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Fundraising for Central Indiana CMDA Ministry 2015
Dear Central Indiana Healthcare Professionals:
Hello, I’m Andy Koon, MD, Chair of the Indianapolis / Central Indiana Christian Medical & Dental Association Council. It is my privilege to be part of a leadership team of volunteer physicians and dentists who coordinate the many facets of CMDA ministry in the Greater Indianapolis Area.
My purpose in writing is to give you an update on our CMDA ministry and to seek your help in continuing to make this ministry possible. But first, how has God blessed our ministry over the past year?
- El Salvador Spring Break Mission Trip, March 15-22, 2014 – Our team of doctors and medical & dental students provided healthcare to over 1800 patients; dispensed 3000 prescriptions; provided 51 dental extractions; and fitted 300 patients with eye-glasses. More importantly we shared the gospel with our patients, and God blessed with 98 new believers and 15 others rededicating their lives to Jesus Christ.
- 2014 Spring Event, April 8-9 – Your donations made it possible for us to bring Rick Donlon, MD to Indianapolis as our Annual Spring Event Speaker. Over the two days with us this nationally recognized leader in healthcare for the underserved spoke at Indian U (medical & dental schools), at St. Vincent’s Family Medicine Residency program, and an evening program with Central Indiana CMDA members.
- Global Missions Health Conference, November 6-8 – Twenty-five students representing all 4 local schools recently attended the GMHC in Louisville where they attended plenary sessions and workshops on serving the Lord through careers in healthcare. The major thrust of GMHC is an emphasis on sharing the gospel with the underserved through domestic and international missions. Your generous donations made it possible to provide scholarships for 19 of those students.
- Charles and Loraine Kelly Scholarship Fund – Since the creation of this fund, your generous financial support has enabled us to provide over 9 scholarships (amounts range from $250-500) to students and residents participating in international mission projects. Last year we awarded scholarships to medical, dental and PA students who participated in the El Salvador Spring Break Missions trip. Scholarships are administered by our Council based on a rigorous application process, which encourages interest in short-term or career missions.
- Student Ministry – We have CMDA student ministry on 4 local campuses: Indiana U Medical School, Indiana U Dental School, the new Marian U College of Osteopathic Medicine and the Indiana U Physician Assistant School. They each have approximately 10-30 students attend their weekly Bible Studies.
It has been an exciting year of growth at Indiana U School of Dentistry. This fall at our weekly bible study we studied “Walking with Jesus in Healthcare,” based on the book of Luke. We connect with local Christian dentists through Office Field Trips, Guest Speakers on campus, and Fellowship Dinners at dentist’s homes. Our mentors share their faith and show us how they integrate their faith into patient care. It’s awesome to see these dentists taking an active role in influencing the next generation of dentists for Christ. We also volunteer each month at the IU Student Outreach Clinic, which is a student-led clinic allowing dental students to serve the underserved on the Eastside Indianapolis. Thank you! ~Jake Bower, President, Indiana School of Dentistry CDA
At Indiana U School of Medicine, we have focused this fall on studying the book of Colossians and building authentic community. We meet together for weekly prayer, volunteer with Life Centers, and host Guest Speakers on campus as a way to reach out to our entire campus. Many of our students are preparing to participate in the Spring Break Mission Trip to El Salvador in the spring semester. Your prayers and financial gifts are critical in helping us impact our campus for Christ. ~Andrew Brougher, Co-President – Indiana School of Medicine CMA
On behalf of the students at Marian U College of Osteopathic Medicine, we appreciate your prayers as we reach out to our campus through weekly meetings and Bible studies. We’ve been encouraged by the investment that local Christian physicians have made in our group by spending their lunch hour with us or leading our bi-weekly study through the Book of Luke. Thank you again for all of your support and prayers! ~Chelsea Heibel, Student Leader – Marian U COM
As a student at Indiana U Physician Assistants School, it was hard for me to know if I was on the right career path. But God used the recent El Salvador Spring Break Mission Trip to answer my prayers. As I provided for people’s physical needs and shared the gospel with patients He confirmed that He wants me in PA school, preparing to serve His people here and overseas, both physically and spiritually. I was able to travel to El Salvador because of a scholarship provided by donations to CMDA. This scholarship was such a blessing to me, as it removed the burden of financial stress and allowed me to focus on my classes and the work I would be doing in El Salvador. The people in El Salvador were moved by the fact that so many people, in addition to our team, would care enough to send us there to share the gospel and provide for their medical needs. Thank you for making it possible. ~Stephanie Inman, Student Leader – Indiana U PA CMA
2015 Fund Raising Goals
Please help us sustain these 3 initiatives this next year:
- Campus Ministry Support – We have a commitment to help support our student leaders as they reach out to students on their 4 campuses. We also hope to provide scholarships for the Global Missions Health Conference to connect students with domestic and international mission opportunities.
- Indianapolis Spring Event – Our Council is currently in the process of selecting a speaker for our annual Spring Event. It is a wonderful time of fellowship for area healthcare professionals, residents, students and their spouses. This annual event gives us an opportunity to celebrate all that the Lord has done in our ministry during the year and to hear from challenging nationally known speakers.
- New Part-Time Staff – Faced with an expanding student ministry our Council felt it was time to seek part-time campus ministry staff. Each of our Council members made a financial commitment to make this vision a reality and the Lord provided not one but two part-time staff!
Jason Doddridge – Jason works part-time with CMDA providing our student leaders with guidance and leadership training. He is on full-time staff with the Navigators at IUPUI working with international students and partners part-time with CMDA in exchange for a modest stipend.
Greg Needham, PhD – Greg will be ministering with CMDA as a volunteer part-time staff among our local medical and dental faculty. He is a retired Lilly scientist and a volunteer InterVarsity Staff ministering to IUPUI faculty and has offered to minister with us as an unpaid volunteer. Amazing!
Your generous donations will make it possible for us to sustain these three projects and more. Please prayerfully consider what the Lord might encourage you to do to help us reach our fund raising goals. You can make an on-line donation to “Indianapolis CMDA” by clicking on the following link: “Indianapolis CMDA” and pressing the “Give Now” Button or make out your check to “CMDA” and designate it for “Indianapolis CMDA” and mail to:
CMDA Midwest
9595 Whitley Drive, Suite 200
Indianapolis, IN 46240
Thank you! Through our partnership together we are making a difference in the lives of students, residents, and healthcare professionals in the Greater Indianapolis Area.
For His glory,
Andy
Andy Koon, MD
Chair
Indianapolis / Central Indiana CMDA
Indianapolis Medical Council:
Andy Koon, MD ajkoon1@gmail.com
Peter Schilt, MD pnschilt@gmail.com
Sam Thompson, MD stthomp627@aol.com
Scott Pittman, MD jsottpittman12@yahoo.com
Darrell Davidson, MD dddavis@iupui.edu
Laura Nader, MD laura.nader@gmail.com
CR Powell, MD crpowell@iupui.edu
Indianapolis Dental Council:
Bob Dickson, DDS secorin417@aol.com
Tim Carlson, DDS tcarlson@iupui.edu
Bill Adams, DDS endomanbill1974@aol.com
Jeff Hockema, DDS jhockema@iomsa.com
Ron Miller, DDS drmiller@carmelorthodontics.com
Brooke Adams, DDS bnadams2@iupui.edu
Richard Gregory, PhD rgregory@iupui.edu
Allan Harmer, ThM Advisory Midwest Regional Director cmdamw@cmda.org