GMMA December 2020 Monthly Newsletter
President’s Greeting
“Today in the town of David, a savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord.” A day that stands as an amazing celebration in heaven and earth! Yet, He came modestly “wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger.“ He grew up “like a tender shoot, and like a root out of the dry ground, he had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him” This is how our Lord came to us. He grew into a life of amazing perfection even when attacked by betrayal, mockery, brutality, and death upon a cross. His sacrifice is expressed through the resurrection and our redemption. Much of our faith is shown to the world in the Christmas birth and the Resurrection story of our Lord. Love incarnate and the love that saved sinners like us. Can we take a pause and saturate our souls with how truly majestic and amazing Jesus is? You are so dearly loved that God “knew you before you were formed in your mother’s womb.” God says, “I will not forget you. See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hand.” Your heavenly Father loves you so much and sees you. He knows the brokenness of this past year and reminds us that His glorious heavenly will be done on earth as in heaven. It was, it is, and it will, so we can still rejoice. “Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward humankind.” (Luke 2:13-14).
The amazing contrast of Jesus’ humble birth to His eternal majesty; vagabond life “for the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” to His rightful place sitting at the right hand of God; and door-to-door, village-to-village ministry shows the depth of His love “through Him all things were made”. I have done heart surgeries on so many patients who have said, “thank you for saving my life” but no matter the clinical outcome, I could never agree with the statement, because only God can save a life for eternity. Jesus is the only one who can really save and He is glorious!
This Christmas, in the most difficult season of Covid, may we be reminded of the glory that is Christ Jesus. Despite how bleak and broken the world appears, Jesus came to redeem. He came to restore. He has shown us how to live in His light when things get dark. Let us declare that, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:4-5). He was born so that we could live in the hope of who He is.
May the sole ministry of GMMA be to proclaim the glorious name of Jesus to the world and make disciples of all nations. Let us declare, “Here am I, send me” and look this Christmas at how Jesus came to radically change our lives with inexpressible and glorious joy. Let the light in Christ Jesus shine in each of us to guide and give us the vision for what is to come. May we move as one body of Christ declaring His majesty and glory to the ends of the earth.
Merry Christmas and “Glory to God in the highest”
In His Service,
Peter Chung, Sr., M.D.
Professional Development
Our gracious God in His enormous grace allowed GMMA to move forward in 2020 in spite of historical global challenges. All departments of the ministry resumed adapting to the changes. We continued to grow our ministry with new chapters and new mentors! In-person meetings were changed to zoom meetings and going to medical missions physically changed to intentional intercessory prayer and practical fund donation to the missionaries. For the first time, all of GMMA joined efforts together and embarked on the “GMMA Cares – Covid-19 Emergency Mission Support Fundraiser.” The student chapters outshined with their amazing creative fundraising ideas and raised the highest amount than any other group! Over 44 college chapters participated and raised more than half of the total amount of the fundraiser! It truly taught us the power of serving together. All the glory to God for how He blessed the hearts to care and collaborate. The raised funds will be delivered to 11 missionaries before Christmas and also in 2021.
The anticipated biennial GMMA global conference had to be canceled due to the pandemic but we attended the virtual global medical missions conference together all across the nation. GMMA moved forward. Monthly prayer meetings changed to national zoom meetings where members from the US, Canada, and Korea joined in to pray together for each other and for the world. Members of all generations take turns in contributing to the national prayer meetings through leading praise, sharing, or leading prayer topics. It served as a great way for nationwide members to serve together and get to know each other.
God’s goodness shined through in the midst of dark news of the pandemic, persecution, protests, and catastrophic natural disasters around the world. The living word of Romans 8:28 resounded. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
We are immensely grateful for each and every member serving faithfully unto the Lord through GMMA and look forward to how God will work through GMMA in 2021!
Mission Report
GMMA Emergency Covid-19 Mission Support Fundraiser Update
Mission Site Feature: Cambodia
The school has gone through repeated changes of opening and closing according to regulations. However, our daily worship service did not stop and will resume. This has been an amazing grace of God. The teachers and students voluntarily attend daily worship. We also have not stopped with discipleship. Willing teachers and students have been writing out the Bible. The quarantine period provided time to repair and repaint the school and prepare for school reopening. The school looks almost brand new! I look forward to the day when these clean walls will be covered with little handprints of our students again.
After reopening the school a few months ago, we have been busy preparing for the annual Christmas program, but since receiving the shutdown notice again, the Christmas tree looks lonely in the empty hall. The annual Christmas event that shares the true meaning of Christmas is one of the highlight events. It includes performances of the students, a puppet show, a special message, and gift distribution. We prepared gift bags full of food items to deliver to the poor villagers in place of the Christmas program this year, but God granted a pleasant surprise. The school had to close, but the students and the villagers came to school to celebrate Christmas anyway, so we did the Christmas program after all. It was a special blessed time of sharing the message of Christmas with masks on. The gift bags we prepared were accepted with warm thank-yous from the villagers. We are always thankful to the GMMA family. Each time I see the wall murals GMMA students painted during one of the mission trips brings back heartfelt memories. We are eagerly waiting to greet GMMAmission teams again soon.
With much love and appreciation from Cambodia. Missionary Hwang
Regional Health Reports
WEST
Most of our West Coast chapters are finishing up their fall quarter/semester and are in their finals week. It has been especially hard for everyone to try to adapt to the new online curriculum, yet praise God that we have been able to get through the first part of school without too much difficulty. All our students have also been raising money for our GMMA Cares fundraiser and have done considerably well despite not fundraising physically on campus!
Needs
Please pray that as COVID cases are rising again, our students, mentors, and health care professionals are kept safe. Please also pray for our students who are finishing up finals, that they may remain healthy and are able to rest safely after, and be recharged to serve for the upcoming new year.
Regional Coordinator Message
I am so encouraged and motivated when I see our officers serve, especially through this tumultuous time. To see their passion to serve, work with their fellow officers, and still study hard is a dedication I have not seen from any other organization. I am so thankful for them, and I pray that God may continue to bestow wisdom and passion upon them, and that they may continue to be the Lord’s vessel.
Student Chapter Highlight
(Biola x Claremont X UCR GM)
Claremont was one of our 44 college chapters that participated in our GMMA Cares – COVID-19 Emergency Mission Support Fundraiser. We thank all of our students, mentors, and staff for your generous hearts to serve towards His kingdom!
CENTRAL
Praise report
All of the Texas chapters are now finally finished with their fall semester. Praise God! All of the chapters have been challenged throughout the semester but each one have finally made it through the semester. All of this could not have happened without the grace of God. All of the chapter were able to raise some money for the Covid fundraiser as well. Through various events like sweatshirt and candle fundraisers, raffle tickets and online carnivals, Texas GMMA Chapters were successfully able to contribute to the fundraiser.
Needs
One of the needs for all of our chapters would be for a time of rejuvenation during this break. As they enter the holiday season, let’s pray that the student can enter this period of rest, free from any anxieties, worries or stress from school and can enter the next semester ready to do well in their classes and excited to lead their respective GMMA chapters. Although the vaccine has come out, schools will still be mostly online and we all still need to keep ourselves and each other safe. Let’s pray for the safety of the students and for God to be active once again not only in their campuses, but also in each student’s daily walk with God.
Regional Coordinator Message
Here are some pics of UT-Austin students and GMMA Mentor Dr.Yun Kim assembling and handing out care packages for the homeless in Austin, TX! They also did a children’s activity through a zoom call with a local orphanage shelter.
EAST COAST
Praise Report
This was a month full of finals and holidays for the East Coast GMMA students. Even with all the busy academic plans, our chapters were busy with wrapping up their fall semester. To mention a few chapters: Dr. Reggie shared so much wisdom at the last few GBMs with the University of South Florida chapter. NYU’s chapter is growing their chapter by the day! Praise the Lord! UGA and Drexel teamed up this month to have a game night for a fellowship event.
Regional Outreach & Needs
Please pray for every chapter in East Coast GMMA for growth and protection during this time. To name a few specific prayer requests: please pray for Georgia Tech as their Vice President has graduated this December. Pray for a smooth transition for their executive board and their new Vice President! Please pray for NOVA’s executive office board to become closer this upcoming semester and for their officers to grow closer to the Lord. Please pray for health and spiritual protection for all the GMMA members, officers, and their respective family members.
Regional Coordinator Message
This past month has been very eventful in bad and good ways. However, God is definitely showing me a clearer path of where He is leading me. For the past 7 months, I was in a strange place where I wasn’t sure of my future decisions. However, in the past two weeks, God really made me truly understand the verse: Proverbs 3:5-6. God will show you a path to where He wants you to be and He has His own timing. I am so blessed hearing my chapters grow in the past semester and I pray that everyone has a great holiday surrounded by love, friends, and family! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
Praise Report
This was a month full of finals and holidays for the East Coast GMMA students. Even with all the busy academic plans, our chapters were busy with wrapping up their fall semester. To mention a few chapters: Dr. Reggie shared so much wisdom at the last few GBMs with the University of South Florida chapter. NYU’s chapter is growing their chapter by the day! Praise the Lord! UGA and Drexel teamed up this month to have a game night for a fellowship event.
Regional Outreach & Needs
Please pray for every chapter in East Coast GMMA for growth and protection during this time. To name a few specific prayer requests: please pray for Georgia Tech as their Vice President has graduated this December. Pray for a smooth transition for their executive board and their new Vice President! Please pray for NOVA’s executive office board to become closer this upcoming semester and for their officers to grow closer to the Lord. Please pray for health and spiritual protection for all the GMMA members, officers, and their respective family members.
Regional Coordinator Message
This past month has been very eventful in bad and good ways. However, God is definitely showing me a clearer path of where He is leading me. For the past 7 months, I was in a strange place where I wasn’t sure of my future decisions. However, in the past two weeks, God really made me truly understand the verse: Proverbs 3:5-6. God will show you a path to where He wants you to be and He has His own timing. I am so blessed hearing my chapters grow in the past semester and I pray that everyone has a great holiday surrounded by love, friends, and family! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
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
The pandemic has made people feel isolated. We feel disconnected. Do you think technology truly connects people? Although we have over 1,000 connections over our social networking sites, sometimes we have difficulty finding people whom we can trust, open our hearts to and tell our struggles. Do you want to find the One whom you can trust and open your heart honestly?
Please click the link above or the February 2021 GMMA Prayer Requests from Admin Staff so that you can come before God to listen to His true and faithful words and pray.
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