GMMA April 2023 Monthly Newsletter
April 2023 GREETING
“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36)
Dear GMMA family.
As I walk through my faith journey, I realize my most important mission is bringing God’s lost souls back to Him. A vital piece of this task for me is involvement in our GMMA mission trips. Earlier this year, I had the opportunity to participate in two GMMA mission trips to Honduras. As I prepared, my prayer was for every student to experience a mighty, powerful encounter with God. I explain this as a “Moses Burning Bush” experience. It was an amazing blessing to witness our students holding hands together with tears of joy, wholeheartedly praising our Father. Worshiping and praying together, I witnessed the power of the Holy Spirit freeing us from the bondage of sin, guilt, and shame as our students are baptized as new creations in Christ.
Below is testimony from a Mission team member:
“If I were to summarize this Honduras trip in a couple words, it would be “Life Changing”… I learned so much medically, relationally, and most importantly, spiritually. As the team had our first worship night in Honduras, Dr. Jo said that some students would experience God in a way that one has never before. Hearing that, I could not help but feel abandoned because I thought I was most likely not one of [those] students… However, I could not have been more wrong; God showed Himself to me in so many miraculous and beautiful ways during this trip. I felt God’s presence the strongest during our nightly prayer and worship sessions. Although I am not one to cry, every night we sang praise, I could not help but tear up…One worship session that specifically stood out to me was the fourth night of the mission trip. On this night, we had an intense, couple hour long, prayer session… It was an unexplainable feeling of my burdens being lifted to the Lord, and God placing His healing wing over me where I felt pure love that could only have come from the Father. It seemed that each person who came to pray for me on this night answered a different prayer that I had been lifting up to the Father for months, if not, years. It was an unexplainable occurrence of people praying using specific phrasing that I had been lifting up to the Lord privately. God truly answered all my prayers, and I could not help but cry out of pure joy. Up till this point, I had never experienced God so intimately…”
Our mission trips have been invaluable for my faith. One of the main reasons I am writing this Newsletter is to challenge all our mentors and professionals to get involved and participate in our GMMA mission trips. During our annual conference, we stressed the importance of each mentor investing one week a year to join our GMMA mission trips. I can tell you that God has blessed me immensely through these mission trips, and I am sure He will bless you abundantly as well. More importantly, God will use your life’s testimony as an instrument to bless our students. Would you be willing to be a part of this amazing GMMA missional journey?
Paul Jo, MD
GMMA East Coast Regional Director
Professional Development
“He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:7-8)
We sincerely thank every mentor who makes time to visit chapters whether in person or through Zoom to encourage the students through their testimonies, sharing of professional knowledge/advice, staying up late preparing for a mission trip, laughing with them through fellowship, and earnestly praying with them. From Seattle, New York, Texas, Florida, Canada, California, etc. professional members are making time to be available for the next generations of Christ-centered healthcare professionals. In their response of gratitude, the students encourage the professionals with sincere prayers and expressions of thanks. All are possible and enabled by the grace of God and the power of faith gifted by God. So GMMA gives all honor and thanksgiving to God and pray we do not get weary of doing good but continue ever so strongly as the world gets more challenging.
GMMA ACTIVITIES FOR MAY
Too many meetings and events to capture in the newsletter, but sharing a few that took place in chapters across the nation, Canada, and Australia. It’s always moving and emotional when we witness past students becoming fellow professionals raising a family and serving as mentors and lecturing at mission trips. God’s faithfulness we praise and honor and give all the glory to the giver of all good and perfect gifts.
GMMA National Postgrad Retreat is happening on June 23-24, 2023 in California. Postgraduates from across the nation will gather together for a weekend of fellowship, seminars, lots of worship and prayer, and good food. Postgrad members and professionals are all welcome. Professional members will be joining to serve as small group leaders and speakers. Contact: postgrads@gmma7.org
Postgrad Retreat Information
Date: 6/23/23 Friday 5pm to 6/24/23 Saturday 10pm
Location: Buena Park Church
7037 Orangethorpe Ave, Buena Park, CA 90621
Mission Report
Please pray for the upcoming mission trip preparations and executions. Thank You.
All glory and honor to our faithful Father, Son, and Spirit for blessing the efforts of the mission team with personal and group testimonies. From the month-long training and preparation to the safe return from Rosarito, Mexico, every team member has a personal testimony of experiencing God. Our personal God is amazing! Once we say yes to His invitation to go on a mission trip, the journey of new experiences of relationship with God, team members, and the locals at the mission site begins, and through the journey, it grows us. Praise the Lord for His gift of talents to each of us that beautifully works together in serving to share the love of Christ through the medical clinic, children’s ministry, street evangelism, and community development. The outcome is hearts touched by the willing hearts of servers which culminates in collective thanksgiving to the Lord for His goodness. Mission trips are God’s gift to us! We pray more of us, especially the busy stressed-out professionals, can intentionally make time to go on mission trips and be refreshed.
Regional Health Reports
West Coast
Praise Reports:
Our chapters are ending strong with last pushes for prayer walks, local missions, and fun general meetings! UC Davis was able to partner with Loaves and Fishes to serve the community by preparing meals. Additionally, praise God for UW GMMA! Although it’s been a new board they’re showing healthy signs of new students and new mentors.
Needs:
Many of our student chapters are in the transition phase of board handoffs! While some chapters have wonderful news of students stepping up there are chapters that other chapters are struggling to find new board officers to continue God’s work. Please join us in prayer as we pray for God to preserve these chapters and to raise up laborers.
Regional Coordinator:
“But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42) Many of the board members are juggling tons of ministry work that include God but feel void of the presence of God. I believe somewhere along the way we began to choose a counterfeit good portion. But Jesus beckons us back to Him. His portion that is forever good, forever easy and light, and never taken away from us. As we experience anxiety from burnout I pray we would see it as an indicator of busyness that is void of God. Hallelujah to the one who never abandons or forsakes us! Please join us in prayer for each of our board members who are doing many things for God but struggle to do things with God.
CENTRAL
Praise Reports:
Our Central Region is wrapping up this semester. Praise the Lord for a fruitful academic year where our chapters enjoyed sweet fellowship and growth. Some schools have already finished up their school year and others are in their final stretch of exams. Our student chapters have faithfully and lovingly been lights on each of their respective campuses and we are so blessed to see how God continues to work and move within our Texas and Midwest chapters.
Needs:
As the academic year is coming to an end, our student chapter officer boards are either in the process of transitioning or have already elected new positions. May God be with our students during discernment and also empower our newly selected brothers and sisters to continue to do good work through the empowerment of our Christ Jesus. May our student chapters dispersed throughout our Central Region be Spirit-led and Spirit-filled in all that they do, that they may grow in intimacy with God.
Regional Coordinator:
In Genesis 37, we see the life of Joseph and the dreams that showed God had a divine plan. God likewise wants us to seek and wait on His timing and act for His purpose. To know what God’s will is and to discern His voice, we have to intimately spend time with Him, and through that, He will make us wiser and sharp instruments as Kingdom people. So just like Joseph, may we live a God-dependent life.
EAST COAST
Praise Reports:
Students are wrapping up their semesters strong with their last few general body meetings and fellowship events! Dr. Jinsol and Dr. Janice from Chicago visited Georgia this past week and had a great time of fellowship with them. The students were/are so blessed by their loving and selfless mentors!
Needs:
Students are entering finals season. Please pray for their strength, mental well-being, and exams. Students are also in the middle of finalizing and interviewing their upcoming executive board. Please pray for a smooth transition and guidance for the current executive board as they are making important decisions during this time. Specifically, please pray for the Northeast region in general because they have a lot of new chapters that are currently recruiting officers, so please pray for the students to seek God’s guidance and to rely on Him throughout this process. Also, please pray for the Honduras May missions team as they are preparing/training.
Regional Coordinator:
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea” (Psalm 46: 1-2) In my QT for the day, I was reminded that even through the dark, stressful, or even happy moments of our lives. God is there for us always. He is there for us when we are in trouble. He is there to be our strength. I hope this verse will be encouraging to our students throughout GMMA as we are entering finals season and for students who are graduating this year. Through the dark times, I pray that you all will rely on God because He is our strength.
Please watch GMMA Honduras March 2023 video!
Please watch EC GMMA La Mosquitia Medical Mission Trip ’23!
You can explore all of the GMMA chapters, including information about the leadership, meeting times, contact, Instagram handles and more, on our website here.
If you know any healthcare professionals who would gladly serve as mentors for these chapters, please email us at admin@gmma7.org.
Please make sure to use Amazon Smile so that a percentage of your purchase comes back to GMMA/Kamhc incorporated in the form of a donation.
Simply click on this link: smile.amazon.com/ch/26-0268289 and start shopping through smile.amazon.com!
There are many incredible ministries and organizations you can choose to support through Amazon Smile, so we thank you in advance for choosing to support GMMA and partnering with us to help others smile through His kingdom work!
GMMA CONNECTS!
Our healthcare community serving together for His glory.
As many are facing new challenges due to changes in education, professional training, and
workplace due to the pandemic, we’ve created “GMMA Connects” as a space for
networking.
Please share and connect to the inquiries if you can assist in
any way. You can send inquiries to newsletter@gmma7.org by the 15th of the
month to be listed in this section.
Prayer Requests
How fruitful is your life now? When have you recently humbled yourself and sought God’s face and repent your ways? God promises that He will hear from heaven, will forgive our sin and will heal the unproductive land. Do you want to live a fruitful life?
Please join GMMA’s prayer movement and click the button above for the GMMA Prayer Requests from Regional Coordinators.
GMMA adapted ECHO prayer app so every GMMA member can pray together at 9 PM every day.
Here is the link for GMMA-Echo Instruction for your information. https://youtu.be/zchhVrmtPSM
CONTACT US!
- 18549 Hawthorne St
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Are you interested in serving with GMMA? Utilize the talents and gifts that God has provided you and serve with us! Please contact your area of interest above!
Until next time,
Please share about GMMA and let us all remember to Arise and Shine for His glory.
Global Medical Missions Alliance | 714.444.3032 | admin@gmma7.org | GMMA7.org