Restoring Health, Giving Hope

A church in West Africa is utilizing medical missions clinics to minister to its community’s physical and spiritual needs. In 2011, MTW collaborated with the indigenous New Harvest Missions International to provide a mobile medical clinic based at the church. A short-term medical team returned last October, and MTW will send another this August.

“This is the poorest area in the world,” says Frank*, MTW’s area director for national associate ministry in the Muslim world. “Most people live and die without ever seeing a doctor, so a short-term clinic has great impact.”

Treating the Whole Person
Thanks to the help of the national church partner, which provided both clean facilities and financial assistance, MTW teams treated an astounding number of patients with conditions like diabetes, parasites, and dental problems. In addition, team members prayed with patients, connected them with the church, and shared the gospel. “We see many people come to faith each time,” says Frank of the clinics’ impact, “and we have seen key area leaders reached and churches launched as a result.”

“I was able to share the testimony of Jesus Christ with a woman of Muslim faith,” recalls Doreen*, a member of the first West Africa team and a medical missions veteran. “After handing her enough [diabetes and hypertension] medications to last for months, I asked her if I could share why we came.”

“I believe she was much more attentive to what I had to tell her,” explains Doreen, “because we had already spent a significant amount of time together over several days, including frequent prayer.”

In another instance, Doreen treated a woman suffering from sickle cell anemia. The woman was pale and fatigued from lack of iron. “Our clinic had plenty of supplemental iron tablets, so I handed several month’s worth to her. She gasped and motioned her hands in gestures of thanks.” The woman returned several days later. “Out of a huge canvas bag, she pulled out thank you gifts!” recalls Doreen. “She bought me a blue, African-styled dress, and picked a bouquet of beautiful flowers and a bag full of bananas from her yard!”

Working Together
Such stories illustrate how MTW short term teams are helping to grow and encourage this West African national church community. “The key is the collaboration,” says Frank, “between MTW short-term teams and indigenous missionaries who are working in the communities before the team comes and are there afterward to ensure follow-up.”

MTW is sending another medical team to this West African national church in August, and hopes to send more in the future. In fact, MTW is seeking a full-time medical person to work in West Africa, as well as more volunteers to join short-term medical teams to work in the region.