Bound by the Love of Christ
Board of Directors Secretary Connects Words with Life
“Bind us together, Lord. Bind us together with cords that cannot be broken. Bind us together, Lord, bind us together, bind us together with love.”
Participants at the 1995 Luke Society International Conference learned the words and actions to this song. No one at that conference likely anticipated how many countries those cords of love would encompass ten years later at the 2005 International Conference.
During the 2005 conference, I had a unique perspective as the Secretary of the Luke Society Board of Directors. I saw my board meeting minutes transform from words written on pages to the Living Word written on hearts.
Board Meeting: June 4, 2005:
Details about the Director’s Conference scheduled to be held July 31-August 4 in Chicago and the International Conference to be held August 5-7 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
As I sat in on the Director’s Conference, those words on paper came alive as directors publicly shared their testimonies with one another. I was surprised how their testimonies tied into the theme of the International Conference, “Offering the Cure.” Rev. Chan Thleng (Myanmar): “the best cure is Jesus.”
Dr. Jose Luis Guerrero (Jalapa, Mexico): “Health does not exist without Jesus Christ. You cannot give health in separate parts. The body is not healthy if the spirit is not healthy.”
Dr. Felix Aldave (Trujillo, Peru): “The day that I can’t read the Bible and pray is the day that I can’t witness. We can’t feed others from the Word, if we don’t feed ourselves first.”
Dr. Paul Atem (Bamenda, Cameroon): “We cannot limit our practices to the scientific field alone. The Living Water must be flowing through us.”
I envisioned the testimonies to be like cords stretching from East to West and North to South to bind the directors together in the love of Christ.
Board Meeting: October 22, 2004:
Wrede Vogel used a Power Point presentation to inform the board about a new ministry in Bolivia with Dr. Miguel Cayo, who was a pastor before he went to medical school.
Those words on paper came alive when I got to see Dr. Cayo’s heart-warming smile. He shared how grateful he is that God spared his life despite a frightening bout with Hemorrhagic Dengue Fever. He related both the joys and struggles of ministering in the Chaco Region.
Dr. Cayo gave me two souvenirs, a silver-colored pen holder and a bright pink whistle, each boldly engraved with “Bolivia.” These treasures now serve as my reminders to pray for Miguel, for the Quecha Indians, and for the Spirit of the Lord to embrace those involved in Luke Society Ministry in Bolivia.
Board Meeting: April 12, 2003:
New Ministry presentation by Wrede Vogel, Executive Director, describing Ecuador, a new ministry in Quininde working with Dr. Yeny Agila. Over a year ago, God directed Apolos Landa to challenge Dr. Agila about her call to work with people in Quininde. Wrede and Phil first met her in April, 2002. Since that time, Dr. Agila formalized a vision and moved with her family to Quininde . She identified three areas of ministry: 1) Community Health 2) Acute medical care 3) Evangelism. Her work includes ministry to Hispanics as well as to Blacks from a slave ship family history.
Dr. Vogel also presented Cameroon, a new ministry working with Dr. Paul Atem in Bamenda. Dr. Atem would like to build a new clinic since his current clinic gets flooded. He also has a vision for holistic ministry including business training, a bank, and contributing funds to a community health program where a full time nurse works.
Those words on paper came alive as I heard stories come from the lips and hearts of Dr. Agila and Dr. Atem. Each shared passionately, but also with humor, about the work God is doing in Latin America and in Africa. The cord that binds Yeny Agila with her regional coordinator, Apolos Landa, and the cord that binds Paul Atem with his regional coordinator, John Boateng, intertwine like living branches growing from the Vine, Jesus Christ.
Board Meeting: November 22, 2003:
Phil David reviewed the Foreign Ministries activities in the past year. New PMT members have agreed to partner with current ministries in Palawan, Philippines, and in Mali, West Africa.
“Bind us together, Lord, bind us together with cords that cannot be broken.”
Watching the interactions between US Partnership Ministry Teams (PMT) and the indigenous directors was unforgettable. Seeing Susie and Ben Cayaon from the Philippines sit around a table with Greg and Marg Kuiper from Minnesota illustrated a cord that cannot be broken. Hearing Indielou Dougnon from Mali express his deep gratitude for PMT Doug and Julie Van Hofwegen, David Mulder and Gallaudet Howard from Iowa revealed a cord that will not be broken.
Each Board Meeting also includes reports from staff members. The International Conference gave opportunity to see the love expressed between the international directors and the USA staff.
A bond of love spilled over as Wrede Vogel, Executive Director, knelt to serve communion to each director. Harmonious bonds flowed each time Brenda David, Prayer Ministry Coordinator, led worship with Debby Surjadi from Indonesia. Laughter and hugs demonstrated the bonds that Phil David, Foreign Ministry Coordinator, has with travel partners from around the world. Computer cords and power point connections were symbols of the ways that Rod Ledeboer, Business Administrator, has ties with those who shared about their ministries using technology and pathos. Mary Bloemendaal, Administrative Assistant, became a smiling face to many directors who had only heard her voice or seen her picture. Laura Eisenga, as Communications Director, was busy with her camera during the conference; however, expressions of admiration and respect overflowed from those whose stories she tells.
As many of us were interviewed by a local newspaper about the conference, I was allowed a glimpse into family bonds between Nestor Salavarria from Honduras and PMT Jon Cowan from Michigan as they were interviewed together. And Chan Thleng from Myanmar and PMT Bob Ellens from Michigan, who were also interviewed, portrayed cords that cannot be broken.
Board Meeting minutes did not foretell the articulate presentation by Dr. Pal Oroszi from Ukraine as he explained that as God works in our hearts He makes us all look the same. Pal further encouraged each of us to “Offer the Cure” by helping the hand of the sick to reach the hand of God.
Board Meeting minutes did not foretell the awe of the parade of flags or the wonder of worship. The print on this paper cannot capture the power of prayer nor the bonds of love experienced within the Luke Society. Because Jesus Christ is our Cure, God’s cords stretch around the world.
“Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above. When we are called to part, it gives us inward pain, but we shall still be joined in heart and hope to meet again.”
Verla Blom