Generations of Change
With vision and faith, fifty volunteers joined forces to gather and pack donated medical supplies into foot lockers, barrels, and crates to be hand-carried across the continents to mission hospitals in Cameroon, Liberia, Madagascar, and Tanzania. This happened almost four decades ago as Global Health Ministries (GHM) began its very first year. Those first fifty were the be ginning of generations of people, mobilized to partner with Lutheran hospitals, clinics, and community health efforts around the globe. Today, GHM staff and volunteers partner with over 200 facilities and programs with over 30 million people in the neighborhoods they serve.
A few of those original volunteers still work in GHM’s warehouse, donate funds to continue the ministry, or serve on our Board of Directors. Some have “finished the race” and are embraced in their eternal home with Jesus. Yet, new volunteers — hundreds— continue to discover this joyful and deeply fulfilling work. We see it as one way to follow the path of Jesus, who never wavered from prioritizing service and solidarity with those who are sick, poor, suffering injustice, or oppressed.
Dr. Kathy Kai examines a pregnant mother at Immanuel Hospital in Papua New Guinea
Relationships are vitally important to what we do together. In 2025, GHM is renewing an “old” relationship with the Gutnius Lutheran Church and its one hospital, Immanuel Lutheran Rural Hospital, in Papua New Guinea. The hospital CEO reached out in 2024 to share their operating room equipment was not functioning. This meant the hospital OBGYN specialist was forced to refer all C-sections and emergencies to other hospitals, even though she is qualified to do the surgeries herself. The distance to a nearby hospital spans 30 minutes to a three-hour drive away. In emergency cases, this delay in care presents a great risk to the lives of both mothers and children. There is good news to share. After a full review, GHM will partner with Immanuel to equip two operating rooms and surgical services will be provided at Immanuel once again. Watch for updates on this development later in 2025.
In this issue, former GHM Executive Director, Tim Iverson, and his wife, Sandy, share about generations of relationships and capacity building with our partners in El Salvador. GHM continues as the principal funder for a nation-wide community health promotion program mobilizing over 200 volunteer health promoters. Last year, we helped to introduce a diabetes awareness and behavior-change program, addressing the second leading health problem in the country.
Today’s GHM volunteers include continuing relationships with children and grandchildren of our missionary founders. Mike Toso, for example, who grew up in Madagascar (son of John and Joann Toso) as part of a medical missionary family, now serves on the GHM Board of Directors, and is the Senior Program Officer at Johns Hopkins Center for Communication. Mike is a Christian, a scholar, and a leader in global health. I asked him recently for a definition of global health. He said simply, “Global health means admitting we are interconnected and doing something about it.”
Global health matters for every generation. The scriptures speak to a deep interconnectedness of all people and a call by God for those who have abundant resources to live in solidarity with those who have few resources to address injustices. Yet, in 2025, we anticipate global health needs will grow due to major cutbacks in US international assistance.
As GHM, our eyes are laser focused on the changing needs of the global health community and how we might deepen our efforts to help the hands that heal throughout the world. We are grateful to God for the efforts of so many volunteers, donors and stakeholders that are truly life-giving for millions of people around the globe. I encourage you stay informed and consider how you can participate in even small acts of justice and mercy.
GHM has many opportunities for you to make a difference. Join us as we follow God’s call in this generation to be the change agents our world needs for health, healing and wholeness.
