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Building a Hospital Together

Pastor Rodger McCarty

As a young student at Baptist Bible College in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania, I often heard stories of an ABWE hospital in a faraway country in South Asia. I personally knew no one from there, nor did I have personal knowledge of any missionary there. Yet, as a young Christian, this exciting ministry was impressed upon my heart.

When I graduated from seminary and went to Trinity Baptist Church of Sunnyvale, California, I discovered that our church supported a doctor who serves at this hospital* that I had heard so much about. I then began to pray more specifically for this important ministry station. The Lord has directed me to now pastor First Baptist Church of Los Gatos, California, another church body that supports a missionary in South Asia. Her passion and leadership have made quite an impact at the hospital for twenty-five years.

In February 2005, the Lord gave me the fulfillment of a lifelong dream: I visited the hospital and saw firsthand what the Lord is doing through such dedicated men and women. When I told our church that the hospital was embarking on a fundraising campaign to rebuild and expand their facilities, our church heartily agreed to get involved. Because our people are so faithful in giving above and beyond our monthly needs, we began to see a large amount of money “just sitting there.” Our deacons like to remind me that “we are not a savings account” and that we need to keep money flowing for ministry projects. Therefore, we looked at our surplus and decided that we would send $50,000 toward the hospital project.

I contacted the missionaries in South Asia to determine if part of the hospital project could be a special area for our funds. They replied that the operating room suite would cost approximately $100,000, so we told our church people that our $50,000 would be a contribution to help build that section. Since we had supported the missionaries there for many years, we thought this was a great focus.

However, when we brought the final approval of the allocation of funds before the church, we were surprised at their reaction. They did not want to send $50,000. Rather, they said, “Pastor, let’s raise it all!” Knowing this was from the Lord, we set a course to raise an additional $50,000. We opened the fund, displayed a thermometer to watch the progress, and challenged our folks to give. We are not a mega-church by anyone’s definition, averaging 200 in attendance, but our people have large hearts for missions. In a day when many churches are pulling back, we have people who are committed to moving ahead.

In the weeks to follow, church members told me of special ways they were planning to help give towards the project. One family sold some things to raise funds. One family had a garage sale and sold some items specifically for the fund. We even designated our Vacation Bible School offering to help this project. Others just gave sacrificially above and beyond their normal giving. During the time we were raising these extra funds our general fund giving never went down.

After about two months, on a Sunday morning, I reported that we had exceeded our $50,000 goal. What a day of rejoicing that was for us—to think that we had given over $100,000 towards this needy project was simply wonderful! To date, we have actually sent over $120,000. For this we give all the glory to God.

We are thrilled with what the Lord is doing in the life of our church and with the opportunity to have a part in this medical ministry in South Asia that has been compassionately serving people for over forty years. Thousands have had medical needs met and thousands of people have been presented with the gospel. Hundreds have been saved by God’s marvelous grace. Churches are being planted and pastors are being trained. A new facility will go a long way to demonstrate to the people of South Asia that we love them.

Is there a ministry somewhere in the world that the Lord has given you a burden for? Your church can make a difference. Maybe you won’t raise $125,000 but, pastor, what can you challenge your people to do? Believers, what can you challenge your pastor to do? Why not dream big? Make a goal, set up a fund, begin to raise awareness, and then watch what the Lord will do.

*Name of hospital omitted for security purposes.