Inside Story
Building Bridges in Burkina Faso
Medical Care and the Great Physician’s Touch
by Michael Grainger and David Morris
The
blind. The deaf. The lame. Scripture tells story after story of people
coming to Jesus—the Great Physician. They experienced the Savior’s love
and compassion, receiving both physical and spiritual restoration. In
much the same way, a Navigator-led medical clinic in Burkina Faso tends
people’s physical needs as an expression of the Lord’s care and as a
way of building relational bridges to those without Christ. When the Navigator ministry in Burkina Faso started in the early 1990s, it became obvious that the people experienced significant medical needs. This West African nation of almost 11 million has only one doctor for every 30,000 people. As the Navigator leadership team prayed about how best to minister in this culture, the concept of opening an outreach medical clinic was born.
The idea was for the clinic to offer medical treatment to women and children and be a place where people with little biblical or church background could engage naturally with compassionate Christians living out their faith. Because Burkina Faso enjoys religious freedom and tolerance, believers can talk about their faith without fear. At the clinic, relational bridges could be built and the plan of salvation shared. This would happen through personal evangelism, presentations of the Gospel, videos, and Bible studies.
In 1996, a group of doctors from the Chicago area, led
by Navigator Dr. Larry Ebert, made a survey trip to Burkina Faso and
Ghana. Larry and his team were able to minister both physically and
spiritually to hurting people. However, during that trip, Dr. Ebert’s
life was cut short in a car accident. While we no longer enjoy his
physical presence among us, many people continue to be touched by
Larry’s life and vision for Africa.Larry’s commitment has inspired countless others. People from around the world joined in the effort to build a medical clinic in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso’s capital. Even the local government donated 1.3 acres of land.
On January 2, 2006, the Larry Ebert Memorial Clinic opened its doors. God is using it to touch people’s lives in amazing ways. A few months after opening, there was a meningitis outbreak in the community. The wife of the local community leader became extremely ill. By the time she arrived at the clinic, accompanied by several family members, she was in a comatose state. When she walked out of the clinic 24 hours later, everyone was amazed at her recovery. It laid the foundation of a bridge to the local community.
Later, the doctors at the
clinic delivered the first baby. The parents were so appreciative of
the clinic that they decided to name their daughter Helen in honor of
Helen Ebert, Dr. Ebert’s widow. The new parents wanted to honor the
Ebert family for their vision and commitment to the people of Burkina
Faso.Yet despite these encouraging encounters, the clinic is not without its challenges. Though open for a year and a half, the clinic is still very much in its start-up phase. Bruce VanWyk, the director of The Navigators’ Africa-focused initiative called Africa Partners, says, “Any time you step out for Christ into a new culture you have to remember that Satan is not going to give up his ground easily.”
Pray for protection from the “fiery darts” of the enemy during this strategic time. Pray also for sensitivity to the leading of the Spirit as leaders address decisions and issues associated with firmly establishing this vital ministry.
Already, God is using the Larry Ebert Memorial Clinic to build bridges to the surrounding communities. These bridges can bring the message of hope to those who are “harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). We pray that these bridges grow, develop, and become strong enough to bear the weight of truth.
About the authors:
Michael Grainger and his wife spent nearly 15 years with The Navigators in Ivory Coast. They now live in Colorado Springs, where Michael works with Africa Partners.
David Morris and his family spent 17 years with The Navigators in Ivory Coast. They currently minister with The Navigators in Central Florida. David and Michael directed the construction and equipping of the medical clinic in Burkina Faso.