Faithful Service in Ministry
Compassionate Ministries through Local Health Clinic
Story by John Watton
Burkina Faso Clinic
Faith in Action
The community of Zinkemzougou lies about 30 miles from the city of Ouagadougou in the West African nation of Burkina Faso. There is a little Church of the Nazarene in the village that bursts at the seams with children each Sunday. Pastor John has been serving there for some years and is even now looking to widen the existing building to accommodate all the new members.
As a trained nurse, he also serves this community in another way. Utilizing a tiny room on the end of a nearby community building, John provides medical consultations. Serving more than 1,000 people each year, he does whatever he can do for them, with whatever resources are on hand. John is a kindly man with a pastoral heart, and all who come are listened to and prayed for. If there is medicine available, he will dispense it. If people can pay for it, then John can repurchase the supply.
More often, the amounts that the patients muster to pay, do not quite reach the amount required to repurchase fresh inventory, particularly for the costly malaria medicine for children and the great percentage of cases that John sees in a year, are children with malaria. John has been faithful to serve his community and finds immense joy through this effective medical ministry and particularly when community members come to Christ. Pastor John desires to continue, however he is able.
More Information on Ministry in Burkina Faso
Friday, July 23, 2010
Pastor John serving as a nurse in a local clinic providing care for his community