With the students focused on exams and leaving for the summer, this past month has been a fantastic opportunity to break from the routine and take time away. Here’s what God has done through my time ‘on the road:’
CMDA National Convention
My time away began in late April with our CMDA National Convention in California. This was my first time at the Convention, and a great time to get in on the ground floor of several important student initiatives our new Campus and Community VP rolled out there. One of these, The National Student Council (NSC), is a nationwide group of student leaders coming together to receive mentoring, discover how to influence the future of healthcare, shape the future of CMDA, and learn how to impact their campuses for Christ. I was able to share what I’ve learned in Philadelphia and interact with the students as they think about their own campuses. Looking ahead, I will be part of monthly webinars that will move this discussion forward.
Hudson Valley International Saline Seminar
Teaching at the Hudson Valley Int'l Saline
After a few weeks home, it was on to the Hudson Valley in NY. You may recall that we’ve been equipping local students and physicians to share their faith in medical settings through a partnership we have with International Health Services (IHS) and its International Saline (IS) curriculum. At our first local IS seminar some time ago, two members of the Hudson Valley CMDA chapter came down to receive the training from us. Recently, Dr. Bob Snyder and I had the privilege to join those members in NY as they launched the training in their own area. Approximately 15 (an ideal number) were in attendance for the seminar, which went very well.
One physician who came said that she realized, through our time together, that she “had lost her heart for her Beloved over the past two years”, and that she desperately needed to recapture her love for Christ so that she could be an effective witness in her workplace. Many others came away excited and equipped to share their faith, and already plans are being made to hold a follow-up seminar. A physician from New York City also came, and plans on bringing the seminar to that area as well. This is what the International Saline is all about – training others who will train others for maximum impact!
CMDA Staff Conference
My next stop was our annual staff conference at our headquarters in Bristol, TN. It was a great opportunity to network with other staff doing similar work in other areas across the country. We also had a number of fantastic speakers that provided refreshment and new ideas that will inject our ministry with new life.
Support Development
Last, but not least, I’ve been using the drive home to continue developing support for the ministry. Stops in Virginia, Washington DC and Baltimore have given me the opportunity to share our vision with new, potential ministry partners. Many have responded positively, offering not only financial support, but their prayers and new connections.
Along the way, I also had the chance to visit current friends/supporters and connect with folks who, though not able to contribute financially, have offered their wisdom on many levels. One physician in Richmond shared his experience of starting and strengthening their ministry to other doctors, an area we’re hoping to work on in our area. A lunch time meeting with a physician-author has generated some ideas on how to create a ministry where deeper community can flourish. As you can probably sense, I love moving the ministry forward and am constantly on the lookout for the people and ideas that can take us there. By God’s grace, in turn we are grateful to reciprocate by playing a similar role for others!
As you can see, it’s been a busy, but tremendous, month. I look forward to returning to Philadelphia late tonight after one final meeting in the Baltimore area. I thank God for His goodness during this time away, and for its impact on our local ministry. Thank you for making this season of travel possible through your prayers and gifts!
Warmly,
Bryan & Sharon
Please join us in prayer/praise for the following:
- Praise God for an exciting month of travel, and all the connections and fresh ideas along the way! Pray that God generates new support and connections for the ministry and helps me to identify which ideas we should implement here in our local ministry.
- Pray for a good time of re-connection with my family. The month of June should be more relaxed as I’ll be home more.
- Pray that the International Saline training we did in Hudson Valley NY impacts that, and the New York City, area deeply. Please ask God to bring things together for a full-version training we’ll do at Drexel in the fall.
- Finally, please pray for our involvement in the SMIs. I will participate in the Philadelphia project, and am considering joining the Texas project for a week as well. These are times of maximum impact!
Transforming Healthcare 