In a small, picturesque village nestled in the heart of Central America, life moved at a pace set by nature and tradition. The village had its share of challenges, particularly when it came to accessing medical equipment. For Mayor Rafael, this struggle became deeply personal when his beloved mother, Doña Maria, began to lose her mobility. (Both of their names have been changed for their privacy, Doña means Mrs.)

Doña Maria was a cherished figure in the village. Known for her wisdom and kindness, she had been the backbone of her family and community. As her mobility declined, Rafael grew increasingly concerned about her quality of life. In this village, even basic medical supplies were difficult to obtain, let alone a specialized item like a wheelchair.

Rafael reached out to various organizations and individuals, hoping to find help. He was met with numerous obstacles, but his determination provided a very old used wheelchair. Doña Maria used that wheelchair for many, many years, even after tragically losing one of her legs.

Until this month.

One of your FAME global partners is establishing an urgent care facility in that village area, so they just received a full shipping container of medical equipment and supplies. One of the opportunities was to provide Doña Maria with this new wheelchair.

But the story didn’t end there. The wheelchair opened the door for the gospel, now she has also clearly heard the good news from these partners. Doña Maria can now share her testimony of how God has provided for others!

On Memorial Day, we all have people who are with us (like the Mayor) and those who have influenced our lives but who are no longer with us, and for whom we are grateful! Memorial Day is a special time to remember those who have gone before us!

Below are some gifts that have been given to FAME in Memory and in Honor of folks recently.

These gifts not only honor each individual’s life and legacy but will also help in making an eternal impact on the lives of people around the world for years to come. People around the world echo Doña Maria’s thoughts below as they are grateful for YOU!

Doña Maria, with a voice filled with emotion, said, “This wheelchair is more than just a means to move; it is a symbol of love and hope. I am forever grateful to everyone who made this possible. You have not just given me mobility, but new life.”

Thank you for your Partnership!

This little girl is such a great example of a simple solution that is NOT ACCESSIBLE to millions of children.

Her mom had been concerned for a number of days that she had not been eating, not been sleeping, crying, and had a high fever. She heard of your FAME partner in El Salvador who has a clinic in development, but was having a small exploratory medical camp with a Christian college team and FAME staff. The attending Physician’s Assistant in the photos was able to not only diagnose the ear infection, but prescribe an antibiotic.

Any parent knows the situation created when a child has an ear infection, and we know that left untreated, permanent changes to the ear and nearby bones are possible. Additionally, hearing loss can even occur if no treatment is available or provided.

Simple solution IF identified and treated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Same as our need for a Savior… a simple solution IF identified, the gospel is shared, heard, and responded to!

That is why FAME says, not just treatment, but the cure!

Thank you for your partnership in church planting and church growth through medical evangelism!

Elizabeth lived in a remote region of Kenya and had lost 2 children at birth because of the lack of care and availability of Maternity services in her region. When she was married in 2020 she never dreamt that she would have such struggles. More about her in a moment…

One of your long-term FAME global partners in that region recently opened a new Maternal Newborn and Child Health Facility. The facility has now been operational for two months.

It has had a profound impact already in this short time. The FAME partner there wrote, “Even I did not realize the extent to which women in the Maasai Mara were suffering in silence; so many babies were dying unrecorded. We have now had 5 ladies through the facility who had experienced multiple pregnancies or newborn loss (as many as 5 babies) due to inadequate support during childbirth and had no living children. All five of these women have now gone home with a healthy baby in their arms – this is thanks to your support!”

Over the first two months, the facility has conducted 88 deliveries, including 24 cesarean sections. And your FAME partnership will be funding a remodel of the facility’s previous location which was inadequate for such wonderful work.

“Elizabeth smiles when telling the story of her being wheeled into the theatre at 9 am on Friday morning so that she could meet her son. She was awake throughout and was talking to the medical team. Within a few minutes, her baby was delivered. She saw the baby boy as soon as he was born with a strong cry. Elizabeth named her son Goodluck Seria as he was born on Good Friday and explained that it was such a good day for her. Six days later she was discharged after a steady stream of happy family members and friends came to share in her joy.”

This long-term partner (Clinics, lab, Equipment) is an example of how meeting the needs of the most vulnerable can open the door and hearts for the gospel. When you partner with FAME you send help and hope, which doesn’t provide just treatment…but the cure.

Thank you for your partnership!

On Saturday night during FAME’s Night of Hope Banquet, the unique opportunity came to be able to interview a partner of FAME who had been trying to visit the USA for 33 years. I’d like to share part of his interview with you.

But let me tell you about him. Simon is part of the team of Asia Christian Services, he grew up in a village called Putao. If that sounds familiar it may be because that is where J. Russell Morse and his family led the Lisu people out of China and into the safety of this mountain region. 20 years ago FAME partnered with the Morse family and built a clinic in Putao which still serves people today. In September of last year, a clinic was opened in Mae Sot, and next a clinic will be constructed in Miao Town, across the border into N.E. India!

Here is an edited version of the story Simon told Saturday night about a woman who came to their clinic in Mae Sot. “This refugee woman was brought to our clinic because she passed out. Our medical team learned that she had high blood pressure and other heart issues. After one week of care, she was doing well physically. But she also had heard the gospel from Moses our evangelist and accepted the message. Upon release from the clinic, she shared the good news with her husband, cousins, and some neighbors…all 7 came to the church and soon all were baptized and became children of God.”

To that, I responded, “That’s Medical Evangelism.” And the crowd at the banquet erupted in applause!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Because of you and your generosity over the recent months, story after story like this is told over and over again. 1000 people are treated in the name of Jesus and hear the gospel, for every $500 given to FAME. That still amazes me, even though I see it every day!

Thank you for your partnership in the gospel.

 

 

 

Dear Prayer Partner,

Thank you for your continued partnership with the medical ministry of FAME through prayer. We are blessed to have so many praying for the ministry and the people we serve.

This month we have 2 short-term medical mission teams going to the Philippines and Honduras that we ask you to pray for as they serve.   The first team will be partnering with the staff from Charles Selby Memorial Hospital in Aparri, Philippines. They will be hosting multiple medical outreaches in local villages in and around Aparri.

Medical outreaches open doors for our Filipino hosts to engage in personal relationships with those who come to receive treatment from our team.  Through those relationships, the good news of Jesus can be shared, and ultimately lives will be transformed.

The second team will be serving with the mission His Eyes in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. This team is comprised of college students from Corban University.

Please pray for each of the participants that will be serving on these trips, the mission partners in those countries, and the people they will be serving. Pray that the love of Jesus will be shown to the people who will be receiving medical care in the name of Christ.

Please pray also, for our FAME scholarship recipients that are studying to become medical professionals. These International Christian students are all studying in their home country or one of similar socioeconomic standing and after graduation will serve with a mission partner providing medical care to those in need.

We also would like to ask for prayers for some new sustainable healthcare project grants that were approved at the last FAME Board of Directors meeting in April. Please pray that the necessary funding is raised for these projects and that once built, they will bring people to Jesus through medical evangelism.

Lastly, take time this Memorial Day to remember those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

Blessings in the coming month

Click here for the May Prayer calendar.

This week, a FAME team is in the high-altitude mountains of Mexico, in the shadow of the12,188 ft. peak of San Rafael. These villages are many hours away from any source of healthcare.

A children’s pastor and pastor who have been going door to door in this village inviting people to church and preparing to start a Bible Study in their village joined our team. For many hours, your team treated patients, but also the gospel was shared. The first station upon arrival at a ‘medical camp’ is the “waiting area” and this is where the pastor or children’s pastor shares the gospel very clearly over and over all day long. There were government officials, some farmers, business leaders, and mothers who came for themselves and many well-child checks!

Some impressions from one of the team:

• Joy! The children’s pastor is always laughing, talking to parents and children about Jesus
• Joy! The children were singing in Spanish about Joy in the song that has the line…” happy all the time…”
• Joy! The team caregivers and the partner doctor from the church there served with such joy.

It made me think of the Scripture, “The joy of the Lord is our strength.” But then I realized it could be said another way, “One of the strengths of FAME teams, global partners, and partners like you is joy.” One Strength in the Lord is Joy!

Because of you – JOY is a strength, JOY is contagious, and JOY sends a message of help and hope!

Thank you for partnering with FAME to send JOY which results in help and hope to the world’s most vulnerable!

I get a lot of videos and photos of people dancing-it usually includes singing!

…because a child is going home
…because a hospital well hit water
…because a clinic is open
…because an ambulance arrived
…because a shipping container arrives
…because a family member is healthy

Nothing new: A man who was lame from birth…Peter…took him by the hand and he raised him up, and at once his feet and ankles became strong. So he jumped up and started to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking, leaping, and praising God. (Acts 3:2,7-8)

Peter spoke later and said, the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth…by him this man is standing before you healthy…. There is salvation in no one else. (Acts 4:10,12)

There’s no video of the man lame from birth walking, leaping, and praising God posted on social media. But the same type of response is seen daily because of partnerships of FAME around the world.

That means that people are dancing…
…because of you!

(Click here for the video)

If you would like to hear more about these dancing stories from Malawi and elsewhere, we warmly invite you to join us in the Indianapolis area on April 27th for the FAME Night of Hope Banquet.

• There will be an interview with a partner who has never been to the USA and is daily helping refugees flee for safety
• Stories of Impact in the last year
• A fun atmosphere for story-telling with a silent auction, a comedian, a great meal, and a great project!
• Keep your eyes open for an email in a few weeks that will include access to the App for the silent auction!

Thank you for your partnership, which allows people to rejoice because of health and hope that come their way through partnerships with FAME.

People are dancing because of you!

Bill Warren
Executive Director

The FAME Night of Hope April 27th Banquet tickets are available at www.fameworld.org/2024-night-of-hope where you can hear more victories of your impact, and opportunities coming in 2024!

Dear Prayer Partner,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)

A devotion written by David Platt gives some good insight on this verse.

This is the distinguishing mark of a disciple of Jesus. This is how people will know that we are followers of Jesus when they see our love for each other.

Now, it’s interesting the first and greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. And then the second commandment Jesus says is like it. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” So why does Jesus say here, “this is the distinguishing mark of my disciples, they love one another.”

Well, it makes sense, doesn’t it? When we love God, when our hearts are tuned to him and his heart, then we will have his love for the people around us. And we will love just like Jesus said, just as he loves us, we will love one another. And then that love will mark Christian community. That love will mark the church and be a testimony to a watching world.

Thank you so much for loving the ministry of FAME, our mission partners, and the people we serve. Your partnership with the ministry of FAME through prayer expresses love for those around the world. We are blessed by your prayers, not only for us but for the people to whom help and hope through Christ is brought.

This month a medical mission team will be going to Mexico from April 6-13 to serve with the mission, World Wide Hispanic Outreach. Please pray for not only the team members, but for our mission partners there, the Fuentes’, and for the people that will be treated in the name of Christ.

Also, the FAME Board of Directors will be attending the semi-annual FAME Board of Directors meeting on the last weekend of the month. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as they make decisions for the ministry in the coming year and pray for the individual board members leading up to the meeting.

And lastly, please pray for FAME’s annual Night of Hope on April 27^th. This annual fundraising dinner and silent auction will give those in attendance the opportunity to participate in the relocation and rebuilding of a Hospital that was destroyed by fire in a direct persecution attack on Christians, Churches, and their mission work in S.E. Asia!

The dramatic needs of the world are increasing but so are the open doors for the gospel!

We would love for you to come join us for this event. Tickets can be purchased through our website at www.fameworld.org/2024-night-of-hope.

Thank you once again for your partnership in prayer and your love for others around the world.

Blessings in the coming month.

Click here for the April Prayer calendar.

But that’s not all that happened. More about that story in a minute…

At a Passover/Seder meal, the words of a song the Jews have sung for centuries hit me differently than ever before. The setting is when the families remembered all that God has done for them at the Passover meal. Of course, the Passover meal is remembering the escape from Egypt and all that came with that event.

But they sing how just one of God’s great deeds would have been enough.

Had we been taken out of Egypt and not had judgment executed upon the Egyptians,
it would’ve been enough.
Had judgment been executed upon the Egyptians and not upon their idols,
it would’ve been enough.
….. Had the sea been split the sea for us, and we had not been led through it to dry land,
it would’ve been enough.
Had we been led to dry land, and our enemies not drowned in the sea behind us,
it would’ve been enough for us.

I needed that reminder…that just one of God’s caring deeds would have been enough…but God has done so much more for us.

Not long ago my co-worker Jeff was visiting a FAME partner and this dad was telling Jeff about bringing his child to the clinic when she was very, very ill. He described how desperate they had become, and didn’t know what to do. So they were able to pay someone to give them a ride in the back of a pickup truck and drive for 2 hours to the clinic. Upon arrival the clinic was open, and the medical team diagnosed what was wrong and turned the health situation around! But the dad said something else through the translator. “At that visit and then at a follow-up appointment, the doctor and nurse both shared with us about Jesus. I’d heard of Jesus but didn’t know about him. I didn’t know WHO he was, or WHAT he had done, and I never knew that he had lived and died on the cross for me and my family too! If all they had done was heal my child, it would have been enough, but they told us about Jesus! And now we want them to help us start a church in our village too!

It would have been enough! Just sending help in the name of Jesus is important, but FAME also sends hope.

Because of you millions of people each year NOT ONLY are treated in the name of Jesus…but they HEAR the good news of Jesus!

Thank you for your partnership that brings more than help, but also hope to the world’s most vulnerable!!!

In the middle of a nation in crisis, there is peace for this little boy because of you.

I’d like to tell you one more story from chaos-torn Haiti.  This little boy is receiving treatment at an Occupational Therapy Center in Northwest Haiti.  I don’t know, and can’t imagine what he is seeing every day or what he has been through leading up to his appointments and relationship with the FAME partner Occupational Therapy Center.  The caregiver sending these photos has been in NW Haiti for 15 years and has helped so many adults and children!

In a recent article I received from a Medical Mission they described Occupational Therapy’s importance in sustainable health and wellness care.  The article described their role as a holistic health practitioner in the developing world as key to helping in rehabilitation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Put simply, helping clients like this little boy learn simple skills, like using utensils, balancing, and using his wrists is key to recovery from injury.  This time is probably a peaceful moment, a calm in the middle of the storm where the Occupational Therapist is able to share the love, peace, and message of Jesus to the child and his parents.

But here is where FAME and this OT Center connect.  The therapy chair and table pictured were in the FAME warehouse because of friends of FAME who donated them in Florida and delivered them to Indianapolis.  They were delivered to the mission partner in Haiti recently, and now provide a place of help and hope in the midst of crisis and chaos in that country.

Only God could have orchestrated the donation of a therapy chair and table in Florida, which traveled all the way to Indianapolis and then to Haiti, where they are now helping a little boy recover from injury and trauma.

Only God, but partnered with your generosity, FAME is blessed to play a role in helping the world’s most vulnerable!

Thank you for your partnership!!