We have just returned from the UK and Germany where we were privileged to participate in four significant meetings, all impacting the development and growth of ICMDA.
CMF.UK
Meeting with Peter Saunders and his CMF.UK team is always an encouragement. As we shared around the process of their restructuring and the joy of the Lord providing a new building, we were so aware of God's purpose and will being unfolded. As a strong member body, CMF.UK has contributed enormously through its vision to develop student and junior graduate leaders in many countries, to provide good literature, and to reach out in compassionate caring as it did for the South Asian tsunami and the earthquake in Pakistan.
ICMDA (UK) Trust
Next came the ICMDA (UK) Trust meeting. Here we again thanked our Lord for the life, witness, leadership and service of Alan Johnson who helped shape our global organisation into its present form. Marinus Verweij was elected Chairperson of the Trust and we pray God's blessing on him as he takes up this leadership role.
HCFI
The following meeting with Chris Steyn and George McDonald of Healthcare Christian Fellowship International allowed Peter Pattisson and myself to explore establishing a closer working relationship between ICMDA and HCFI. The recommendations proposed will come before the HCFI Board and the ICMDA Executive (28-29 June) and we trust decisions taken will greatly benefit both.
Eurasia Regional Executive
The final meeting was in Marburg, Germany for the Eurasia Regional Executive meeting and Area Student Representatives (ASR) Leadership Training Seminar. What a blessing both events proved to be. As the ASRs shared their reports and prayed for one another, a deep sense of the Lord's presence filled us. Great happenings are taking place, relating directly to the amazing commitment and faithfulness demonstrated in each ASR's life.
Daryl Hackland is ICMDA General Secretary Email: icmda@webstormsa.co.za.
Trust needs trustees and secretary
Many CMF members give tax efficiently to the work of ICMDA through the ICMDA (UK) Trust and we are enormously grateful. You may not know that the late Alan Johnson was chairman of the ICMDA Trust, which has around eight members and meets once a year. We now need one or two new trustees and a new secretary. The trustee role would suit a recently retired CMF member with international interests. The role of secretary is more demanding, currently taking around 4-5 hours a week, but would also suit a recent retiree.
Enquiries to the present secretary, Dr Peter Pattisson at Russets, Woodlands, Pembury, Kent TN2 4AZ, or email icmda@ukonline.co.uk.
ICMDA Eurasia
At the training for Eurasia Area Student Representatives (ASRs) and student staff workers alongside the first meeting of the new ICMDA Eurasia committee, the joy of our time together was the palpable sense of team. All the ASRs give their time voluntarily, encouraging work amongst medical and dental students across the vast region of Eurasia, with most living in the area they serve. Being together, sharing joys and struggles, and praying for one another are vital parts of their support. Topics covered included the importance of our spiritual walk, how to lead a Christian medical discussion, and how to support fellowship groups. In contrast to the situation in the UK where we have a team of student staff workers, Norway, Holland and Germany each have one.
Two new ASRs were appointed. Dr Dana Galchis from Romania, currently a trainee in family practice, takes over as ASR for the Balkans from Dr Nada Petrovski. We are grateful to the Lord and Nada for all God has done through her involvement. Dr Vitaliy takes over from our previous ASR to Central Asia, becoming our first ASR from the region. Please pray for them.
Next Europe-Eurasia conference
Much committee time was given to planning the next Europe-Eurasia ICMDA Conference Resources (un) limited to be held at Schloss Schielleiten near Graz, Austria from 7-14 September 2008. You should have received the first flyer with this mailing. Do mark the dates and plan to join us, and please pray for the Austrian organising team, for the speakers, and all involved bringing this conference together.
Russian language conference
More imminently, from 31 July-5 August 2007 we are running with the Russian CMF a Russian language conference for Christian medical leaders from across the former Soviet Union. This is a unique opportunity to gather 140 key leaders for specific training in one of four tracks: Christian medical leadership, integrity in healthcare, sharing faith as a health professional, and medicine as mission. To attend this conference most will require bursary assistance, and CMF.UK is also inviting donations towards the cost (£5,000) of translating and printing all 33 CMF Files in time for the conference.
Please pray. Further information including prayer points and how to contribute financially can be obtained from the ICMDA Eurasia student co-ordinator Jonny Thiessen: jonny@cmf.org.uk.
James Tomlinson is the ICMDA Eurasia Associate Regional Secretary Email: icmda@ukonline.co.uk.
