Sharing God’s grace at the growing edges of Christian Medicine
‘Called to Serve’
ICMDA’s first East Africa Regional Conference was held in Nairobi, Kenya, 8- 12 August. Under the title ‘Called to Serve’ 100-150 delegates (including 40 students) from 7 African countries met for fellowship, ministry and challenges. The conference was hosted and ably organized by Kenya Christian Medical Fellowship. Exuberant African singing, thoughtful Bible ministry, the pain and challenge of HIV/AIDS across Africa and the sacrificial example of East African doctors serving in remote regions, challenging unethical practices and encouraging their students: all of these served to create an unforgettable occasion. ‘God uses ordinary people who are fully committed to him to do extraordinary things’ became a watchword of the Conference.
Most of the students and many of the doctors were assisted with bursaries from ICMDA transmitting donations mostly from UK members. They and we are tremendously grateful to those who through their generosity made it possible for them to attend.
East Africa Regional Office
Kenya CMF has established a small office in the newly opened Scripture Union building in Nairobi. Along with employing a part-time secretary this has been a significant financial outlay for them. At the Regional Conference the Kenya junior doctors contributed to purchase a computer for the office, not only for office work but so that their students can have access to the internet in congenial surroundings and without the interminable waits encountered at public outlets and medical libraries. The office will also serve as ICMDA’s regional office. A first part of ICMDA’s development fund will go to the maintenance of this and our thanks are due to those who have contributed to this fund.
ICMDA’s first South American Regional Conference met in Uruguay 12-14 October. This promises to be another significant step in ICMDA’s regional development.
Taiwan July 2002
The brochures for ICMDA’s XII World Congress are included in this mailing (Graduate brochure with Triple Helix, Student brochure with Nucleus). There has been great interest in this Congress among students from many countries and we are expecting 200-300 students among the 1,000 or so participants. Already over 300 requests have been received for bursary assistance from doctors in disadvantaged situations and from students. Your further generosity to the bursary fund promises large spiritual returns for relatively small financial investment in the lives of these colleagues. Gifts may be sent to the ICMDA office and can be enhanced by Gift Aid tax reclaims.
International Christian Medical and Dental Association 82-88 Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 1LQ, UK Tel/Fax +44 (0)1223 321715 Email icmda@compuserve.com or visit their webite; www.icmda.net
