Excellence and Love

"Then they themselves also will answer, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.'” Matthew 25:44-45, NAS.

Southern Baptist Drs. Mac Bridges, Jon Cheek, Michael Schwalke and Nurse Dusty Dumas came from Louisiana to Cambodia to show the love of Jesus by providing surgeries with no surgeon fees. Their motivation was simply to glorify God through their vocational skills so that people may come to know their Lord and Savior.

During the week, they performed 18 surgeries. One of the surgeries was complex, involving the removal of two large tumors. Twelve of the surgeries had been identified through previous medical clinics. The other patients came through word of mouth.

One man who received surgery was from a village that was very resistant to the gospel. After his successful operation, the man was so happy that he agreed to take 50 Bible story books back to his village and distribute them!

The hospital staff and administration were full of praise about the excellence of the surgeries and the love shown to the people by the volunteers. As a result, medical clinic coordinators have been inundated with calls from people requesting surgery. Many of the calls are from villages that have yet to hear the gospel.

It just goes to show what God will accomplish through His children when they make themselves available and use the talents God has given to help others in the Name of Christ.

Pray that:

Volunteers will answer God’s calling to use their talents to His glory in Cambodia.

Connections made through this surgery team will result in new villages being opened up to the gospel.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.