cover story

Bringing the Ministry of CMDA to Life

[ A collaborative article by CMDA members ]

INTER ACTIVE
Scan this code with your mobile device or visit www.cmda.org/nationalconvention to register for TRANSFORM: CMDAs
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12 Todays Christian Doctor Spring 15

Transformation. Transforming. Transformed. Transform.

Its a word we use frequently at Christian Medical &
Dental Associations. Chances are youve seen it countless times throughout our website, our emails, our letters and more. We talk about transformation when we
send members on a mission trip to Nicaragua. Healthcare students share about it when we host a Bible study
on a local medical school campus. Its even in our vision statementtwice. Transformed Doctors, Transforming the World.
So why is transformation so important? Simply put,
because transformation is the reason we do what we
do. Its why you support CMDA through your membership. Its why our 40+ ministries and outreaches train,
equip, support and encourage you through a variety of
avenues. Its why hundreds of volunteers around the
world serve sacrificially to support our ministry.
But most importantly, its how YOU make a difference
in your practice, on your campus, in your community
and in our world. Through Gods grace, together we
are inspiring transformation around the world, far more
than any one of us could do alone.
We can easily provide you with a list of facts and figures showing how much of an impact CMDA is having worldwide. For example, there are now 280 CMDA
campus chapters, our short-term mission teams treated
more than 63,000 patients last year and our public
policy commentaries were distributed to more than 4.7
million readers worldwide.
But a list of numbers doesnt even begin to cover the
impact and the breadth of CMDAs ministry. It doesnt
tell you about the discouraged missionary whose passion for healthcare missions was restored at a Continuing Medical and Dental Education conference. Or
about the resident who led one of her fellow residents to
Christ. Or about the hospital administrator in a closed
country who came to Christ through one of our mission
teams and is now boldly sharing Christ in his hospital.
Or about the physician who prayed with a patient for
the very first time, altering the way she now practices
healthcare on a daily basis.
These are the stories that display just how vital the
ministry of CMDA is in our culture today. And we hear
stories like this each and every day from our members
around the world. We want to share these stories with
you, so the following testimonies are from members
just like you who are embracing the vision of CMDA
and actively working to show Gods love and compassion to the world.

Fully Equipped to Serve,

Fully Dependent on Christ
BYANDYKOON,MD

he first seven years of my clinical practice as

an attending physician was with the Veterans
Administration health system, serving Americas heroes and training the students and residents. I
was constantly struggling to balance work duties and
home life. In 2008, I determined that it was time to
make a change in my career path. In the process of
doing this, I discovered that I wanted to be in a practice environment that was conducive to life balance
in my field of hospital medicine and would also be
supportive of my spiritual life. After we relocated to
Indiana in 2009, Jenny quickly found a supportive
network of friends through the Side By Side ministry
of CMDA, as I continued to look for opportunities to
integrate my faith into clinical practice and mentor
others. I began seeking out others in the community
who were engaged in ministry with CMDA, and I was
part of establishing our local Central Indiana chapter.

Every person we saw in the clinic heard the gospel before we ministered to them physically. It was exciting to
see medicine draw people in and connect them with the
local church. This was a great model of evangelism that
allowed us to have a lasting impact after we left.
A PHYSICAL THERAPIST ON A
GHO TRIP TO HONDURAS

Jenny and I had become involved with healthcare

missions while we were dating, and we had a passion to pursue this type of ministry when we were
first married, but work and family responsibilities
quickly consumed our time and resources. After we
moved to Indiana, we decided to make a fresh start
and give a short-term healthcare missions trip a try.
Our first trip was to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where we
witnessed how healthcare can be a powerful bridge
to sharing the gospel message.
Christian Medical & Dental Associations www.cmda.org 13

that this was the next step I needed to take

in my walk with the Lord.

I was becoming comfortable in my walk with Christ. When

that happens, we have a tendency to not grow, and can
actually become dead in our Christian faith. The trip challenged me to get uncomfortable and start being obedient
to the Holy Spirit.
A PHYSICIAN ON A
GHO TRIP TO NIGERIA

Our local council found that there was significant

interest from Indiana University students to go on a
faith-based short-term healthcare missions trip during their Spring Break. I wasnt quite ready to be a
team leader, so Global Health Outreach paired me
with a mentor, Bob Coulter, who led our team to the
Dominican Republic. Bob demonstrated the Christlike qualities I wanted to have as a team leader. He
emphasized the importance of team unity and helped
our team focus on the God sightings we experienced
during our days in the clinic.
Our desire to see souls won to Christ only increased
with each trip we took. We saw the Lord at work in
the lives of those we served and realized that we were
also being changed. Despite a busy schedule, I was
able to attend a GHO Team Leaders Conference held
in Bristol, Tennessee. This was providential as Dr. Michael Farmer, a radiation oncologist from Memphis,
Tennessee, gave a presentation on disciple-making
and reaching the nations with the gospel. He emphasized the need to model and practice sharing our
faith in our daily routines, as well as striving to pass
this training on to others. He offered to mentor me in
how to best implement a discipling ministry as part
of our focus in Indianapolis. I was thrilled and sensed
14 Todays Christian Doctor Spring 15

Having a GHO trip scheduled for March

2014 occurred at just the right time. I had
now developed the skill set needed to lead
the team and was spiritually equipped as
well. Our teams motto for the trip was,
Just share the gospel. Each of us was to
practice giving our testimony with the gospel to our roommates and during the clinics with patients. By the end of the week,
we had all learned to do this with confidence and even encouraged some of our
translators to do this as well. In addition
to providing excellent healthcare to more
than 1,000 patients, our team was able to
celebrate 98 new professions of faith and
15 lives rededicated to Christ! As I reflected on the
trip, a new vision emerged. What if we were more intentional about sharing the gospel as part of a lifestyle
of evangelism? What if our local CMDA chapter multiplied disciples and served as a resource for medical
outreach to the churches in each of the four quadrants
of our city? Although this seems impossible to me, I
know the Lord is still in the business of moving mountains and am excited to see what comes next.

About The Author

ANDY KOON, MD, practices as
a hospitalist at St. Vincent Carmel Hospital in Carmel, Indiana.
Andy went on his first short-term
mission trip three years ago to
Santa Cruz, Bolivia. He credits
a mentor from the University of
South Florida Morsani College of Medicine,
where he trained in internal medicine, for encouraging his involvement with missions and
CMDAs ministry. On the mission field, he has
seen a growing desire among medical students
and residents to provide medical care to the underserved internationally. Trips that occur during
the months of Spring Break provide an opportunity for students and residents to get involved
with missions and have become the highlight of
his year. Andy and his wife Jenny live in Carmel,
Indiana and have two young children, Anna
and Nathan. They enjoy being involved in local
CMDA ministry and hope to encourage the development of the next generation of healthcare
professionals in missions work.

Not for the Sun,

But for the Light

BY JULIE GREENWALT, MD

I began muttering under my breath, God, why am

I here? I have boards to study for, a sweet husband
back home and a research paper due in two weeks. I
have cancer patients to take care of on Monday and
I cannot afford to get sick. I went to sleep that night
covered in about five blankets. I was not happy to
say the least. It was not my proudest moment.

I was able to speak boldly about Jesus and proclaim

what I believe. I have NEVER been able to do this in a
work settingso praise God!
CMDA RESIDENT

t was a sunny, beautiful day in Florida, almost

80 degrees. I was on my way to the airport
and wondering what the weather was going
to be like when I arrived in Wisconsin. Being the
Florida girl I am, I knew even 60 degrees was freezing. I stepped off the plane to find the temperature
at 38 degrees in April. Unbelievable, I thought. I
quickly threw on all the layers I had in my suitcase,
as my ride prepared to take to me to the conference
center where I was staying.

The most memorable encounter from a spiritual standpoint was the meeting with the hospital residents the
last day. This gave the team an opportunity to share
how our faith affected our care of patients and to hear
how working in a Christian hospital allowed the residents to help the spiritual concerns of their patients.
A PHYSICIAN ON A MEI TRIP TO ECUADOR

I was on my way to the 2014 CMDA National Convention where I was hoping to meet up with physicians who shared my common passion in global
health. I arrived at the conference center around
midnight due to a delayed flight. Just when I thought
things couldnt get worse, my driver dropped me off
in a house in the woods. It was now pouring and I
was pretty sure snowflakes were going to be next. I
carried my luggage up the stairs to find the quiet little
room where Id be staying. The windows were open
and the rain was pouring in. Now it was a wet cold
room and I was alone and afraid.

The next morning, I traveled down to the conference center with my five layers of clothing and my
heavy jacket. My attitude needed a change, but my
quiet time had not provided it. I do ministry well in
Florida, I thought to myself. Why do I need to be
in Wisconsin? I just got back from a mission trip in
Nicaragua, I dont need to be here. Why cant I do
ministry back at home?
With Gods sense
of humor, my day
unfolded. During
my very first session
of the conference I
met a woman physician who just
happened to be
sitting next to me.
Where are you
from? I asked her.
She replied, Sierra
Leone. She could
tell I was confused as to why she had come from so
far. She then explained how she and her husband
spend six months of the year as voluntary missionaries in Sierra Leone. They work the other six months of
the year as part-time healthcare professionals in the
U.S. to pay for their work. I listened to her adventures
as goose bumps ran down my arms. She had traveled
halfway across the world to be here. She was here for
encouragement and yet she was here for me.
My afternoon was filled with getting to meet healthcare professionals who are missionaries in remote
places in the world, all from different specialties
and all with different gifts. These people were all so
kind and humble. I felt overwhelmed. It wasnt long

Christian Medical & Dental Associations www.cmda.org 15

rologist who travels around the world

using his specialty training to meet physicians in other countries. This was his
platform to build relationships and share
the gospel in places where the Bible is not
even allowed. I met a neonatologist who
practices in a hospital where women routinely choose to have abortions. This doctor actively saves babies by encouraging
women to keep the God-given life and
child inside of them.

before the Wilkersons, some of my personal mentors, arrived and challenged me to get involved. They
introduced me to every single physician and dentist
they knew. They begged people to share their experiences and encourage me. I was starting to forget
about the cold drizzle surrounding the conference
center outside.

We experienced repeated opportunities to have conversations about our faith and biblical truths; opportunities to
share our testimonies of coming to faith in Christ; opportunities to bring the Good News to three Muslim villages;
and many other opportunities to stand out with the light
and salt of the gospel.
A TEAM LEADER ON A MEI TRIP TO MACEDONIA

The next day I was inspired by a physician who

is dean of a major medical school and now an active member of CMDA, using his esteemed position
to reach people for Christ. I had lunch with a sweet
Bible teacher who has written more than 10 books. I
explained how I felt
the Lord calling me
to write, especially
as I journey through
life as an oncologist. She was kind,
compassionate, encouraging and inspirational. She had
only known me for
five minutes and
yet she believed in
me. That evening, I
heard from a neph16 Todays Christian Doctor Spring 15

I found myself unable to sleep that

night because my heart was so full. These
CMDA members are living out the call I
feel on my life: to use healthcare to further the kingdom of Christ.
And before I knew it, I didnt want to leave. On
the plane on my way home, I began to realize why
I was so sad to be leaving rainy Wisconsin. It wasnt
the sunshine that brought me there, it was the light.
What I found when I arrived was the light of Christ. It
was the smiles on the faces of people who have Jesus
flowing out of their hearts and their lives. I thought
I was alone in a cold, dark house. In reality, I had
found the sunniest of all places. I had never felt the
love of Christ from so many people in one solitary
place. It was light that I came for and light that I left
with. It was Jesus.

About The Author

JULIE GREENWALT, MD, serves

as the current resident representative to CMDA's House of Representatives. She joined CMDA at
the University of Florida as a first
year medical student and has been
involved in their chapter for many
years. She helps organize the UF CMDA chapter
as they attend the annual Nicaragua GHO mission trip. She went to UF for medical school and
then matched into UFs Radiation Oncology Program for residency. She loves oncology patients
and walking with them through their journey. She
is currently a PGY-4 resident and is married to
Brandon, a dentist. She loves CMDA and could
not imagine life in residency without such a wonderful organization. Her vision is to see more residents get involved in CMDA to help equip more
physicians to share their faith.

These stories and testimonies are only a small sampling of the transformation taking place around the
world, but they show just how vital and imperative the
ministry of CMDA is in our culture and our profession
today. And only in eternity do we have hope of fully
understanding the influence CMDA has on lives.
The question becomes, what are you transforming? Are you making a difference in the lives of your
patients? Are you sharing the gospel with your colleagues? Are you serving the lost, the last and the least?
If you arent, now is the time. Join us April 30 May 3,
2015 in Ridgecrest, North Carolina at TRANSFORM:
CMDAs National Convention. This convention is the
perfect opportunity for you to get involved in the transforming ministry of CMDA as you fellowship with other
Christian healthcare professionals, learn about current
health and social issues, network with exhibiting organizations and renew your faith. To register and learn
more, visit www.cmda.org/nationalconvention.
Transformation starts with you. And it starts now. Are
you ready?

Ten years ago there were about 10 Christians among

students and doctors. Now they estimate that there
are close to 100!
REPORT FROM CLOSED COUNTRY WHERE CMDA
TEAMS HAVE BEEN SERVING
A few classmates have rededicated their lives to
Christ after some prodigal months coming to medical
school. This is a testament to God using our ministry to
draw others closer to Himself.
CMDA STUDENT LEADER
We are praying that this coming year might present
more opportunities for Christian students to grow, and
for unbelievers to hear about Jesus.
CMDA STUDENT LEADER
One of our third year medical students accepted
Christ on last years missions trip, and is a positive
influence for Christ in her class. She said that CMDA
has had the single biggest impact on her med school
journey!
CMDA STUDENT LEADER

CMDAS NATIONAL CONVENTION

APRIL 30 - MAY 3, 2015 LIFEWAY RIDGECREST CONFERENCE CENTER RIDGECREST, NORTH CAROLINA

This convention provides great opportunities for you to Change Your World as you fellowship with
Christian healthcare professionals, learn about current health and social issues, renew your faith through
worship and network with exhibiting organizations. You dont want to miss this event! Register today at
www.cmda.org/nationalconvention.

PLENARY SPEAKERS
BISHOP CLAUDE ALEXANDER, JR.
He is the Senior Pastor of The Park Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. A leader among both Christian
and civic leaders, Bishop Alexander has worked
with government and community officials to address
the communitys most critical issues.

HONORABLE KAY COLE JAMES

James is the founder and President of the Gloucester
Institute, a non-profit organization which trains and
nurtures African American leaders. Throughout her
extensive career, James has worked in government,
business, academia and non-profit organizations.

REVEREND STAN KEY

Having served for 10 years as a missionary in France
and 18 years as senior pastor of Loudonville Community Church in Albany, New York, Stan now serves
the broader church through preaching, teaching and
writing. He often travels both in the U.S. and abroad speaking in
churches, retreats, conferences and camps.

DAVID STEVENS, MD, MA (ETHICS)

Dr. Stevens serves as CEO for CMDA. He previously
served as a missionary doctor in Kenya helping to
transform Tenwek Hospital into a premier mission
healthcare facility. As a leading spokesman for
Christian healthcare professionals in America, he has conducted
hundreds of television, radio and print media interviews.

AL WEIR, III, MD
Dr. Weir is board certified in internal medicine, with
certifications in hematology and oncology. He currently practices in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition
to his specialties, Dr. Weirs major area of interest is
the practical aspect of living out the Christian life as a healthcare
professional.

WORSHIP LEADER BRIAN ARNER

Brian has emerged as one of the finest voices in
inspirational Christian music. Since beginning his
full-time ministry 22 years ago, Brian has completed seven solo recordings which have been played
across the country on numerous radio stations.

Christian Medical & Dental Associations www.cmda.org 17