Later when I was visiting a Hospital Christian Fellowship group in Pittsburgh, my hostess introduced me to Lamya’s brother, Imad Jarjour. Imad had met his wife, Leila, in Kuwait, also through a HCF contact and, after coming to the States, my hostess had given her a bridal shower to welcome her to her new country.

Imad mentioned a visit of one of our International HCF Promoters, Dr. Gerry Landry from Tyler, Texas. He said when he was a medical student in Lebanon in the ‘80s, Dr. Landry was scheduled to visit his country. But the tension and political climate at that time were dangerous and the small group of Christian medical students did not expect their guest to arrive. But Dr. Landry did come and encouraged them in their faith. It made an indelible impression on their lives. Several years after his visit, when they were now practicing physicians in the States, these Middle East physicians founded HOME.

Dr. Landry’s widow, Denise, was recently invited by HOME president, Dr. Issam Raad and Dr. Imad Jarjour, to the annual HOME conference in Houston as an honored guest. Dr. Issam Raad is professor of Medicine and Chairman, Department of Infectious Diseases at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Denise Landry was amazed to learn that her late husband’s visit to the Middle East had motivated the formation of this far reaching ministry. Dr. Landry’s own unique story, “The Day The Doctor Died” has been translated into French and Arabic for distribution to the Middle East.

HOME was founded in 1990 to “offer spiritual and physical healing” and “medical care and education”. It was birthed by God in the hearts of Middle Eastern Christians in North America as the answer to His calling to share the healing love of Christ with all the peoples of the Middle East, regardless of their race, color, religion or geographical/political status.

Currently, HOME supports over 15 low-cost Christian medical clinics and hospitals in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Sudan. Plans are underway to partner with clinics in Palestine. Some of the projects include:

EGYPT
The Mobile Clinic makes outreach trips twice a month. Traveling to remote areas they examine a large number of patients and distribute free medications

Home Health Care Project. This vision was started by two Dutch nurses who felt led to help elderly Egyptians who are unable to take of themselves. They started by providing classes to students on basic geriatric nursing care. Currently, there are 25 trained home healthcare providers.

Good Samaritan Geriatric Nursing Home. Many elderly require round the clock care. A home was purchased in 2000 where the elderly could receive 24 hours attention and care. The facility has 13 beds. Responding to an overwhelming demand for its services, the center has recently added another floor. This new floor is in the process of being equipped as funds become available.

Harpur Hospital was founded in 1910 by an Irish missionary who wanted to show the love of Christ by serving the needy people of the Nile Delta area. The hospital currently has a staff of 120 and operates 24 hours a day. It serves 50,000 out-patients and 1.000 in-patients annually. Plans are underway to expand the out-patient clinic and furnishing it with modernized equipment.

Daraw Clinic. Located north of Aswan, this clinic was established by a German ophthalmologist in the early 1900 and today is a specialized center for eyes, ears, nose and throat

Ballana Clinic. Located in a remote village, this clinic was established in 1991 by a physician and two Finnish nurses.

IRAQ
Grace Community Health Center, In the midst of the war in Iraq in 2003 a member of HOME and Grace Brethren Church in Columbus, Ohio visited Iraq. They were overjoyed to see the spiritual growth of the people and invited four pastors to visit a newly founded church which had opened only two months after the war began. Once there they saw the great need for medical care and contacted HOME members. Shortly afterwards, Grace Community Health Center was established. Recently, a two-story building in Baghdad was leased. Eventually, the clinic will be housed on the ground floor and a Community Center on the top floor. Two Iraqi physicians, an internist and a dentist came to know the Lord through one of the outreaches held by the church, after which they indicated their desire to become a part of this newly unfolding ministry. As this ministry is still in its initial stages much help is needed including additional staff, equipment and finances.

JORDAN
Annoor Sanatorium. Started in 1965 by a doctor and nurse/midwife who converted a rented, modest two-story home in northern Jordan into a 16-bed hospital for Bedouin nomads, sick with tuberculosis. In 1973 the sanatorium was expanded into a 60-bed facility. The management was able to drill two deep wells to provide water which is a difficult to find commodity in the Middle East. HOME plans to establish a regional epicenter at this Sanatorium reaching out to Jordan as well as Iraq and Syria by supporting medical projects that would involve diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infectious disease such as tuberculosis and malaria.

Hope Clinic was started in a church basement in 1991 in Amman. The ministry began to offer medical attention to Iraqi refugees from the Gulf War. Hope Clinic will soon be expanding its ministry by moving into the building next to the church. It will be used to offer a variety of community services to the public. The clinic is also working towards expanding its services by adding dentistry and short-term opportunities for physicians from a variety of specialties.

LEBANON
Mobile Clinic This clinic first opened in 2003 after years of prayer, research, analysis and organization. Several doctors, on a short-term mission trip, saw more than 80 patients on their first day in this clinic. Serving the Bekaa Valley as well as remote areas in northern and southern Lebanon, the Mobile Clinic hopes to take the healing message of Christ and the advanced techniques of modern medicine to the neediest of the population in these isolated areas.

Healing Grace Medical Center. In the early 1990 this Center was opened in the underprivileged area of Fanar. A church purchased a building with space for both a church and a clinic. Thirteen local doctors volunteer today on rotation shifts at this clinic.

Al Tahaddi. This clinic was opened in 2000 in one of the poorest areas of Beirut to provide medical care for thousands of undocumented refugees who do not receive assistance from the government. Al Tahaddi means The Challenge and providing even basic healthcare services to the needy in this slum area is a challenge.

SUDAN
Khartoum, Sudanese believers are involved in outreaches to share the Gospel. Free medical care is also provided during these events. HOME sponsors a full-time physician and a team of healthcare assistants to offer free consultations, treatment and medications. They also travel to poor villages in different parts of Sudan.

Good Shepherd Clinic Madani. Founded in 2000 by a physician burdened with a vision of coming to the aid of the many impoverished Sudanese, this clinic reaches out to the poor local citizens as well as the many displaced refugees in the area. Staffed with a medical technician, lab technicians, pharmacy attendants and several administrative workers, this clinic sees over 400 patients per month suffering from a variety of infectious diseases. Evangelistic movies like the Jesus film are continuously played in the waiting areas along with Christian literature. Patients are often surprised by the gentle way they are treated, as the staff portrays the loving image of Christ through their special kindness.

Good Shepherd Clinic Juba. Established in 2003 this clinic also offers high quality healthcare services to the needy. Unable to pay for medications with more than gratitude, patients here come to experience the grace and healing of the Lord during their visits.

SYRIA
Tabbaleh Clinic. This clinic is an outreach of a local church. A building has been purchased in a very poor area close to the church and is currently under renovation. This ministry is also beginning its first medical relief and support for families who have fled to Damascus since 2003 as a result of the war in Iraq. Food is distributed to over 150 families, patients are given medical treatment and all are exposed to the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

“Over the last few years,” writes HOME’s president, Dr. Issam Raad, “we have been blessed to see the Lord move our ministry into exciting new directions, allowing us to reach out to more needy people in different parts of the world. Like all medical ministries in underprivileged areas,” he adds, “there is a great need for medical supplies, equipment, staff and funding and, above all, prayers. For more information, please visit our website www.healthoutreachtothemiddleeast.org.”

As a nurse and HCF Coordinator, I feel privileged to know some of the dedicated members of this outstanding and unique ministry. I am also honored to see the interaction between Hospital Christian Fellowship members and those of the Health Outreach to the Middle East ministries. It confirms the Scripture in Ephesians 2:21-22: “In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple of the Lord. And in Him, you too, are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit.”

Aubrey Beauchamp, RN is the USA Coordinator of Hospital Christian Fellowship, an international and interdenominational organization founded in 1936 and active in over 100 countries around the world. The USA HCF publishes a quarterly magazine, A New Heart. For a free copy contact her by e-mail at: HCFUSA@Juno.com, or log on to WWW.HCFUSA.Com or call (949) 496-7655.