MMN was started by a group of Christian doctors in the UK around 1922. These doctors had a concern for medical colleagues involved in missionary work overseas. In 1934 they began to publish a quarterly magazine which carried reports from the mission field and also gave information by which their missionary colleagues could keep abreast with progress in their profession. Some of the early issues show that there were very few funds being devoted to missionary medical work. The first issue included an urgent appeal for a stethoscope and a cheap watch to assist in pulse readings.
In 1947 the MMN fund was established with a capital sum of £400 to be used for charitable purposes for Christian missionaries and their dependants. The first editor and administrator was Dr. Chave Cox. After his death, in 1963, a new fund was established with a capital sum of £2,000. This was to be used ‘for the purchase and maintenance of equipment and facilities for the relief of disease and sickness and suffering in association with the preaching of the Christian gospel’. The main administrator was Dr. Archie Hanton. From time to time limited practical assistance was given with the purchase of equipment, e.g., microscopes.
In 1977 Dr. Hanton retired from his active role, and invited one of the Trustees, Mr. Norman Lane, to accept the position of Secretary/Treasurer. This was to be the beginning of a series of events which were to transform completely the scope of MMN.
An early letter which reached Norman was an inquiry from a missionary in Zambia as to whether a drug which was no longer available in that country could be obtained. The drug was obtained, and sent out by air mail, to the great appreciation of the missionary concerned. The good news quickly spread to other missionaries who were experiencing similar problems, particularly as the political situation in their countries was changing. Requests began to flood in to MMN and by 1980 consignments of up to 5 tons of drugs were being dispatched by air.
With his business experience Norman was aware of the advantage of container shipping and in 1982, using the facilities of his own factory, began to use containers to transport drugs, particularly to Africa. Initially about 2 container-loads were sent per year. As the political situation in many countries deteriorated, medical missionaries, mission hospitals and other missionaries become more dependent on sources outside their countries of service for supplies.
In 1999 MMN had to vacate the premises at Harold Wood, but moved into premises at Wickford in Essex under the care of Mr Bryan Bland. The container work expanded beyond all expectation to the point in 2004 when 78 containers were sent to 11 different countries, with the majority destined for Zambia and the mission hospitals and clinic stations in the NW Province.
A container would include medicines, medical equipment and aids, food, clothing, vehicles, roofing material, furniture, mattresses, sewing machines, children’s vests and baby layettes. In addition, there were items to cater for spiritual needs such as Bibles, books and other literature and the other ministries that grew around these healthcare services. Some of the more unusual items have been Land Rovers, tractors, a kit to build a Cessna airplane, and generators.
The service has been a lifeline for many when supplies were difficult to get hold of due to the political situation. It, also, enabled many individuals and groups, and especially the ladies, to play a practical part in supporting mission work as they knitted countless numbers of baby vests, prepared baby layettes, collected stamps, soap, sewing machines and spectacles. Commercial organisations and health authorities have become aware of MMN and offer their own products or surplus equipment - often in first class condition - either free of charge or at greatly reduced prices.
Since 2004 the number of containers sent every year has diminished so that we now send around 20 containers to 4 countries. The decline has been due to a variety of reasons, but mainly in response to the increasing availability of goods overseas, the elimination of unwanted donated goods, and more regulation and bureaucracy at home and overseas.
Under the leadership of Tony Cox, MMN has sought to meet the changing needs in medicine and mission by adapting the way we support medical mission. As shipping has decreased we have sought to increase the amount we give in grants to support medical mission agencies around the world. Our first grants were given in 2002 to projects in Peru, India and Mozambique. This has increased the scope of where we can partner with medical mission and now we connect with partners in over 30 countries.
The other area of development has been to support medical professionals in their studies - either in medicine or mission. In 2008 we gave bursaries to doctors from DR Congo and Pakistan to attend the Developing Health Course run by Christian Medical Fellowship each year. 2011 saw us sponsor a medical student in Pakistan to become a doctor. Both of these have continued in a small way. Now we have started to encourage UK medics to consider mission by offering a bursary to help towards them doing their overseas elective/placement in a mission context.
The core mission and values remain; we still want to make Jesus known through the provision of healthcare but the way we do so needs to adapt to the changing times to ensure that we use the resources God has given us wisely.
