Medicine has been a natural vocation for Christians to express the love of God and to participate in his healing ministry in the world. It also has been a great vehicle for the proclamation of the gospel. Yet, because of the secularisation of medicine and its values in the current age, many Christians are finding the practice of medicine, increasingly difficult.
"...Jesus appointed initially his twelve disciples and later seventy of his followers with the commission to preach, heal and to cast out demons in his name. The same commission has been given following the resurrection of Christ to all his followers i.e. you and me. The example for us to follow is the example of the Good Samaritan in Luke’s gospel chapter 10: 29 – 37, who was moved with compassion to meet the needs of his neighbour. Over the past two thousand years Christians who love Jesus have obeyed and taken up the mission to continue the healing ministry. Modern western medicine is full of examples of Christians and their remarkable contributions in research and the practice of medicine..."
EMFI (Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India) started up in 1971 when several UESI (Union of Evangelical Students of India) members became convinced of the need to form a fellowship for students graduating from medical and dental schools. This movement was known as ‘Medical Auxiliary of UESI, till 1974. One of the key triggers was the realisation that Christian medics needed to be a voice against deteriorating ethical standards. Dr Frank Garlick, Professor of Surgery in Vellore, and his wife Val, provided initial leadership.
Convinced of its importance, many doctors joined EMFI and offered their services on a voluntary basis. Dr Nghakliana became Travelling Secretary, meeting students and graduates across the country. The founding General Secretary Dr Mathews started up a journal, The Voice.
In 1985 Dr Kuruvilla George and his wife Margaret gave up their home and practice in the UK and settled in India, with KG (as he was affectionately known) taking up the mantle of EMFI leadership and becoming the first fulltime General Secretary. Crucially at this time, a fulltime paid associate worker was appointed: Hansraj Jain, a young theological graduate, taking up the challenge.
So came a new phase of growth in EMFI: more staffworkers joined and the ministry expanded. Realising the need to pioneer Christian fellowships among medical students in unreached medical colleges, EMFI began focusing more and more on student work.
Today EMFI has 18 full time staff and their spouses, all actively involved in the day-to-day activities and in promoting the fellowship’s ministry.
EMFI’s ministry involves:
| Helping members to realise the call |
| Nurturing medical and dental students |
| Encouraging fellowship & witness among Christian doctors and dentists |
| Promoting mission and Indian medical ministries |
The key strength is working with individuals in college hostels and homes. Staffworkers make regular visits to each medical and dental college. Member graduates get involved in teaching and financial support. Fresh contacts are made through repeated visits; Bible study and prayer groups slowly form. Most groups meet in hostels or close to college. Staffworkers try to be sensitive to individual needs. Many times, the Holy Spirit leads our workers to specific places, where they find young men and women in need of counsel and prayer. Many issues regarding their calling as doctors and dentists or ethical dilemmas are discussed over a cup of tea or meal. Computers and the Internet have enabled us to communicate with students and graduates more easily, and we thank God for EMFI–UK’s help with this.
EMFI is a wonderful testimony of God’s work among doctors and dentists in India. Through years of prayer and faith, today they reach out to students and graduates from over 105 medical and dental colleges all over India. Hundreds of young students, many from other backgrounds, commit their lives in obedience to God’s call. It has become a vital component of medical missions in India, with 50 young medical/dental graduates joining missions over the last two years. Pray that God will open doors in other colleges too.
Our prayer is that we will continue to be The Voice in the everchanging world of medicine. Primarily a fellowship, we hope to remain relevant to our members as they respond to God’s call. It is a joy and privilege to serve him in the medical and dental fraternity, and to witness something of what God is doing.
"...Jesus had an intriguing conversation with a Samaritan woman who asked about where worship (at the Samaritan's site or in the Jerusalem Temple) ought to happen. He said, 'The time will come when true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth...' (John 4:19-24) We all know that worshipping God is not restricted to a certain sacred place. Paul tells us that your body is now the Temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19; 2 Cor 6:16). Worship has to do with remembering the truth about God and responding with our spirit. In Cornerstone, we have a practical description for worship: 'Remember who God is, place yourself in his presence and respond appropriately'..."
