| Medical
Clinics Offer New Life in India
AIMS
News: Posted 5/1/2004
 As
a Muslim, "Aadil" had always been interested
in world religions. He was especially fascinated about
Christ's death on the cross. One day, he read Jesus'
words in Luke 23:34, "Father, forgive them for
they know not what they do." His heart broke, and
he began to weep. He decided to accept Jesus Christ
as his Savior.
Aadil
returned to his family. He believed that they would
see the change in his life and accept Christ. Instead,
they became hostile towards him. During the Muslim festival
of Eid, the festival of the dead, they tried to force
Aadil to pray the customary prayer to Allah. When he
refused, they beat him and threw him into the streets.
They told him that if he rejected Islam again, they
would stone him to death.
Aadil
ran for his life. For several months, he lived on the
streets, afraid to return home. "When I was a Muslim,
my life was worth nothing," said Aadil. "Now
that I am a Christian, I am a target."
Aadil
found refuge at a new outreach center administered by
New Life Fellowship. Just like the good Samaritan who
cared for the man robbed by thieves, they cared for
Aadil, and found a place for him to stay.
Today,
he works as a paramedic and doctorís asstant
on the new mobile medical clinic donated by AIMS to
the New Life Outreach center.
The
Birth of the Vision
Two
years ago, the Indian government donated a building
in a poor Muslim community in Mumbai to New Life Fellowship.
Through the outreach center, individuals in the community
may take courses in computer software, sewing, beautician
training, as well as computer hardware. The students
are encouraged to particpate in prayer services.
"We
encourage secret believers to come in. We don't expect
them to come to church, but we do encourage them to
read the Bible," said "Samuel," director
of the outreach center. Samuel hopes that the outreach
center will become an avenue for church planting. "There
are 98 streets in this locality. Our goal is to reach
every street with a cell church."
The
Mobile Medical Clinic
In
2003, AIMS donated a Mobile Medical Clinic to the New
Life Outreach Center. The large cargo van was painted
and outfitted with a full medical clinic and lab.
At
a medical camp last summer, ten doctors from city churches
and two doctors associated with AIMS volunteered to
bring 192 children to the center, give them a check-up
and any medicine they needed. With the medical clinic
ready and operational, the New Life staff will be able
to take the clinic on the road to the hundreds of elementary
schools in Mumbai each year.
"We
have had a tremendous response already to the Mobile
Medical Clinic," said Samuel. "We can park
it anywhere in the city, and the people will come."
Looking
towards the future, Samuel would like to focus some
clinics on HIV/AIDS prevention and care. He also has
designated the next Mobile Medical Clinic to be equipped
with a complete dental care unit.
As
for Aadil, he has found a way to give back to the community.
Today, he works on the Mobile Medical Clinic as a paramedic
and lab assistant, where he will assist Indian doctors
in caring for the many children in need of medical care
throughout Mumbai.
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