Our New Ministry
My husband and I spent practically 30 years in one place to develop the 30-bedded hospital, which was to be closed unless a Surgeon came. So in 1975, fresh from his Degree course in General Surgery at the Christian Medical College , Ludhiana , Punjab, we took up the challenge as Medical Superintendent and Nursing Superintendent respectively, and headed for deep rural India on a steam locomotive-drawn train to take over the charge from a retiring missionary. Almost 30 years down the road the hospital became 150 beds, multi-specialty, and staffing 10-14 doctors, but serving 170 or more in-patients. Added to the healing ministry in the name of Christ were a school of nursing and midwifery, community health project, English medium School up to 10th class, a community health project providing training to projects throughout the state, and a school for tribal children.
My husband and I spent practically 30 years in one place to develop the 30-bedded hospital, which was to be closed unless a Surgeon came. So in 1975, fresh from his Degree course in General Surgery at the Christian Medical College , Ludhiana , Punjab, we took up the challenge as Medical Superintendent and Nursing Superintendent respectively, and headed for deep rural India on a steam locomotive-drawn train to take over the charge from a retiring missionary. Almost 30 years down the road the hospital became 150 beds, multi-specialty, and staffing 10-14 doctors, but serving 170 or more in-patients. Added to the healing ministry in the name of Christ were a school of nursing and midwifery, community health project, English medium School up to 10th class, a community health project providing training to projects throughout the state, and a school for tribal children.
Over the years the younger leadership was already in place and we both felt that it was time to let them take over. My husband often said, “now that I have become proficient in surgery, retirement means to lay down the knife and sit. But there is so much to be done and other struggling mission hospitals where we can help.” It was then that an opportunity opened for me to serve as a volunteer nurse consultant with Global Ministry-partner Church of North India hospitals in Eastern Regional Board of Health Services of Orissa and Chhatisgargh States. My husband and I work as a doctor-nurse team, as mentors to the young leaders and staff of two struggling mission hospitals: Tilda, in Chhatisgargh State and Diptipur, in Orissa State. We are lead by the Spirit to minister to these two hospitals, which are by His Grace, meeting the needs of village patients who may not be able to afford private hospitals.
These days fundamentalist forces in India are against the Gospel’s growth in India. But the mission hospital gives the best opportunity to meet deeply felt needs of the people as we minister in the Love of Jesus. These hospitals are financially poor, but we are continually blessed by God as He provides all our needs in this volunteer ministry. We are grateful to the Global Ministries who care for this ministry and seek your prayers that these hospitals will grow and multiply in opportunities to give life to the Christian message of love.
Yours in Christian Fellowship,
Nancy Henry
Nancy Lott Henry serves as a Long-term volunteer. She serves with the Church of North India as a teacher of nurses for hospitals in their eastern region.