A view from Outside, and Inside: I was serving in Central Africa when I came across the people of Medical Ambassadors Int’l (MAI). In time I attended one of their Training of Trainers Seminar, and was even more impressed with the quality of people, and certainly with their Ministry Strategy called CHE (Community Health Education/Evangelism). CHE enables people to take Ownership of their own lives; uses Local Resources; has a strategy for Multiplying any teaching right down to the home level; uses Participatory Learning methods; and focuses on the needs of the whole person, the results being a resilient community. After 3 years of follow-up visits by their friendly and insightful Africa Coordinator, I was invited to join MAI, and due to the wholistic efficacy of CHE in the communities I’d observed, felt it was time, so we joined. That was 25 years ago. I’ve not once regretted that decision…it has been an “amazing ride” with a great group of people.
Medical Ambassadors is terrific!!! They do 100% pass-through of funds raised for field personnel making sure that every $ that is meant to reach a person working in the field actually reaches them. That is pretty much unheard of. And the work they do is changing village after village, bringing greater health and well-being to thousands and thousands around the world!
MAI is a wonderful organization that uses the Community Health Evangelism (CHE) strategy to train nationals! Hearing about lives changed through the work being done by many volunteers around the world is uplifting and encouraging.
Previous Stories
Medical Ambassadors is made of selfless individuals who love people and truly care about the quality of life of all people.
I have been working with them since 1999 and the cross cultural sensitivity, focus on development and wholistic approach make this an excellent organization to work with.
This organization is extremely faithful and follows very rigorous accounting rules. They don't charge their missions personnel anything for the services they provide, so 100% of donor dollars that are for field missionaries go straight to the intended recipients!
The more I find out about how MAI equips locals around the world to help each other physically and spiritually through CHE, (Community Health Evangelism) the more I'm thrilled to be a part of this mission's ministry both physically, in prayer, and financially.
MAI asks what the people it serves needs. It does not try to tell them, It trains local people how to help themselves, It to does not try to do it for them. As a result people feel empowered, respected, and eager to serve their neigbors. MAI believes the best way to serve others is to look closely and Jesus Christ, and then ask Jesus to help you do the best you can to copy him.
MAI gives away its expertise to other groups, and consults for them as needed. As a result, the impact of every dollar given to MAI, is leveraged many times. That why my wife and I give them everything we possibly can.
Previous Stories
Having had a lifetime of exposure to missions, I discovered Medical Ambassadors and its strategy of Community Health Evangelism/Education--and felt, "THIS is better than anything I've seen so far!" The ownership by local community members and the emphasis on whole-person development made it stand out. we've witnessed enormous impact on individuals and families as they learn to solve their own problems. When they also find a personal relationship with a God who loves them, life indeed begins to change for the better. My husband and I decided to retire early and get personally involved with MAI. That was ten years ago and we still are great enthusiasts about what this organization does!
Although it began as a mission dedicated to medical care, MAI found an even better way to allow people to thrive both physically and spiritually. We ask them what THEY want to see changed and then teach them how to achieve that with their own people and their own resources, while integrating Biblical truths into the teaching. I have seen enormous improvement in health as people work on preventing disease, great strides in self worth for women as they understand God's view of them, growth and spiritual deepening in the local churches, and community pride as people learn to work together for the betterment of all. Our staff around the world consists largely of nationals, most of them volunteers in their own communities.
MAI believes in the power to change communities which are remote and seem of little value to the developed world. Change comes from within the community itself with the guided help of MAI volunteers. It is needed change, as the community's most pressing needs are identified and then addressed by the community itself, holistically, with training and guidance from MAI volunteers. The changes are permanent in that the community, and not some outside agency, owns them. This holistic approach addresses both the physical and the spiritual needs of the community, as the Gospel is integrated into the training and is also MAI's motivation for changing the world, one community at a time.
This organization is run with the highest integrity and commitment to the spread of the Gospel through the empowerment of individuals and communities. The community development training conducted is solid, consistent, and effective. MAI is making a solid difference, improving lives and inspiring hope throughout the world.
Having had the awesome privilege of being an MAI staff member since 2005, I have seen repeatedly how the people within the organization work tirelessly serving others, whether in the home office or around the world.
Communities need to be empowered to change themselves, not given hand outs. We have observed first hand many communities where MAI has done just that, giving the skills and training that enable them to use local resources and to take ownership of Health and development needs. This is the only way that the Health problems of developing nations will be solved. It is all about prevention.