PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship will expand their partnership to provide health-care ministries in the United States and overseas.
An agreement signed April 2 during the BMDF annual meeting includes establishing medical/dental clinics in Gambia, providing medical/dental care in impoverished rural counties in the United States, and working together in the appointment of health-care missionaries, among other projects.
The Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship, based in Memphis, Tenn., is a volunteer organization of Baptist physicians and dentists who work together in Christian mission causes and recruit medical professionals for career and volunteer missions. It was originally designed for Southern Baptist doctors and still works cooperatively with Southern Baptist Convention organizations.
The Atlanta-based Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is a network of moderate Baptist churches and individuals.
The two groups have partnered on specific projects in the past, such as the purchase and distribution of medicine and medical supplies in North Korea. The new agreement formalizes that connection with the aim of increasing involvement of Fellowship churches in medical/dental missions opportunities.
“BMDF is eager to continue amplifying our partnership in health-care missions with CBF,” said Fred Loper, BMDF acting executive director. “We share the vision of speaking the gospel clearly through our words and demonstrating its power practically through our actions.” Loper is assuming the duties of longtime BMDF executive James Williams, who is resigning May 1.
Under the agreement, the two groups will create a medical/dental clinic network and co-host a national conference, along with other Christian health-care groups, to bring attention to medical missions. They also will host medical/dental clinics and projects in Gambia during the next three years, in collaboration with the Gambian Baptist Union.
Additionally, BMDF will recruit medical volunteers for CBF health-care missions projects and be willing to assist CBF in the possible appointment of a full-time health-care missionary who relates to both organizations.
As an outgrowth of CBF's Partners in Hope, a rural poverty initiative, BMDF will collaborate with CBF efforts to establish long-term, continuous health-care ministries in Perry County, Ala., and Frankfort, Ky.
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