the good shepherd at work keir thelander, m.d. assistant program director pan-african academy of...
TRANSCRIPT
The Good Shepherd at Work
Keir Thelander, M.D.Assistant Program Director
Pan-African Academy of Christian SurgeonsBongolo Hospital, Gabon, West Central Africa
The Call for all of us
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” Matthew 9:37-38
Keir and Joanna ThelanderLuke, Sarah
GABON
We will go
• 2004 God called (Genesis 12:1)
• January 2006 Albertville, France, Language training
• August 2006, arrival in Gabon at Bongolo Hospital
What are we to do?
Jesus Response:
When He saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Matthew 9:36
What?
Compassion– Meeting practical needs– Meeting medical needs– Most importantly meeting spiritual needs
by giving them Jesus
Why?
Harassed and Helpless
Jessicka – rode in a car for 6 hours with a broken pelvis
Helpless
• Then what happens when the electricity is cut?– When there is no backup
power– And you need oxygen
Why?
Sheep without a Shepherd
The ratio of surgeons to people in Africa is estimated to be
1:250,000
In some countries, it is
1:1,000,000
Not Enough Shepherds
• Missionaries can’t be the only ones to meet these needs of compassion and shepherding.
• We are only a few. How much can we do and for how long?
The PAACS
The PAACS stands for:
Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeons
What does PAACS do?
• Trains Christian African surgeons in Africa to stay in Africa and be Shepherds for Africa
• Trains Shepherds
Where is the PAACS?TRAINING TRAINING CENTERSCENTERS Soddo Christian Soddo Christian Hospital (5)Hospital (5)
Mbingo BaptistMbingo Baptist Hospital (3)Hospital (3)
Banso BaptistBanso Baptist Hospital, Hospital, Cameroon (5)Cameroon (5) Bongolo Hospital,Bongolo Hospital,
Gabon (4)Gabon (4)
AFFILIATED AFFILIATED HOSPITALSHOSPITALS
Evangel Hospital Evangel Hospital Jos, NigeriaJos, Nigeria
Cure CCH, Mbale, Cure CCH, Mbale, Uganda Uganda
Kijabe Hospital, Kijabe Hospital, Kenya Kenya
Tenwek Hospital, Tenwek Hospital, Bomet, KenyaBomet, Kenya
Training in Progress
harassed and
helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Partner with PAACS to help disciple and train “shepherds” for Africa in Africa
Volunteer as a short- term Christian “visiting professor”
Partner with us financially
You are Needed!
For More Information
Website www.paacs.net
Keir Thelander, MD – [email protected]
David Thompson, MD, FACS – [email protected]
Bruce Steffes, MD, FACS – [email protected]