mapline The Official Newsletter of
MEDICAL AMBASSADORS PHILIPPINES, INC. Volume XXVII No. 1
Journey with us in 2015
Happy New Year! 2014 was a year of overflowing provisions,
healing, and equipping of workers. With trust and faith in God’s power and grace, we were able to face the challenges in the ministry. To all our partners, friends, and prayer warriors, I appeal to you to journey with us again as we endeavor to accomplish our vision, mission, and goals in the next five years.
Our Vision To see God-honouring, transformed, indigenous, marginalized, and least reached communities in the Philippines and other developing countries. Our Mission Empower and equip faith-based communities in integrated health care and cross-cultural missions toward wholistic transformation. Our Goals 1. An established and operational MAP ECCLESHALOM (CB-HELP) Center for Primary Health Care and Discipleship Ministry (Cross Cultural Missions) 2. Faith-based communities equipped to do integrated health care and actively engaging in cross-cultural missions and mobilization. 3. Communities are able to prevent their own illnesses, maintain healthy lifestyle, are evangelized, and discipled. 4. Transformed communities manifested by improved health status, capability in organizing themselves, making decisions, evangelizing, and discipling their own people.
Alicia T. Bañas EVP
February 2015
How God used a Physician to Recount the Christmas Story
by Eleazar O. Sarmiento, MD MAP FOUNDER
Although Dr. Luke was not one of the
disciples, God saw it fit to use him to do a detailed and accurate research (as a scientist would) of the data given him by eyewitnesses and servants of the Word. He says in Luke 1:3-4, “Therefore since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.” Among the gospels, Luke is the only one that goes into the details of Jesus’ birth, while Matthew deals with the history. Take note that physicians are trained to do accurate research work. This is probably why God chose to use Dr. Luke for this particular work to insure the certainty of the events of Jesus’ birth and life. Again, as a physician, he was also trained in careful accounting. This, we observe in the two to page 4...