BMC Turnover to GBC Ceremony
This week was a major milestone for the Baptist Medical Centre in Nalerigu, Ghana. The hospital and its property were officially handed over from the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board to the Ghana Baptist Convention.
The hospital has been a partnership between IMB and GBC (then Foreign Mission Board and Gold Coast Baptist Convention) since its conception at the GBC’s 9th annual session in 1955. Over the decades that followed, the IMB has progressively turned over the reigns to the national leadership. For the last few years, the hospital has essentially been managed completely by the GBC.
IMB trustees voted to approve the handover earlier this summer in Richmond, Virginia. This week’s ceremony marked the final legal step in the turnover process as the lease on the land was transferred to GBC.
Before the ceremony a delegation from the IMB and GBC visited the Nayiri and nearly a dozen sub-chiefs to explain the details of the handover. Former BMC doctor, Dr. Earl Hewitt, was in attendance and gave his full support to the transition. Hewitt presented newly appointed IMB missionaries Rev. William and Dr. Heidi Haun and their son Trey to the Nayiri. The Hauns are career missionaries that will be residing on the BMC campus for many years to come. Dr. Haun is a general surgeon who will begin practicing at the hospital early next year when she receives her Ghanaian medical license and reaches certain Mampruli language proficiency levels.
The George Faile Foundation was also represented by its vice-president Dr. Cindy Shumpert. The Foundation has been managing the guest houses for volunteers for several years and will continue in that capacity in partnership with GBC.
The ceremony was well-attended by residents of Nalerigu, hospital staff, GBC representatives, government officials and the traditional Mamprusi leadership – most notably the Nayiri himself. As in all public appearances by the Nayiri, there was much celebration and dancing.
Our prayer is that the Baptist Medical Centre can continue to have an impact on the peoples of Ghana’s Northern Region – both physically and spiritually. May God be glorified as the hurting are healed and name of Jesus Christ is proclaimed!
The Nayiri’s Arrival at BMC
Damba Dance Group Performs
BMC at InMed 2014
The 2014 annual InMed Exploring Medical Missions conference in Kansas City, Missouri was a huge success. Dozens of former BMC volunteers reunited at the event. Several friends of BMC present posters and delivered lectures to the over 450 healthcare professionals and students in attendance. We thank InMed for organizing this wonderful event and Graceway Church for hosting it.
BMC Reunion In Kansas City
Nearly 30 BMC volunteers and past missionaries gathered in Kansas City, KS at the home of Dr. Ted and Kim Higgins last night for a wonderful time of fellowship and famous KS BBQ. Friends were reunited and many, many wonderful stories and memories of ministering at BMC were shared.
The group was gathered in advance of the annual InMed Exploring Medical Missions Conference.
Report from Dr. Shumpert
Dr. Cindy Shumpert, Vice President of the George Faile Foundtion, has just returned from Nalerigu and shares about her experience. Check out her stories and photos… Read More
Chaplain Stories from BMC
IMB Church Planter Catalyst Bart Gibbs shares the following stories he heard from chaplains ministering to patients at BMC:
When I went to the chaplains for stories of those rescued from “deep spiritual darkness,” they began by affirming that examples of those who have responded to gospel presentations given to dying patients are beyond counting.
BMC Reunion at InMed
More details and registration available for the 2014 Exploring Medical Missions conference on the InMed website. Read More
Faile Foundation Newsletter: Winter 2014
Download the Faile Foundation’s latest newsletter
Visit Link2013 Report on BMC Evangelism
Bart and Jane Anne Gibbs are career missionaries with the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention who have served in Northern Ghana since 2011. They live at the BMC compound and provided us with some information on the status of evangelical work related to BMC:
The Nalerigu Baptist Association is presently made up of 54 village churches, spread over a wide area from west of Walewale, a couple of villages east of Sakogu and as far south as Gbintiri and Tooni. The neighboring Nakpanduri Baptist Association reports 23 churches. All of this work grew out of the witness of the BMC over the years.
There are six other village preaching points right now that I know of, one of which the Corams were instrumental in starting at the TB village, or Alafia Tinga. From the hospital chapel meetings (9:30 AM every clinic day), I offer the following conservative estimates:
- At least 9000 people were within earshot of a gospel presentation during the past year.
- From among these, some 2,250 made affirmative responses to invitation to faith and/or to request prayer.
From what I have observed over nearly three years, you could infer similar numbers from year to year over (at least) the past five years.
Welcome Peter & Erin Faile
Peter Faile is the son of George and Elisabeth Faile (22+ years of service at BMC). He and his wife Erin will work as volunteer coordinators which involves managing the volunteer schedule as well as overseeing volunteer transportation, housing, meal preparation, and vehicle maintenance. They provide a much needed service to the 80+ number of volunteers per year and provide the Faile Foundation with an ongoing person to person liaison with the staff at BMC.
Please pray for them as they serve in these demanding roles.
