Tab–prn June 2007
Through the Umri Christian Hospital in Central India Jesus is bringing hope and healing to thousands known as untouchables. Most of the poor of India are members of the untouchable caste, known in Scripture as the least of these – widows, orphans, outcasts. Matthew 25 tells us that He identifies with them as His brothers and sisters, that when we touch them we touch Jesus.
Umri is a small tribal village located at the crossroads of the major North-South highway. Within a radius of 75 miles there are two million people scattered in rural, tribal villages. The closest city with significant medical facilities is Yavatmal, a city of 300,000 people, 40 miles away. The villages that surround Umri are affected by illiteracy, alcoholism, immorality, unemployment, and endemic diseases.
From the beginning of the medical work at Umri in 1894 with Ms. Sarah Ferries, it has been a place dedicated to serving and uplifting the poor. When, in 1950, Dr. Paul Yardy and his wife Jessie dedicated themselves, they did so out of love for Christ and for the poor. From 1965 to the present, Indian mission doctors and nurses have continued to serve. Others who have contributed many years of Christ-centered service to the poor include Dr. Keith Fiddler, Dr. David Williams, and Dr. Nessa Lysander.
Two medical doctors are now on the campus of Umri Christian Hospital. Five years ago, the accredited Helen Rose College of Nursing received a special award by the Indian Government for its uplifting of widows and orphans through the nursing program. Today there are 100 nurses in training. Hundreds of children come every day to the Yardy Middle School. There is also a youth hostel for orphans. The Lord is raising up hundreds of young Indian pastors to grow and nurture His church. These pastors have firsthand knowledge of the medical and emotional needs of their people. There is a desperate need for a healing place like Umri Christian Hospital.
The Hospital has for years functioned without any major renovations. A major fund raising campaign is underway to raise $600,000 to this end. To date $275,000 has been raised. The Butterfield Foundation has made a generous gift of $200,000. Earlier this year, Cycle India 2007 Riders – Bishop Joe James, Bob Yardy, and Rev John Hay – biked 2000 miles across India to raise funds for Umri Christian Hospital and fund the purchase of 750 bicycles for Indian Pastors.
A major highlight of this year's FMMF consultation will be to hear the rest of the story. What was it like to bike across India? What did the bikers learn about the people? About themselves? What is happening at Umri today? How can you be a part of the story?
(Taken from an address prepared by Bishop Joe James.)
Members and friends of the Free Methodist Medical Fellowship will meet at the Essenhaus Village Inn in Middlebury, Indiana. Our first session will be at 7 pm on Friday, September 21 and we will close with Communion at 9 am Sunday. Rooms are being held at a special rate in the name of FMMF until mid-August. Make your reservations soon by calling the Essenhaus Village at 800-455-9471. Would you consider bringing a guest – a medical or dental student, resident, or a friend you would like to introduce to the Fellowship?
Our presenters will be Bishop Joe James and missionary Rev. David Yardy, son of Dr. Paul Yardy. Our theme will be "God's Radical Identification with the Poor." (See the article regarding the Umri Christian Hospital.)
You will also hear an update on Hope Africa University in Burundi.
Dr. David Fryman, Kathy and family leave for Rwanda July 2nd. Dave and Kathy will be working at Kibogora Hospital for one year. David is on the faculty of the University of Indiana School of Medicine. He is taking a year's leave of absence to assist in the training and encouragement of doctors at Kibogora.
Dr. Tom and Kathy Hadduck have been back in the States after serving in a tent-making ministry providing medical care in the Northern part of Africa. You might remember that they served for some time in Central Africa prior to that. Tom reports that he has found a practice opportunity close to his home in Colorado.
Hope Africa University in Bujumbura, Burundi has launched a medical school - The Frank Ogden School of Medicine.. Dr. Ogden had served for many years in Central Africa – Rwanda, Zaire, and Burundi.
Do you have news to share? Send your information by mail or email to:
Tim Kratzer
15067 S. Placita Rancho Verano
Sahuarita, AZ 85629
president@fmmf.org
Our mission: To mature in our faith
To mentor students
To minister through the practice of medicine and denistry
In support of our mission I would encourage you to support the members and friends with your prayers. Encourage each other to be at our annual consultation. I am looking forward to hear what Bishop James and Rev. Yardy have to share. Bring a guest. I look forward to seeing you.
Free Methodist General Conference
Parish Nursing and the Free Methodist Fellowship are hosting a reception Sunday afternoon, July 8th, from 2-4 pm. The location is the Fireside Room of the Spring Arbor Free Methodist Church. If you are planning to attend General Conference, please stop by. Other receptions are being held that afternoon, so you may only be able to stay a part of the time. It will be great to see you there.
I continue to learn about life through the lives of our grandchildren. Colleen is one of Ken and Tara's adopted children. She was born in Haiti, placed in an orphanage along with her older sister after their mother's death, and came into the family as a 2 year old. She is now in the second grade. One day after school last year Colleen asked her Mom, "Am I adopted?" (Apparently one of her classmates had commented about Colleen's adopted status.)
This observation and Colleen's need to ask the question, "Am I adopted?" has brought me to understand something new about being family. We are blessed with a total of 11 grandchildren - some adopted and others birthed by natural means into the family. Each one is special, having special needs and having a God-ordained future. From their lives we are learning more about what it means to be a child of God.
Colleen's question has brought me to think of how Jesus was not received by his own people when He came to this earth. "But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the power to become children of God…" (John 1:11). This apparent paradox set up a struggle between Jews and Gentiles in the early days of the Church.
The Apostle Paul was burdened for his own people as he saw them rejecting their Messiah. He wished that he himself would be cut off from Christ if only his own kinsmen would be brought into sonship. But Paul understands that to be a child of God is not a natural birth process but rather a spiritual process, that we are children of God not by our birth but rather by faith. (See Romans 9:1-8.)
It has been a blessing to see our family grow and mature in our relationships. We have an increasing understanding of how we are connected to each other spiritually, not simply by a connection by our natural birth. As we continue on in the spiritual journey of life, we are learning more about what it means to be a child of God. Our adopted grandchildren in reality forget that they are adopted into the family. So what does it mean to be family? We are brought into family by a shared love and acceptance. Abraham believed and it was counted to him as righteousness. So now these many years later I am included in God's family by faith. We are all children of the King!
Tim Kratzer, Editor of TAB-prn and President of FMMF.