| ‘We
are completely reliant on containers from Medical Missionary
News to supply all our needs and this includes food’, so wrote
a missionary couple just recently. This is frequently heard from
those serving the Lord in Africa. It also places on MMN a
tremendous responsibility to regularly supply all these needs,
and with this responsibility comes an increasing awareness of
our own weakness, but also a consciousness that ‘there is a
God in heaven’, Dan 2. 28, who is able to supply those needs
from His bountiful resources.
MMN was
commenced by a group of Christian doctors in UK in 1922. These
doctors had a concern for medical colleagues involved in
missionary work overseas. In 1934 they began to publish a
quarterly magazine which carried reports from the mission field
and also gave information by which their missionary colleagues
could keep abreast with progress in their profession. Some of
the early issues show that there were very few funds being
devoted to missionary medical work. The first issue included an
urgent appeal for a stethoscope and and cheap watch to assist in
pulse readings.
In 1947 the MMN
fund was established with a capital sum of £400 to be used for
charitable purpose for Christian missionaries and their
dependents.The first editor and administrator was Dr. Chave Cox.
After his death, in 1963, a new fund was established with a
capital sum of £2,000. This was to be used ‘for the purchase
and maintenance of equipment and facilities for the relief of
disease and sickness and suffering in association with the
preaching of the Christian gospel’. The main administrator was
Dr. Archie Hanton. From time to time limited practical
assistance was given with the purchase of equipment, e.g.,
microscopes.
In 1977 Dr.
Hanton retired from his active role, and invited one of the
Trustees, Mr. Norman Lane, to accept the position of
Secretary/Treasurer. This was to be the beginning of a series of
events which were to transform completely the scope of MMN.
An early letter
which reached Norman was an inquiry from a missionary in Zambia
as to whether a drug which was no longer available in that
country could be obtained. The drug was obtained, and sent out
by air mail, to the great appreciation of the missionary
concerned. The good news quickly spread to other missionaries
who were experiencing similar problems, particularly as the
political situation in their countries was changing. Requests
began to flood in to MMN and by 1980 consignments of up to 5
tons of drugs were being dispatched by air.
With his
business experience Norman was aware of the advantage of
container shipping and in 1982, using the facilities of his own
factory, began to use containers to transport drugs,
particularly to Africa. Initially about 2 container-loads were
sent per year. As the political situation in many countries
deteriorated, medical missionaries, mission hospitals and other
missionaries become more dependent on sources outside their
countries of service for supplies.
Currently we
are sending approximately one container per week to 8 different
countries, but mainly to Africa. A container might include,
drugs, food, clothing, vehicles, roofing material, furniture,
mattresses, sewing machines, children’s vests and baby
layettes. In addition there are items to cater for spiritual
needs such as Bibles, books and other literature.
The magazine,
which is published quarterly and in total is in excess of 9,000
copies, is sent without charge to each assembly in the UK, to
missionaries and the many individuals who have expressed an
interest in the work. The purpose of the magazine is to inform
on missionary activity and to stimulate prayer. Specific needs
are mentioned and the response to these is very often
enthusiastic and overwhelming.
Through MMN it
has been possible for many individuals and groups, and
especially the ladies, to play a practical part in missionary
work. There are those who knit countless numbers of baby vests,
prepare baby layettes, collect stamps, soap, sewing machines,
spectacles. Commercial organizations and health authorities have
become aware of MMN and offer their own products or surplus
equipment -often in first class condition either free of charge
or at greatly reduced prices.
In 1999 MMN had
to vacate the premises at Harold Wood, but have moved into
premises at Wickford in Essex under the care of Mr. Bryan Bland.
As we see all that has happened we can only bow in worship
before the Lord for His greatness and goodness to MMN.
If you would
like a representative to come to your assembly and talk about
the work of MMN please contact the office at Wickford.
MEDICAL
MISSIONARY NEWS, UNIT 1, VICTORY CLOSE,
FULMAR WAY, WICKFORD BUSINESS PARK, WICKFORD,
ESSEX. SS11 8YW. TEL. 01268 765266
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