I launched out on my own today to explore the city and ended up at Starbucks for coffee and wi-fi.
The rest of the day was spent at the American Mission Hospital and Dr. Paul Armerding, RCA missionary and CEO of the hospital. What an amazing man and story.Twenty years ago he left a thriving surgical practice in Phoenix, AZ, looking for a meaningful place to be salt and light. He accepted the call to missions and took over the leadership of the AMH in Bahrain. When he came, the very existence of the AMH was in question and the RCA was considering shutting it down. One-third of the work force had just been let go and it was barely solvent.
Paul embraced the challenge. Twenty years later the hospital is setting the standard for care in many respects, has undergone a major facelift and significant additions. It is highly respected in the community, and much of its development work is being done right here through a proactive communications department. In fact, I opened up the morning paper to discover that the AMH sponsors the daily weather forecast on the front page.
There are three things that impressed me in particular:
1. Paul’s vision at AMH, as with the Dick’s vision at the church and Peter’s at the school, has seen the institution become essentially self-funded through funds in Bahrain, meaning that the primary support the RCA brings is for the leadership of these ministries, which is absolutely critical.
2. Salt & Light: Paul’s commitment to excellence, integrity, and mission, means that the gospel is proclaimed first in deeds, and is gaining credibility for words. Its reputation is stunning around the community. When you see the wall of contributors at the hospital, you see the names of important Bahrainees along with local corporations and global companies with operations here. More and more local people are seeking out the care of the AMH – last month they delivered over 60 babies!
3. The fruit of sacrifice in Paul and Rebekah’s life: they left an extremely profitable practice in the States to be tentmakers in Bahrain. I heard their story of God’s leading and was so blessed by their journey. It seems the very best of what NWC calls Vocare – finding God’s call for your life in the world. These faithful servants for the harvest are leveraging their skills for God’s glory in a far-reaching ministry to both the Arab and ex-patriot community.
Sacrifice came home even greater to me when Paul showed me the historic Christian Cemetery, where the graves of two Zwemer daughters lie. They died 8 days apart in 1904. The grave stones are a reminder of the extreme sacrifices so many early missionaries endured for a gospel beachhead in the gulf.
I also preached twice on Sunday. Once at the AMH devotions, featuring a celebration of nursing and at the evening church service for the English Language Congregation. One of the special blessings of the evening was that a man I met in a restaurant and who asked about worship, came to the service. What a blessing!
