Long ago, the Jewish people suffered oppression as slaves.
It is said that they groaned and cried out for help, that their cry was heard by God.
Their emancipation began when God “saw the people” and He responded by sending help through leaders who challenged the oppressors. After miraculous events, the people were set free from their enslavement.
God wanted a practical demonstration that He cares for people in their suffering.
This is how every EMAS Canada project has been started. Our attention has been drawn to situations of human suffering and need either by personal observation or by invitation.
We see disease and respond by “seeing” patients. We are healthcare providers. We treat and we educate to mitigate the effects of disease, prevent illnesses and to improve health.
In Aruba, it was our observation that a community who shared our faith needed help to understand how to mitigate the effects of aging and non-communicable diseases. In Zimbabwe we received an appeal by a church for help in responding to opportunities for a whole-person gospel to mothers-to-be and their newborns.
There are different forms of how we work but with the same theme of responding to needs because God cares for all people.
We serve institutions like Proreso School for the Deaf in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Medical Clinic in Gambade and Imago Dei School at Port-au-Prince as ongoing partnerships that sustain daily operations.
We are also partners with local churches in Mongolia and Myanmar both for intermittent visits to provide healthcare.
In Cambodia and Ecuador our institutional partners are hospitals.
We come alongside international healthcare professionals in training to support career development through scholarship programs and funding opportunities for cross-cultural elective training programs to Canadian medical students.
EMAS Canada promotes community engagement through sports for local fundraising and non-faith-based agencies as partners for development in countries like Zimbabwe.
We serve those with whom we serve by creating synergies that open doors for our faith to be lived out and shared with all people to show our funding partners that God cares for them too and not just the beneficiaries of our collaborative efforts.
This was the purpose of God’s rescue mission for Israel from Egypt and later through Jesus and His gospel.
You can learn about EMAS Canada teams by visiting individual program pages here.
Peter Agwa is the Executive Director of EMAS Canada. A physician and surgeon in his native Kenya, Peter has a passion for Christ-centred healthcare and has a wealth of experience both hosting and sending short-term mission teams. Subscribe to Executive Director's Blog
Photo Courtesy of EMAS Canada