Several came along at once...

New DVD

To celebrate the Diamond Anniversary of CMF 'uniting and equipping Christian doctors' we spent time in the first half of the year recording aspects of our many activities. On the DVD there are two 'trailers' each lasting six minutes – one to be shown perhaps in a main church service to encourage people to watch the full 34 minute film in small group settings, and the other designed to highlight the benefits of CMF membership to Christian colleagues. We have had very positive reports from everybody who has seen it, and it has already been transmitted on Christian TV. Have you watched yours yet? It's a great resource to introduce CMF to your church and your colleagues.

Unfortunately there was an error at our distributors and to our knowledge about 30 mailings went out unfranked. We apologise again to those members, and where we have become aware of the problem we have of course sent the DVD again. If you have not received a copy, or if you would like another one to pass on, please email pubs@cmf.org.uk or telephone 020 7234 9677.

New edition of ethics best seller

On 20 November IVP co-published with CMF the extensively revised edition of John Wyatt's Matters of Life and Death. The first edition in 1998 arose from the 'London Lectures' on ethics given by Professor John Wyatt for the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity, and both the book and the accompanying audio versions have been massively influential around the world. There have been many reprints and translations have been made, or are still being considered, into Bulgarian, Chinese, French, German, Hungarian, Romanian, Russian, and Spanish (which will be particularly useful at the ICMDA World Congress in Uruguay – see p7).

However, new subjects have arisen in bioethics, and perhaps more importantly, John has developed new understandings and insights in the last ten years. All this new material can be found in an expanded 300 page book. This time there is an accompanying website, with indicators in the book to show when regularly updated material can be found on the website. With an RRP of £12.99, CMF is offering this at a special launch price until the end of January of £9.95 including P&P. Buy online at www.cmf.org.uk/bookstore

New book of missionary autobiographies

Most missionary books leave us feeling that health professionals who work overseas in developing countries are spiritual superheroes, a different breed. In short, 'I couldn't do that!' These 15 short accounts turn that right round.

They include:
• newly qualified newly weds
• an 88 year old who could serve abroad
• nurses working in Africa and Asia
• an OT in South America and a dentist doing development
• a woman who moved cross-culturally within India
• a refugee camp paediatrician
• early retired GPs majoring on medical education

One story at least must make you say: 'I could do that!' This fascinating 80 page collection of testimonies is a light read, but a stimulating and challenging one. With an RRP of £6.95, CMF is offering this at a special launch price until the end of January of £4.95 including P&P. Buy online at www.cmf.org.uk/bookstore

New Head of Communications for 2011

In addition to the developments planned for communications in 2010 (see front cover), a new department Head will be needed from spring 2011 when I retire. We are not yet clear how all the components of the current job should be divided, but a medically qualified person would certainly be required for the 'ethics and public policy' aspect. If you want to explore this possibility, please be in touch: andrew@cmf.org.uk