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In October 1991, Dr. William A. Johnson, formerly president of
the Christian Medical Dental Society of the United States, joined
Robert McFarlane in assembling a team of Christian physicians,
dentists, nurses, and logistics personnel which traveled to Albania
to asses the health care needs there. A plan of relief was
implemented, bringing to the country large quantities of hospital
supplies, equipment, and desperately-needed medicines. However,
after five decades of intellectual and motivational repression, the
greater need was for Albania's health workers to grow professionally
and to be encouraged. Multi-specialty teams were organized to work
alongside the nurses, a pharmacist and a dentist who visited Albania
in March, 1992. During this visit the team was asked to consider
returning and presenting a professional medical conference. This
first conference with the Albanian physicians was held in October,
1992.
Physicians and other staff continued returning to Albania and
many practical expressions of Christianity were given including the
donation of medical textbooks, stethoscopes and blood pressure cuffs
to the graduating class of the medical school. Albanian medical
students (and most of the doctors) had never before possessed their
own medical textbooks or basic equipment. Relationships formed as
the same members returned again and again and the teams were able to
share their faith with many in the health care field as well as with
government leaders who welcomed them to their needy country.
Since that time Albanian Health Fund has become the "lead
agency" providing voluntary Christian response to Albania's
health care needs, and seeks to support and encourage the local
church in Albania.
When asked, What compels you to give
your life to ministering in light of other options you may have had
regarding career and where to live, Dr. Johnson
responded, "My wife, Bobbie, and I had each individually upon
becoming Christians felt the compunction to use our lives and
training to help those in physical need, in pain and deprivation and
suffering, and to utilize these situations to witness to them, when
appropriate, the love of Christ. When married we took seriously the
challenge Jesus left in Matthew 28 to go unto all the world and we
found that the physical ministry opened many hearts to hear the Good
News. This led us to do many short term missions and later to do
long term medical missions. We found that living in deprived
cultures was not a hardship, but a blessing to us, as we saw the
Lord at work in lives of people living in meager circumstances and
bringing peace and hope to them."
Sponsoring Organization
Albanian Health Fund
P.O. Box 63
Saratoga, CA 95070
Website: albanianhealthfund.org |
