Annual Issue Christian Medical and Dental Associations
Atlanta Christian Doctor
Med Students and Missions God is using missions to transform lives How Should We Then Die? — Tackling end of life issues here in Atlanta
Emory Med Student, Dan Tucker in Haiti
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CMDA Atlanta
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Contact us: billreichart@cmdaatlanta.org www.CMDAatlanta.org 678.350.8539
4—From the Director, Bill Reichart CMDA Atlanta Area Director Rev. Bill Reichart, M.Div.
5—Story of Transformation, Jeff Ryckman
CMDA Atlanta Leadership Council
6—Medical Mission to Honduras
Dr. Rick Boden Dr. Ken Rutledge Dr. Huck Whitener, DDS Dr. Mark Huffman Dr. Don Shaffer Dr. John Galloway Dr. Arif Ali Carol Shaffer, PharmD Dr. Roberto Diaz Dr. David Ballard Dr. Steven Brantley Dr. Laurie Boden Dr. Paul Espy Dr. Ryan Cantwell Dr. Yong Kim
9—Reaching the Next Generation of Doctors 10—Missions Networking 11—Marriage Seminar 12—How Should We Then Die? - Bioethics 13—Why We Serve? 14—Outlive Your Life, 2011Banquet 15—Global Missions Health Conference 16—Resident Fellowship 17—Dr. Don Shaffer’s Story from Haiti
Christian Medical and Dental Associations provides programs and services supporting its mission to "change hearts in healthcare" with a current membership of more than 15,000. CMDA promotes positions and addresses policies on healthcare issues; conducts overseas medical evangelism projects through its mission arm, Global Health Outreach; coordinates a network of Christian doctors for fellowship and professional growth and sponsors student ministries in medical and dental schools.
18—Bringing Hope to Haiti 30—Perspective
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From The Director
This is the annual issue of Atlanta Christian Doctor.
This magazine serves as an annual report - allowing us to showcase all that God has done this past year through Christian Medical and Dental Associations here in Atlanta. And as you will see from this annual edition, God has truly blessed CMDA Atlanta. What has been exciting this past year has been to watch how doctors, med students and medical professionals are investing their lives eternally in helping and serving people with medical care and the bold proclamation of the gospel—people are truly seeking to Outlive Their Life. (p. 14) Seeing people leave a legacy and making their life count has been evidenced in various ways throughout the year. Many of the examples are showcased within the stories told throughout the magazine….for example….
Investing in the next generation of doctors by seeing a young man while on a mission trip come to saving faith in Jesus Christ (p. 5) Taking a group of doctors and med students to Haiti in June and watching God profoundly work in the lives of everyone who served. (p. 22) Seeing doctor’s and their wives invest in the lives of medical student’s marriages. (p. 21) Watching doctors step up and step into the lives of medical students—and showing God’s love in practical ways. (p. 9)
God is using these and many other examples as a means of leaving an everlasting mark by becoming a blessing to others. But as many of you know that have served, when we bless others, WE OURSELVES are the ones who become blessed. We become impacted. Our lives become irrevocably changed and altered. I trust that this issue of Atlanta Christian Doctor will be a blessing to you as you read and see God’s loving hand of grace throughout the pages. May God be glorified by all we do here in Atlanta.
Serving Him,
Bill Reichart CMDA Atlanta Area Director 4
Story of Transformation
In March of 2011 Jeff Ryckman come to faith in Christ. Jeff participated on our medical missions trip to Tela Honduras. His desire to come was motivated in wanting to serve others, but in fact he found himself the one who was served and ministered to. Jeff came as a hurt, battered and bruised young man, not sure if he wanted to be completely surrendered to God. Jeff grew up in the church and in a loving Christian family, but even though he had the love, support and prayers of his family, he had been running away from God and living a prodigal life. Mid-week through our time in Honduras, through a lot of struggling and wrestling with God and conversations with Bill Reichart and other team members, Jeff told Bill that he was finally ready to surrender— and it was then he came to faith in Jesus Christ. On Friday, during the morning team devotional, Jeff shared with the group his journey and struggles and what God did with him on this trip. Jeff’s life was so transformed that he joined us again, a couple months later, on our Haiti Medical Mission trip—but this time as a follower of Christ.
Scan the QR code to watch on your smartphone Jeff’s story or go to our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/CMDAatlanta
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Honduras Kenner flashing one of his precious smiles
While in Tela, Honduras I along with Dr. Mike Seeger met an amazing young man. It all started early in our week as I was praying for Pastor Carlos and his sick son, Kenner. After our prayer time, I said that we would send a doctor to his home to see his son, given that he was too sick and weak to come to see us.
Dr. Mike Seeger, Pastor Carlos, Kenner, and their family.
Carlos, Dr. Mike, myself and our translator/driver Herman, got in our car and traveled to the outskirts of Tela. It was farther than we thought and the roads were difficult to pass. Herman's Toyota kept bottoming out and scraping the road as it tried to navigate around and through giant potholes and rubble on the road. As difficult as this road was for us, this was the same road Pastor Carlos traveled every day on his bike for two hours early in the morning at 5am to our clinic to serve along with us. We finally arrived at Pastor Carlos' home. A very humble house and like many of the pastors in Tela, their church is an extension of their house. Connected to his house was the small makeshift sanctuary that his flock comes to worship at every Sunday. We immediately got to see little Kenner...a 9 year old boy, who looked frail and thin. Kenner has HIV, which he got at birth. And although his mom has it, she is asymptomatic. Carlos sought out help for his boy, because he was having trouble breathing. In his examination, Dr. Mike asked a bunch of questions, saw the dozens of medications that Kenner takes and physically examined the young boy. Even though his parents know that they can't do a lot for their son, they want to make him comfortable and prolong his life as long as possible. They are attempting to do this by having to buy dozens of medications for their son, many of which are very expensive. But they love their son and Pastor Carlos is willing to even sell parts from his own car in order to have the money necessary to buy the medicines. Dr. Mike diagnosed Kenner with pneumonia and sought a consult with his pediatrician later in the week to do some more tests. We left their home with plenty of hugs and I even got a smile out of Kenner when I took his picture. It was sad to watch this family go through this difficult situation and even sadder to know that much of the medical care we take for granted is out of reach for this and many Honduran families. - written by Bill Reichart.
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Dr. Huck Whitener , DDS in Honduras
Scan the QR code to watch on your smartphone a video of an interview with Dr. Huck Whitener, DDS during our Honduras trip or to view it on your computer, go to our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/CMDAatlanta
Clockwise from the top: Michele Herndon, RN with a patient; Dr. Chip Busbee (OB/GYN) and PCOM student, Laura McCain at Tela Hospital; PCOM student, Morgan Newsome with a patient at the clinic; Dr. Kevin Windom (OB/GYN) in the operating room
On March 2011, a team of 36 medical providers from Atlanta and throughout North America treated just over 1,300 patients, shared Christ with just under 600 children and had the blessing of seeing 200 Hondurans place their faith in Jesus Christ. But even though we were able to be a blessing to the Honduran people, God blessed each and every team member as well through the experience. Come and join us in 2012 by going overseas in order to make a Kingdom difference with medicine. Going back to Tela, Honduras - March 17-25, 2012 Visit www.CMDAmissions.org for more information and to apply.
“This trip reinforced that God is calling me to be a doctor. I have struggled a lot in school and even had to take some time off school last year. I still don't know why I have difficulty, only that the Lord wants me to persevere. One day I will be a physician and He will heal others through me, as He did on this trip. “ - PCOM Medical Student in Honduras 8
Reaching the Next Generation of Doctors Hear what students are saying about CMDA‌. I will be doing my surgery selective with a doctor in CMDA. I am so blessed that these physicians rose to the occasion when I was desperate. I am also really excited to be spending the next two months with doctors who love the Lord enough to act upon it in such a selfless way. I was grateful to see the Godly men and women working as CMDA's council, and hope to be amongst them in the future. “ - Carolyn Smallwood, GA-PCOM, M3 CMDA Atlanta is reaching out to emerging medical doctors and professionals throughout Atlanta at Emory School of Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine, Mercer University of Atlanta, and the Georgia Campus of the Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine.
A response from one of our student leaders to the prayer support and how the CMDA community practically assisted her amidst a difficult situation: God has done this through CMDA. Laura and I first got to know each other in Honduras. I cannot go forth without brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope you see, as clearly as I do, how your organization has come to my rescue. - Renee Himmelbaum, GA-PCOM, M2
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch a video of more medical student testimonies or go to our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/CMDAatlanta
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Missions Networking
Three times a year, while gathering at an Atlanta area restaurant—pastors, ministry leaders, missionaries, and lay volunteers—who are committed to medical missions gather together to: Encourage Equip Network Mobilize Churches and Organizations currently represented: First Baptist Woodstock North Metro Church Fellowship Bible Church, Roswell Grace Fellowship Church, Snellville Mission to the World Johns Creek Baptist Intown Community Church MedicalMissions.org Johnson Ferry Baptist 410 Bridge Peachtree Presbyterian Noonday Baptist Association Rwandan Children's Hospital MedShare Predisan Christian Medical and Dental Associations of Atlanta
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"Thank you for such a great meeting on Friday. Nell was a real inspiration and provided several key ideas for development. The Roundtables have been a source of encouragement and blessing." - from Karen Rhodes - Persidian Ministries in Atlanta.
Marriage Seminar
This past fall, CMDA Atlanta held a marriage seminar for our med school students. We did this in conjunction with InterVarsity Grad ministry, and so our time included young married couples from other graduate programs too. Some from the Public Health school at Emory as well as other grad students joined our medical students to get some foundational equipping and encouragement from Pastor Randy Schlichting of Perimeter Church. Afterwards, the attendees heard from a panel discussion which included, CMDA Atlanta’s very own, Dr. Stuart and Mary Banks Knechtle from Emory. CMDA Atlanta understands that the effects of today's medical and dental professions have taken their toll on marriages. Increasing time pressures, fiscal burdens, CE requirements, and countless demands have made building strong marriages more difficult. Therefore investing in doctor’s and medical student’s marriages is an important part of the ministry of CMDA Atlanta.
Samaritan's Purse did a survey of all their Post Residency Mission Program trainees, asking what was #1 thing that has motivated them to choose a career serving God in medical missions. The answer??? 100% reported their involvement in CMDA was the biggest, number one influencing factor! The impact CMDA here in Atlanta and throughout the country is having in the lives of students and residents is enormous. 11
How Should We Then Die? - This was the question raised in our first ever CMDA Atlanta Bioethics Conference, co-sponsored with Luther Rice Seminary. During our conference, which 20 people attended, our presenters talked and facilitated discussions around the issue of “end of life� care and decisions. Dr. Bob Orr, author of Medical Ethics and the Faith Factor, was our plenary speaker, accompanied by presenters Dr. Priscilla Strom, Dr. Robyn Mowery and Dr. Scott Henderson. CMDA Atlanta was very excited to be able to provide this conference to our community, because one of the essential goals of CMDA here in Atlanta is to resource and equip the church and medical community to better understand and think biblically about the bioethical issues within medicine and our culture.
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Why We Serve? Opportunities to serve are all around us.
Being a part of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations here in Atlanta, we hear and see the needs first hand, both in Atlanta and even throughout the world. But even though the needs are great many of us also get to see and experience the wonderful opportunities and organizations that are on the front-lines, committed to sacrificially serving those most in need. Throughout CMDA Atlanta there are many physicians and dentists who are interested and motivated to give back and serve by volunteering their time within those organizations. For instance, I want you to hear in Dr. Brittany ThomeHoover's own words why she gives her time to serve both locally and abroad. “I've realized that there is little that separates the needy and the helper- we share more in common than we do our differences. God has made us both and we need each other. In serving, the less fortunate one has a need met but the helper has the pure joy of giving to another without asking for anything in return. There truly is no greater act of love!� - Dr. Brittany Thome-Hoover, DDS - Creekside Family Dentistry, Loganville, GA
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch a video showcasing medical missions both locally and globally or you can visit our YouTube channel online to view it as well.
Fundraising Banquet 2011 On Thursday, November 17th CMDA Atlanta held it’s annual Fundraising Banquet at the Crowne Plaza Ravinia. God exploded the doors off of our expectations! Just under 300 people were in attendance and just over 2/3 of our needed budget for 2012 was donated or pledged.
It was a evening of tremendous blessings! During the evening, we showed several videos which illustrated our theme for the banquet - Outlive Your Life. Special music was provided by recording artist, Shelly Johnson, while Rev. Randy Rainwater, student pastor from Grace Fellowship of Snellville provided the invocation, and Rev. Bill Ford, pastor of Parkway Church ended the evening with the benediction. Also Mark and Jean Ryckman were interviewed about their son Jeff’s testimony of coming to faith while serving on a CMDA Atlanta medical mission (see story on page 5).
Financial Goals
Dr. David Stevens, CMDA CEO, was our keynote speaker during the evening and Dr. (CMDA fiscal year starts in July and Steve Brantley, Radiologist and Council Member, presented the financial ask and ends in June) challenge to the audience.
All of the banquet videos can be viewed online at: www.youtube.com/CMDAatlanta 14
2010-2011 Actual—$133,204 2011-2012 Proposed—$190,000
Global Missions Health Conference This past November 10-12th, a group of 8 from Atlanta, consisting of med students, physicians and residents attended the Global Missions Health Conference (GMHC) in Louisville, KY. This is the biggest Medical Missions conference in the U.S. which features speakers who challenged and inspired; breakout sessions that equipped; and an exhibit hall filled with ministries to help network and connect with opportunities to serve. For more information about the conference go to: www.MedicalMissions.com Also save the date for GMHC 2012— November 8-10th. “God is doing a new thing. God is raising up an army of ordinary people empowered by God to make a difference.” - Dr. Charles Cheatham , Global director for the HIV/AIDS Initiative at Saddleback Church
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Resident Fellowship
Residency is arguably the most demanding and stressful period of a physician's career. Given the trials, stresses and pressures of resident’s daily lives, there is a significant need for the fellowship of other Christian resident physicians and a time to collectively reflect on His Word. For the longest time, there has been a strong attending physician Christian community and a strong medical student Christian community in Atlanta, however, there had not been any stable and regular resident physician Christian bible study– until this past year! CMDA Atlanta and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship have partnered together to help meet the need by providing support, financial funding, a stable meeting location, and regular meeting time for an Atlanta area bible study for resident physicians. Pinebloom Mansion where the Resident Fellowship meets
In 2011, 4,700 patients were treated medically, explained the gospel and prayed for individually on our mission trips.
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Through the Eyes of a Doctor Dr. Don Shaffer, an Oncologist at Kennestone Hospital in Marietta shares his experience while in Haiti. “What was so amazing to me about my trip to Haiti was seeing all the spiritual hunger, which I had heard of, but to see first hand was moving. I had 8 patients who at some point near the end of the visit indicated in one way or another that they wanted to follow Jesus, a couple were very explicit in their requests, none were prompted, though we asked to pray with almost everyone. The first patient who asked me, occurred when I asked if I could pray for him and he answered that he wanted to invite Jesus in his heart right now. I was actually taken back by his request, so after going over the need for the Cross, and its meaning, and the need for us to accept this as the only way to have a relationship with God, he indicated that he understood all of that, agreed with it completely and we prayed. The very next patient asked the same question (yes it’s TRUE!), but this time my student assistant with me prayed and lead the patient to Christ. Another example occurred the very last day of our clinic. The patients were a married couple and when I asked what we could pray for, the man went into a litany of complaints against "Christians," and that he could not be a part of that. I completely agreed with him, and indicated that the church is full of those who think they are fooling God, but God knows who His true followers are. Then again unexpectedly he said that is what he wanted to be, and he said to me that when I come back next year to Haiti that "you will find that I will still be following Jesus." I am moved that God can use us simple folks with so little medicine to offer, but that is what this is all about. Medicine is one of a few keys that can get you into a country, despite political or religious issues, and then allow you into the intimacy of relationship with that person/patient. When they see that we come in the name of Jesus and offer what we can, I know that God is moving in their hearts, and seeds are being sown and lives are being transformed throughout Haiti.” Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch a video interview of Don and Carol Shaffer in Haiti or go to our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/ CMDAatlanta
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Haiti It was an event that gripped the world’s attention.
On January, 12, 2010, Haiti was surprised by a catastrophic magnitude 7.0 earthquake, with an epicenter 16 miles west of Port-au-Prince, Haiti's capital. The earthquake was a catastrophe that further exasperated already difficult conditions for the Haitian people. It is estimated that 250,000 residences and 30,000 commercial buildings had collapsed or were severely damaged from the earthquake. Also, It was reported that an estimated 230,000 people had died, 300,000 had been injured and 1,000,000 made homeless. Immediately aide was rushed to Haiti from countries throughout the world . Food, water, temporary shelter and medical care. It was in the wake of this enormous tragedy that CMDA Atlanta felt called by God to send a medical missions team. We sent our first team in 2010 just 6 months after the quake. We set up clinic in the second poorest community in one of the poorest countries in the world. But realizing that the condition and need of Haiti was far from resolved, we returned a year later -last June 2011—to the same neighborhood and in conjunction with our same in-country partners. During that week in Port-au-Prince, our team of 27 had a chance to treat 1315 patients and we shared Jesus and prayed with every patient we saw. As a result of many prayers and the work of the Spirit, 35 Haitians indicated decisions for Jesus. But the work is far from over, there is still much need in Haiti—physically and spiritually. So therefore, CMDA Atlanta has adopted this community in Haiti as one of our long-term partnerships. We know that we cant fix all the enormous problems of Haiti, but we can make a difference by making a long-term commitment to a piece of it. Join us again in 2012 as we travel back to Haiti to serve. The dates for the medical mission are June 16-24, 2012. If you would like more information about the trip and to apply go to: www.HaitiMission.info The hundreds of Haitians that would come to our clinic every day
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“"I've been truly blessed to be able to serve the Haitian people these last two years. There's no greater joy than bringing the eternal hope of Jesus Christ to those who may never have earthly hope." - Dr. Keith Miller, Orthopedic Surgeon
One of the Haitian orphans during meal time at the Shekina Orphanage
“Everyone who came in to the clinic had a face which was downcast and showed deep sorrow and suffering. However, when the name of Jesus was mentioned, I watched the faces of at least 6 of my patients each day go from downcast to full of light and life, and they started praising God and giving Him glory and testifying to His greatness and love - just at the mention of Jesus' name. Truly the great light shining on them is reflected in their faces because they trust in God as their only hope and salvation….. I met so many people whose lives have been completely changed by Christ, and I also grew spiritually and came to a deeper understanding of several core aspects of Jesus' character and God's will as previously I had only read about such things, but now have experienced how God works in the poor and suffering to glorify His name and increase His kingdom.” - Dr. Matt Fisher, Family Practice In 2011, God gave us the privilege of seeing 235 patients indicate decisions for Jesus Christ.
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The Presidential palace in Port-au-Prince is still in ruins
"Praying with the Haitians we saw in clinic was one of the most powerful experiences of the trip. In each prayer was an underlying connection between me and the patient that says, 'I know little of your daily struggles and you know little of mine; but we love and are loved by the same Jesus, and bring our disparate struggles before the same God, who understands us both.' There are few bonds as strong as the one of communal prayer that transcends culture. I often forget that Jesus isn't American, and this trip was a convicting reminder that Haiti, indeed every nation, has as much a claim to the Gospel as we do." -Dan Tucker, Emory Medical Student
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Above: A child receiving a nebulizer at the clinic Below: Emory Medical students with the team in Haiti
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Above: Dr. Laurie Boden and Jeff Ryckman treating a young Haitian boy Top Right: Emory Med Student Dan Tucker doing a preliminary exam at the clinic Bottom Right: Pharmacist Carol Shaffer 22
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Dr. Keith Miller operating on a women’s infected finger
Children at play at the Haitian orphanage
Many of the orphans in Haiti are a result of the tragic earthquake in 2010
Top Left: Several of the children at the Shekina Orphanage in Haiti where we set up a day clinic Bottom Left: Dr. Ernesto Guzman from the DR. and Bill Reichart serving together as partners in ministry Above: Dr. Rick Boden getting a laugh from a young Haitian patient 27
Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch a video of the Haiti medical missions trip or go to our YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/CMDAatlanta
The canal in front of our clinic
During this past year, 73 CMDA Atlanta medical professionals and students traveled throughout the world on 4 medical missions trips.
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Crossing the border into Haiti we had to drive through flooded roads
Perspective Early in the year I felt the Lord calling me to embark upon an extended spiritual fast. Why? I sensed that He wanted to have my attention and speak to me in matters of my heart and of the CMDA ministry. I felt as if He wanted to move forward toward spiritual breakthroughs for both myself and for the CMDA ministry here in Atlanta. And so I embarked on a fast that lasted seven days. I wanted God to go deep, but God wanted to go deeper still. C.S. Lewis put this so well in his novel, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Chances are you remember the story of a boy named Eustace. A boy everybody hates, just as well, because he hates everybody. He's selfish, he's mean, and nobody can get along with him. But he finds himself magically on a boat, the Dawn Treader, taking a great voyage. At one point this boat pulls onto an island, and Eustace wanders off and finds a cave. The cave proves to be filled with diamonds and rubies and gold. He thinks, "I'm rich!" and immediately, dreams of using his new found wealth to pay everyone back who ever laughed or slighted him. Eustace then falls asleep on the pile of treasure - which happens to be a dragon's hoard. And because he falls asleep with greedy dragonish thoughts in his heart, when he wakes up, he's become a dragon - big, terrible and ugly. Because of his size, he can't go back on the boat and he is going to be left on the island all alone. Eustace falls into despair. But then Aslan shows up and asks him to undress. Eustace understands that to mean to take off his dragon skin. But when he tries to scratch and gnaw at it, he realizes that there is just another dragon skin underneath...and so on, and so on. No matter how many skins he tries to remove, he can't shed his dragon skin. Then Aslan says, "You're going to have to let me go deeper." Eustace being desperate lets Aslan do it, and as Eustace recounts later to his friends, "The very first tear he made was so deep that I thought it had gone right into my heart. And when he began pulling the skin off, it hurt worse than anything I've ever felt...Well he peeled the beastly stuff right off...I'd turned into a boy again!." This time of fasting and prayer brought to my attention my utter desperation. My need for Jesus. But it also reveled the sin in my heart. I am demanding, I feel entitled, and I want control. I want these things for my life, and I want them over this ministry. The pain during this time was repentance...realizing the condition of my heart and attitudes...realizing those things that have become my functional trust, my idols. But that pain is turned to joy and hope when through repentance I'm applying the wonderful and penetrating salve of the gospel to it. You and I need God to go deeper into our heart and life. But that can only happen as we submit to Jesus. Only He can penetrate, by the power of the gospel and love of Christ, those places that we have walled off. Only He can unclench our heart around those idols that we are clinging tightly to. Not only will He go deeper, but through Him, He will release us to go wider and farther than we've ever gone before. That is my prayer for myself...and that is my prayer for you and the whole of CMDA Atlanta. I am excited for the future of CMDA here in Atlanta. I believe God wants so much more for us...more than we could ever dream or imagine...but before He launches us out...He wants us to go deeper still. Perspective written by Bill Reichart, Atlanta Area Director
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Partners in Ministry
Christian Medical and Dental Associations of Atlanta relies solely on the prayer and financial partnership of doctors, dentists, medical professionals and community leaders.
Your gifts help reach and raise up the next generation of Christians in medicine.
Your generosity brings hope, healing and the gospel to the underserved around the world.
And Your financial partnership helps transform the lives of doctors, dentists, nurses and medical professionals with the gospel throughout the Atlanta area.
Help underwrite this crucial ministry by making a gift today. You can do so by visiting:
www. CMDAdonate.org
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted�- Matthew 5:4