Healing Mission
The ACFI Medical Ministry is a support program of the healing ministry of the church. Through the program, primary health care is provided to needy people. As the church, we are called of God to attend and minister to the whole man through our giftings and professional disciplines. Jesus set the perfect example for us by ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of people while he was on earth. This divine example and the constraint of our divine call to minister to the whole man birthed the medical ministry.
Providing Services in Rural and Urban Slums
The ministry provides medical services to rural inhabitants of isolated villages and towns, and also to people in urban slums who live in abject poverty. In many parts of Africa, as in many parts of the developing world, medical institutions are largely limited to those in urban areas who are able to pay. This makes ACFI's outreach to isolated rural areas, and to urban slums, all the more critical.
In many parts of the developing world, two out of every five children, die before the age of five due to lack of medical attention. Other contributing factors include the lack of personal hygeine, unsanitary environment and tropical epidemics which cause widespread death. In an effort to combat the tragedy, the AFCI medical ministry establishes medical clinics in needy areas thereby providing primary health care including health education.
Ministry Expansion
The Medical Ministry was launched in 1986 as part of ACFI's SERVICE purpose. In spite of the difficulties of the civil war, five health clinics have been established including a 50 bed hospital under construction. When completed, the hospital will serve the medical needs of thousands of rural masses in southeastern Liberia. Not withstanding, the civil war in the country has caused some devastating effects on the program. Infrastructures have been extensively damaged, looted, ransacked. The entire medical institution of the country has been completely paralyzed by the war.
Medical Missionaries
In 1987, the Medical Ministry launched project "Luke Mission" which combines the word and medicine as an outreach. Through this project medical evangelists have touched the lives of scores of sick and lost people as they minister to their physical and spiritual needs. Medical doctors, nurses, paramedics, and others from the U.S. and Canada have participated in the project bringing total physical and spiritual relief to thousands.
Project "Luke Mission" affords foreign medical practitioners and health workers that have a desire for missions the opportunity to fulfill the great commission in Liberia through the exercise of their professional and vocational disciplines. Seven medical teams from the U.S., Canada and Haiti have already participated in the project. There is still a desperate need for more medical teams and individuals to help bring relief to the suffering people of war ravaged Liberia. There are plans to establish more health clinics in areas of dire need. We also need medical missionaries including doctors, nurses, paramedics, dentists, and other health workers for full term and short term missionary work. Sign up for Project Luke
Dedicated Staff
The clinics in operation are staffed by qualified and dedicated professionals of 55 including physician assistants, registered nurses, practical nurses, certified midwives, aides, etc. and a medical doctor as consultant. They render voluntary services. They earn no income because funds are not available. Though, they too have been affected by the Liberian civil war and also bear the responsibility of providing for the upkeep of their families. Notwithstanding, they minister with joy and dedication.
Attendance
The clinics attend to a total of 500 patients daily. People attended include orphans and indigent children, refugees, displaced and suffering war victims. The services are free because those attended are war ravaged. The clinics are located in needy areas ideally accessible. The clinics lack medicine and medical supplies. The staffs have to improvise, making their jobs very difficult. In spite of this grave problem, their ministering has touched the lives of many. Hundreds of refugees and displaced people do get free medical help through this program. Most especially, priority attention is given to mothers and children and the disabled.
Supervision
Dr. Jeremiah Tarpeh, MD is the doctor in charge of the ACFI medical program. He was at one time the Chief Medical Officer of the Republic of Liberia. He is a highly respected medical practitioner in the country. Dr. Tarpeh is assisted by Mr. Paul Davies, a physician assistant. Paul is a graduate of Tubman Institute of Medical Arts based in Monrovia, Liberia. The various clinics have trained workers who provide the health care services.
Prayer Needs
- Pray for the sick that they might be healed
- Pray for the physcians and their staff, that God would grant wisdom and insight into each patient's care
- Pray that in the era of new health threats that God would protect his people from harm
Practical Needs
- Drugs and medical supplies
- Funds to repair medical facilities
- Medical Missionaries
- Transportation
Other Ways You Can Help
- Sponsor a medical student ($100.00 monthly)
- Support a doctor ($300.00 monthly)
- Support a nurse ($150.00 monthly)
- Participate in a Project Luke Mission