Offering the Cure
A glimpse into the fun of the Luke Society International Conference
The directors and their spouses arrived in Chicago, Illinois, on July 29, and spent five days at Trinity Christian College for the Directors Conference. The International Conference was held on August 5-7 at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. To have most of the Luke Society directors under one roof was a sight to behold. But to have the interaction of talking together, the connection of worshiping the same God and the vision of serving the underprivileged around the world is a reunion only God could put together through years of touching hearts.
The Directors Conference allowed nearly a week of time for the directors to rekindle old friendships and make new ones. Most of the time was spent with directors presenting reports about various important issues that affect their ministry, ranging from working under stress, evangelism, economic development and sustainability. Following each report, a panel discussion provided a formal way for directors to respond to the issues.
As issues were raised and discussions developed, a sense of community began to grow. “We began to realize that each ministry had advanced differently in the different aspects and facets of the country ministries,” said Latin America’s Regional Coordinator, Dr. Apolos Landa. “These subjects were not exhausted as discussion went on around the tables and during the breaks. Ideas were sparked and enthusiasm infused, as well as many fears removed.”
Dr. Paul Atem from Cameroon shared in the excitement. “The difficulties and challenges they are facing in their various ministries and how they are working to overcome them was a source of inspiration to my own ministry,” he says. “For example, preaching the gospel in Myanmar in the face of government opposition was really touching to me. In Cameroon, we are free to preach the gospel, and I now feel that we need to do even more to touch lives.”
“The best feeling was to know how the Lord is working through the Luke Society ministries, through our brothers and sisters all over the world,” said Dr. Pal Oroszi, Regional Coordinator for Eastern Europe. “It was good to hear that in so many different cultures, circumstances, challenges and different parts of the world, the Lord is changing the hearts of the people. His Spirit is working through our directors.”
The Directors Conference was not all work and no play. As the comfort level grew among the directors, the Luke Society staff found the directors staying up later to talk with each other. One group of men was found talking in the lobby at 2 a.m.!
Many of the directors tried to learn the languages of their colleagues. Dr. Susie Cayaon from Philippines was working to speak Burmese with Hannie Thleng from Myanmar. Laura Guerrero attempted to speak English with Rutillio Rivas, who is from African descent, but lives in Colombia. After allowing her to struggle with English, he laughed and informed her that he spoke Spanish. She was embarrassed, but was relieved to communicate more easily with him!
One night of the Directors Conference was spent touring downtown Chicago. At the Museum of Science and Industry, many of the directors were intrigued by the hands-on experiments and watching the model train. A trip to Navy Pier was exciting for many of them. They bought toys for their children and souvenirs from Chicago. The highlight of the day was the dinner cruise aboard the Mystic Blue. Many of the directors had never been on a boat before, and the skyline view of Chicago from Lake Michigan was breathtaking.
All of the directors and spouses were transported from Chicago to Grand Rapids on a large tour bus. They were happy to see the tour bus rather than the school buses that were used to reach downtown Chicago.
The beginning of the International Conference was a long-awaited moment for the directors, staff, PMTs and Luke Society supporters. The conference began with a presentation that showed pictures from around the world while “Take My Healing to the Nations” was played. It was a visual reminder of the many faces and places that the Lord is working in through the Luke Society.
Then the directors made their grand entrance, each carrying the flag of their nation. All of them, directors and spouses, were dressed in the traditional clothes of their country. It was the first time that the directors came face to face with the people that support them and pray for them. The emotion that filled the chapel is indescribable.
The directors found that carrying their flag was spiritual and meaningful. Axel Suquen of Patzun, Guatemala, said, “It was an experience that affirmed two identities for me. On one hand, as a native Guatemalan, I felt proud of my roots, and it was a privilege for me to carry my flag. But I also felt like a part of a family with the people from Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe like it was a preamble for when we will all be formed into one people with God.”
“It was wonderful for me to carry the Cameroonian flag in front of the entire Luke Society family,” says Dr. Atem. “I felt like I was lifting up the banner of my nation for Christ. I personally read a lot of spiritual meaning into that exercise, and I believe that in carrying the flag, lives will continue to be touched in Cameroon in Jesus’ name.”
Luke Society Executive Director, Dr. Wrede Vogel, spoke to the audience that night. He introduced the International Conference logo and theme, “Offering the Cure,” and what it meant to the directors sitting in the crowd. Dr. Vogel emphasized that although each of our directors is called to bring physical healing to people in impoverished areas, all that work is in vain if they do not work to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ as well.
Saturday was the day for the conference attendees to connect with the Luke Society ministry partners. Four break-out sessions allowed conference attendees to choose which ministries they wanted to hear more about. At these break-out sessions, the ministry director showed a short power point presentation and answered questions.
“I was a little nervous presenting my ministry to the Luke Society supporters,” says Dr. Atem. “However, as I continued, I gradually gathered courage to go on. The audience asked me several questions after each presentation. That experience was very rewarding.”
Dr. John Boateng, Regional Coordinator for Africa, felt a deep appreciation and togetherness in ministry with those who came to his break-out session. “The impact of their support in the lives back in Ghana became very real as I presented the ministry,” he said. “It became very clear how far their support reaches as they enable us to do and go where they cannot.”
Sunday was the final day of the conference. The attendees entered the Fine Arts Center with minds full of information about ministry and their hearts full of love and admiration for the directors who are so committed to their work.
To make the service memorable and special, there was time for communion. Pastor Jerry Blom led the group in preparing their hearts and minds to share in the blood and body of Jesus Christ. The Luke Society directors went onto the stage one by one, taking bread and dipping it in grape juice from a kneeling Dr. Vogel and Pastor Blom. After all the directors had taken part, several of them took bread and juice to different parts of the center, knelt and offered it to the attendees.
“The most thrilling part was the way we were offered the bread and the juice,” said Dr. Landa. “The senior leader of the church and the senior leader of the Luke Society offering us the elements in such a servant way.”
“For me, this was very dynamic and expressive, and it touched me in a very, very special manner,” said Dr. Suquen. “It touched my life and affirmed my heart. For me, it was an experience where I heard the voice of God saying to me, ‘I love you. I have loved you, and I will continue loving you.’”
To send the directors back to their countries was to come down from a mountaintop experience. To be surrounded by those directors who radiate a compassionate love for those wandering in spiritual darkness and suffering from physical ailments was to feel motivated and compelled to be the same type of person. But each has his or her mission field. Each is called to his or her own place in life. A little glimpse of heaven was the right dose to keep focused.
Laura Eisenga