Medical Team Update #1
Franklin, TN
Sept. 6, 2005

Hi,

Ron Lively here to say thanks for signing up for the Medical Team at Christ Community Church last Sunday morning.  It is late but I sensed the need to send you this update.  I am giving you my understanding of how things are developing rather quickly by God’s grace.  

I have been asked to head up this team and wanted to get an initial email out to you with the hope of a more details to follow soon.  Dick Swoboda, a pharmacist who has had some admin experience has agreed to assist.   We may be calling on a few of you to be part of the leadership team for this effort.  Some of you have some great medical mission experience that could offer some good logistical help with our mission.  Please let me know by email your interest.  My email address is Ron@medicalmobilizers.org

FYI, my background - I spent ten years working in hospital administration and later as a hospital chaplain.  I currently serve as the founder / executive director of Medical Mobilizers which you can find at www.medicalmobilizers.org.  Our mission is “mobilizing medical professionals for ministry and missions”.  Prior to that I served with the Navigators Physicans Outreach based in Colorado Springs (www.navigators.org).   Initially out of seminary (Reformed Theological in Jackson , MS ), I served with the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (www.cmda.org) for ten years in the 80’s and early 90’s.  Many of you have been involved in these ministries.  One of the many jobs I had with CMDA was as the budget director for Medical Group Missions which took about 2500 medical professionals annually to about 25 countries treating approximately 25,000 patients.  That ministry is now the Medical Ministry International at www.mmint.org  

I have posted a page on our web site that offers some recommendations / organizations to consider.  You can find that on the top left of the home page at www.medicalmobilizers.org   Please let me know what you recommend I should add to this page.  

Some of the CCC team leaders joined today’s meeting with our Mayor Tom Miller in City Hall.  A lot of progress was made to develop a long term city wide community based organization which is being called the Franklin Humanitarian Task Force.  Tom has asked Johnny Clark from CCC to head up this work.  Johnny has a company (Fitness Systems) to run so pray for him as he takes on this important role.  We all felt Tom needed to have this kind of assistance and organized / coordinated troops developed so he could do what he does best and that is serve as Mayor of our fine city.  Tom has a heart to engage the whole community in this time of need.  My sense is that he wants to provide a coordinated force that will offer all of the churches a means to be involved so that duplication of services will not be a problem.  

One huge advantage of this effort is to offer one phone # to call to seek information or to volunteer.  That # is 550-6624.  You do not need to call to volunteer as we already have you on our lists from last Sunday.   

For you prayers:  there will be another meeting on Wednesday evening at City Hall to announce further details of the plan for this task force.  I plan to call a couple of you on Wednesday about this meeting for leaders only.  We really do want this to be a community wide humanitarian force that will coordinate efforts of the many churches and other organizations in the city to offer the best services to the 500 displaced people from New Orleans to arrive by airplanes in town on Thursday.  They will be taken to the old CPS factory on heading south of Franklin on Columbia Ave.    

Now for the plans for Medical Relief work – as of today, the overall city wide plan will be coordinated through the Williamson Medical Center (www.williamsonmedicalcenter.org)  I think this is being done though the Infectious Disease Dept.  This is a good plan and one we want to support.  I will send you more details about this soon.  Our mission as I understand it is to effectively “mobilize medical professionals to care for the displaced persons in this disaster”.  

I have some thoughts as to how best mobilize both providers and other resources in this local work and will be seeking to get your input and share that with those in charge of this program at WMC.  Our CCC Medical Team will work in conjunction with the city wide efforts.   

We think that most of you signed up to offer help locally.  However, it would be good to know who is also interested in some medical mission work down in Mississippi and possibly in LA.  My sense is that these trips will be possible in MS at this time.  Penny and I lived in Jackson , MS for many years so we know the state fairly well.  Penny grew up in Jackson .  Our hearts are with these folks as well and it seems that their needs are secondary to the grave situation in New Orleans .  My sense is that we could go and serve alongside of committed teams like the Baptist Medical & Dental Fellowship teams.   

So I look forward to hearing from you soon and pledge to keep you updated especially after Wednesday night’s organizational meeting.   

Our prayer is that we can launch this medical disaster relief team from many churches in Franklin not only for this present need but also for any possible disaster that might arise in the future.  We are a called people of God really to be mobilzied for His service ministering basic care to those coming here in this time of need.  When asked why we serve, then I think that is our invitation to graciously and humbly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ as we offer a cup of cold water or whatever is needed.  In our case, it will be some kind of medical related care. With Christian Wellness Association, we emphasize whole person care (physical, emotional, relational and spiritual). As the Church of God ’s people in Franklin , let’s offer whole person care to those that have been divinely placed in our care. If we were in this state of need, we would expect the same kind of dignified care.      

In Christ and for God’s Glory,
Ron