Hannah’s story
Hannah grew up in India and was influenced by her parents, both physiotherapists, from a young age. They cared for the sick, poor,and vulnerable in her community. From the age of nine, she wanted to become a surgeon. At a summer camp, she was introduced to Mercy Ships and was so inspired by the work of the surgeons operating on patients who could not afford reconstructive surgery that she knew she was specifically called to this too. She told us:
I did my medical training in India, [but] couldn’t get into surgical training there, and so came to the UK to get into a surgical training programme. It’s taken me a while, but now I’m a consultant cleft palate surgeon. I go to low- and middle-income countries at least once a year and operate on children or adults born with facial differences, and help make them better.
Her involvement with CMF happened relatively recently, when God clearly spoke to her.
At a women’s conference, I realised that I had some grief in my heart because I felt I was called to serve the Lord in some way, but my church was not supportive. I had a distinct picture from the Lord of a church building, and he said to me, ‘You think the church is just a building, but my church is my people, wherever they are, and that includes doctors’. He gave me the specific words ‘Christian Medical Fellowship’. I had never heard of it, even though I’d been in this country 22 years! So, I went home and googled it and found out they exist and have done for 75 years! I signed up, and the very first newsletter said they were looking for a volunteer for their Global team. I thought, OK, this is it. God wants me to join! And it’s not just to pay my membership, but to actually do something.’ And that’s how I ended up volunteering with the Global team at CMF.
Hannah felt God calling her to develop a network of support for international graduates, including both Christians and non-Christians, through CMF. Running Bible studies, prayer meetings, online and in-person get-togethers, seminars on issues such as understanding the NHS pension schemes, wellbeing, and interview skills.
CMF can support and equip volunteers like Hannah to make a real difference because of the support of members like you.
To recruit, train, and support an Associate (a volunteer who dedicates about one day a week to serving CMF) costs £500 per year. And there are many similar costs for all our other amazing volunteers. By giving to our general funds, you can help us to support dozens of volunteers to support health professionals in many different ways.
Please help us to support volunteers like Hannah – through your giving and your prayers. Together we can help others live and speak for Jesus.
