Students

Tell SYD they're coming

The annual International Medical Students Conference (IMSC) set for 9–13 February has a new name. It's been rebranded as the Students and Young Doctors Conference, or SYD. This is also short for 'Sydenham', honouring Thomas Sydenham (1684–89) one of the most famous Christian medical pioneers. Around 25 handpicked young medics will attend from as far afield as South America and Africa, in addition to Eurasia. After their time in London they will attend the Student Conference at Yarnfield Park, Staffs, 13– 15 February. Many of those attending will become leaders in fledgling national movements of Christian doctors, which makes this is a highly strategic event. Pray for safety in travel and a fair wind with visa application procedures.

Emerald Isle students meet

Hugely encouraging. That was the gist of feedback from the Irish Student conference 31 October – 2 November at Castledaly, Co Westmeath. Some 41 students attended, mainly from Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway. Giles Cattermole taught them from 2 Timothy, while Laurence Crutchlow led sessions on Confident Christianity.

Time to connect

The fourth quarter of each year is vital for CMF link people and our regional staffworkers. It's a prime time for networking and making connections, particularly with junior doctors moving to new jobs in new surrounds. CMF events have many faces: a barbecue at Horsham (Sussex), a workplace meeting in Stevenage (Herts) an 'At Home' in Farnborough (Hants). Julian Churcher, staffworker for London and the South East reports that 31 attended a Saline Solution day in Hampstead, London (a blend of graduates, students and allied professionals). If you are on the move, don't forget to update your details on the CMF database.

Expecting to sell out!

CMF Student Conference 13-15 February 2015

We're praying for – and expecting – a sell out for the 2015 CMF Student Conference at Yarnfield Park, Staffs, 13–15 February. We live in confusing times and more than ever before critics are apt to question the goodness of God. So being confident and able to give a good account of what and why we believe is important. It's great, then, to welcome as our main speaker Mike Reeves from the Wales Evangelical School of Theology, author of The Good God. His theme is 'Delighting in the Trinity'. Squabbles over the Trinity have often caused confusion and worse, but it is Mike's firm conviction that the Trinity is not only great news: it is the very heart of the gospel.

Among the other speakers are Aaron Poppleton, who has travelled frequently in Eastern Europe with CMF and PRIME and will inspire his listeners to consider places not normally seen as traditional Christian mission fields. CMF's Vicky Lavy will bring a wealth of experience to the important question of choosing an elective. Other themes will include issues like suffering, when Christians disagree, and questions around women in medicine. CMF conferees who have experienced the new Yarnfield Park venue in Staffordshire have accorded it high praise, with plaudits for food, facilities and easy access via road and rail networks. Most importantly it means we can offer more places than ever before.

Farewell to Giles Cattermole

After five very fruitful years as CMF Head of Student Ministries, Giles Cattermole is moving on at the end of the year. CMF's student ministry has come on in leaps and bounds under his leadership and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude. In 2015 he will start studying for a Diploma in Tropical Medicine. Please join us in praying for God's richest blessings on Giles and his family for future years.

Prayer summit

'More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of,' wrote the poet Tennyson. From 16–18 January a specially invited company of about 80 CMF members and staff will spend a weekend together in a prayer summit to seek God's direction together. So even if you won't be attending, please uphold this event in your prayers.

It is a crucial opportunity to review together where we are at as a fellowship, to assess the challenges we face as Christian doctors currently and to help shape our future ministry. We are hoping that it will provide the basis for our next three year plan from 2016–2018 across all areas of our work.

Ebola: there's plenty you can do

It's no surprise that CMF members are among the many doctors and health professionals moved with compassion by the Ebola crisis. Like so many global emergencies, it is hitting the most vulnerable hardest. The cover story for the Winter issue of Triple Helix includes interviews with three CMF members who in different ways find themselves engaged in what seems to be an overwhelming crisis.

There are things we can all do: go, give, pray and support. Save the Children are recruiting doctors and other healthcare workers to staff their new treatment centre in Sierra Leone.

The Christian Hospital Association of Liberia has notified an urgent need of staff. Ebola is not the sole health issue there; babies are still being born; people are still catching malaria, pneumonia and TB; they all need care. The NHS has a register. See the CMF website for more information. The CMF STAT list – Short-Term, Able to Travel – is a mine of information. For more information contact Vicky Lavy, CMF Head of International Ministries: vicky.lavy@cmf.org