Looking Ahead

As my parents are now in their eighth decade, I have become more aware of
the privilege of each visit in their home.  Mom is now almost entirely
confined to a wheel chair and Dad is now the “home maker” who sees that the
house is clean and the meals are prepared.   With each visit I find myself
looking back, and they are always willing to indulge my reminiscing.  My
mother is especially so inclined, as she shares with me a melancholy spirit.
  Though my Dad has his own stories to tell, he is more the forward
thinking, always the optimist, not so much interested in the feelings but
the doing.

It occurs to me that in our spiritual journeys we need both the
contemplative looking back and the looking forward.  In retrospect we see
many lessons we learned or should have learned, even though much of what we
remember is colored by nostalgia.   But then there is the future.  Having
learned from the past, we look forward to a future filled with hope, a hope
that is founded in our shared faith that Jesus the Christ, once having come
as a baby, will return for his people.  He is now preparing a place for us.

With this as our shared hope, I wish you all a Happy New Year.  Thank you
for being a part of the fellowship this past year.  I trust that we will be
able to share together through the Fellowship in significant ways in this
year 2002.
 

Consultation 2001 A Success

We celebrate the success of our annual fall consultation.  The 41st Annual
Consultation convened September 28-29, 2001 on Greenville College campus
with almost seventy in attendance.  Drs. Robert Cranston and David Crane
presented the topic  "Bioethical Decisions and Today's Christian."
Bioethical issues have been high profile news in the past decade as
witnessed by the issues related to cloning, stem cell research, and
reproductive technology.  Dr. Cranston challenged us to be informed on
bioethical issues, to make our views known in our communities, and to be
aware of opportunities for discussion of these issues through the media.  He
further challenged us to carefully consider the issues of our time and to
prayerfully consider how God would direct us in addressing these issues in
our private and public lives.

Dr. Crane presented the issue of abortion from the point of view of the
unborn baby.  A reader, herself the mother of four boys, cried out the
thoughts of a child in utero.  Crane offered the commentary related to the
bioethical issues involved.  We were reminded that the sanctity of life is
the critical issue in bioethics and were offered an approach to counsel
those faced with decisions related to abortion.

A curriculum by the same name, Bioethical Decisions and Today's Christian,
by Dr. Cranston can be downloaded from the Free Methodist Website
  (See our BIOETHICS LINK ON FMMF WEB PAGE and near the bottom of  this page mkc 2/4/2)
This curriculum was initially developed as Dr. Cranston presented the issues
of bioethics to a Bible study class at his church in Champaign-Urbana.  It
will help in understanding the following topics:
Abortion and Our Response
Infertility and Assisted Reproduction
Genetics Dilemmas
Quality of Life vs. Sanctity of Life
The Christian Response to AIDS
Brain death, Organ Transplants, and NHBODP
Futility of Care
Advanced Directives
Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide
Rationing of Care

Dr. Crane is now presenting the same course at the John Wesley Free
Methodist Church in Indianapolis.  We would encourage you to present a study
of bioethical issues to your Bible study group.
 

Thank You Greenville College

Greenville College served as the host for this year’s consultation.  Becky
Tracy, from the alumni office, pulled together all the details which allowed
Consultation 2001 to take place.  Professor Marie Siefken and Dr. William
Ahern served on the host planning committee.  Dr. Chris Woods led in praise
and worship.  Dr. Cranston, who was one of our speakers, also helped in an
advisory role, bringing to mind details which needed to be attended to.
Thanks also to Dr. David Crane, whose friendship I value, for agreeing to
come as one of our speakers.  Finally, thank you Dr. Robert Cranston, Sr.
and President James Mannoia for assisting as well.
 

Consultation 2002 in Eastern Ohio

Now, looking to the future, hold this date – September 27-29, 2002.  The
Free Methodist Medical Fellowship will be meeting at Roscoe Village in
Coshocton, Ohio for its 42nd annual consultation.  This is an historic site
along the Erie Canal, two hours south of Cleveland and ninety minutes
northeast of Columbus.  Dr. Matthias Zahniser will lead us in a discussion
on how people of Islamic faith see the crucified Son of God.  Have you
puzzled over what keeps unbelievers from becoming followers of Jesus the
Christ?  You will not want to miss this very timely topic and you will
thoroughly enjoy this historic setting.

As you make plans to attend, would you consider inviting a dental or medical
student or resident to come with you to the consultation as your guest?  One
of our goals as a fellowship is to mentor young medical professionals in
their development.
 

Umri Mission Hospital Visit

Members and friends of the Free Methodist Medical Fellowship are considering
a visit to Umri Mission Hospital.  Dr. Tim Kratzer has met with Rev. David
Yardy to do some preliminary planning.  We had been planning for October,
2001, but we are now considering October, 2002 or 2003.   Are you interested
in being a part of seeing this very effective hospital in action?  Would
another date work better for you?

Please write Tim Kratzer at 518 Ashford Drive, Indianapolis, IN, 46214 or
email Kratzer@McleodUSA.net.  Estimated cost is $2500 per person.  We will
tour Delhi, Bombay, and the south central part of India where the hospital
is located.  We will spend most of our time at the hospital.  Let me know
soon of your interest.

The medical director is Dr. Samuel Jeevagan.  His commitment to Umri is
strong, and we wish to encourage him, his physician wife, and their staff in
the work they are doing. We have raised  $5150 to date for Paul Yardy
Memorial Fund.  This fund is part of a larger capital fund raising campaign
and will be used for building improvements or purchase of equipment.
 

Volunteers Needed

The Board of Directors has called its membership to consider the following
volunteer opportunities:
Web master
Secretary or executive secretary
Umri team director
TAB-prn editor
Site planners and conveners for consultation 2002
Membership recruitment at regional levels

Merlin Coulter has already agreed to serve as Web master.  You can see our
first postings at  http://www.freemethodistchurch.org/fmmf/.
The Fellowship has become more active in recent years.  We need your help to
enable us to live out the mission that the Lord has given us.  Let me know
how you would like to be involved.  Write to Tim Kratzer at 518 Ashford Dr.
Indianapolis, IN 46214 or send email to Kratzer@McleodUSA.net.
 

TAB-prn by Email

Would you be interested in receiving FMMF news by email?  We could improve
our communication if you would send me your current email address.  Would
you find an email version of TAB-prn acceptable?  Respond to
Kratzer@McleodUSA.net.  We would also post TAB-prn on our website.
 

Project Medsend

The Fellowship is committed to assisting young doctors and dentists in
accepting appointment as missionaries.  Proceeds from the Orville Walters
Memorial Medical Education Endowment are available to assist recent
graduates in serving their graduate school loans.    We are also becoming a
supporting member of Project Medsend in collaboration with CAHO and Free
Methodist World Missions, which would increase our ability to assist
additional missionary candidates.    Do you know of young medical
professionals who would be missionary candidates if they were to receive
assistance with their loans?  Let the fellowship know of these candidates.
 

Medical Mission Update

Many of our fellowship are currently at or soon will be at Kibogora Mission
Hospital.  These include Frank Ogden, Todd Stephens, Roy Winslow, Al Snyder,
and Erik Snyder, and the David Figg family of doctors.  John Kratzer is in
Kenya working with street youth.   Tim Teusink has assisted in establishing a primary care
center in Ethiopia.  Dan Snyder is collaborating with other Christian
physicians in Port au Prince, Haiti.  Let us know of your medical mission
involvement.

The CAHO Spring Conference will convene at Spring Arbor, MI, April 26 to 28.
  You will want to consider attending this important medical missions
gathering.  This year the theme will be “Evangelizing Through Medicine in an
African Context.”  Dr. Ebenezer Sikakane, gifted evangelist and teacher from
South Africa, will be the primary presenter.  The Fellowship will hold its
spring board meeting at that conference.
 
 

Money Matters

You can become an active member of the Fellowship by paying your dues of
$50.    Those who choose not to pay dues will be maintained as honorary,
non-voting members.
Dues are waived for missionaries and students.

Dues and gifts are needed to help with the operational expenses of the
fellowship as we prepare for Consultation 2002.   You can send payment of
dues and contributions to David Lefler, 12005 Ridgewood Drive, Fort Ashby WV
26719.  Make your checks payable to Free Methodist Medical Fellowship.

Donation Designation

________     Orville Walters Memorial Medical Education Endowment
The interest from this endowment is available to
assist young doctors or dentists who have been
appointed as missionaries to service their school
loans.
________ Umri Paul Yardy Memorial  (goal $20,000)
This special project initiated at the time of the Umri
Mission Hospital jubilee celebration will be kept open.
________ Dues - covers the cost of organizational operations between
consultations
________ Short term missions
You contribute funds which would enable you to
participate in a short term missions project.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Officers and Board Members for 2002
Tim Kratzer, MD, President    Norm Wetterau, MD, Vice President    K. David
Lefler MD, Treasurer
Board Members:  Bruce Davenport, MD    Denny Donnell, MD    Thomas Hadduck,
MD
Ed Lamoreauz, DDS  Joel Miller, MD   Kamilia Snyder, MD
Medical Missions Advisor:  Glenn Snyder, MD

Mission Statement
The Free Methodist Medical Fellowship seeks to bring together Christian
healthcare professionals for the purpose of helping each other reflect
Christ and communicate the gospel in their professional lives.