (816) 416-9978. He is currently residing in the Kansas City, Kansas area.
· Drs. Paul and Carol Boone also would like to share information about the hospital: (281) 992-1065, pcboone@sbcglobal.net . They have had years of experience with the Sanyati hospital and currently reside in Friendswood, Texas.
· If you are interested in participating in the medical aspect, more information is also available at www.bmdf.org
Opportunities at Baptist Medical Center, Nalerigu, Ghana
“The Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu is a respected mission hospital located in the Northern Region of Ghana. It was founded through the joint efforts and vision of the Ghanaian Baptist Convention (Gold Coast Baptist Conference) and the International Mission Board (Foreign Mission Board at that time) in 1958.
Currently the BMC is a 123 bed hospital whose reputation brings people from as far south as Accra, as far east as Togo and Nigeria, and as far north as Burkina Faso and Mali. Most recent yearly statistics are as follows: 60,000 outpatient visits, 10,000 inpatients, 1,200 major operations, and 2,500-3,000 minor procedures.
Over that past 50 years, it is estimated that over 3 million patients have visited the hospital and around 70 Baptist churches have been planted in Northern Ghana.
We believe that our service earns hearing for the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ, and we are looking forward to the future as we continue to serve Christ by serving the people of West Africa.”
Opportunities for service:
They currently need volunteers in multiple areas: medical, computer specialists, repair and construction projects, physical therapists, prayer walking, chaplaincy training, evangelism…. You get the picture.
Get more specifics on Nalerigu, Ghana with:
· Cindy Shumpert, M.D. would be glad to be in contact with you at: www.failefoundation.org
· Check out the hospital website at: www.baptistmedicalcenter.org
· Check out more opportunities for service at:
www.baptistmedicalcenter.org/how-can-i-help/volunteer/
· Check out current medical needs at: www.bmdf.org
Starting Free Medical / Healthcare Clinics - You and your Church Can Do It!
But, we don’t have the funds or the people to do medical missions overseas?
The number of faith-based free health clinics continues to grow across the US as many churches look for ministry options that can extend their influence and visibility in their own communities. Medical / healthcare clinics allow churches to touch lives at points of great need, since access to health care and prescription drugs is a challenge to many people just about everywhere.
This “new” ministry option can raise a lot of questions. “But, how can we do this?” “But, we don’t have a doctor in our church?” “But, what about….?”
Multiple formats and service options can find a fit with the available resources of most any congregation or group of churches. You and your church can make a difference through medical missions where you live. While a medical ministry is not necessarily appropriate for every church, it certainly is a possibility for any church.
How do we start?
Bill Sisson has been working with medical clinic ministry since 1991. As Associate Director for North American Ministries with the Baptist Medical Dental Fellowship, he has the information you need to explore this great opportunity with your church.
· You can contact Bill Sisson directly at:
405-246-5540
Bsisson57@gmail.com
BillS@bmdf.org
· More information about active clinics is available at:
www.bmdf.org