After Ed left the YMCA, he went with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association for a number of years. Then he came along side Franklin Graham in the early formative days of Samaritan’s Purse and World Medical Missions, where he served until his retirement. But Becky stayed on with World Medical Mission as Franklin’s first and longest serving employee. From those early days until now, she has facilitated the deployment of over 5,000 American doctors to mission hospitals around the world. In honor of her 70th Birthday and 3 decades of service, Franklin gave a million dollars toward the building of a surgical floor at the Bethany Hospital in Mumbai, India. It was my joy and privilege to go over with them for the dedication of that beautiful, multi-story, world class Christian hospital. And what a preparation for Thanksgiving it was!
This new Bethany Hospital is located in Thane, a suburb of Mumbai—one of the largest and most strategic cities in India. Mumbai, formerly Bombay, is both the economic and entertainment capital of India. It is there that the “Wall Street of India” is located as well as “Bollywood,” the Indian rival of Hollywood. And it was in the slums of Mumbai—considered the largest in the world—that the now famous movie, Slum Dog Millionaire, was filmed. And Mumbai was the scene of a horrific terrorist attack on the famous Taj Hotel where President Obama and his party recently visited. So it is in that strategic global city that this hospital is located—touching and transforming people spiritually and physically through the love and compassion of Jesus Christ.
Hospital founder, Dr. Stephen Alfred, left a very successful practice and comfortable surgical practice in the UK in the early 1990s to “...build a centre of Christian love working to alleviate suffering, pain and sickness.” In 1996-97, a 2 storied, 20 bed hospital was built. Soon it was expanded two more stories into a 62 bed facility. People continued to come for the unique combination of excellent medical treatment in the context of Christian compassion. Finally the vision for the Bethany Hospital was born—a 5 story, centrally air-conditioned, 125-bed hospital, with state-of-the-art facilities.
What a joy and privilege it was to be in Mumbai in November with Ed and Becky to celebrate with our Indian brethren the opening of this hospital. We thank God for the pioneer vision of Dr. Alfred who incarnates Christian love and compassion in marriage, medicine and ministry. He is an authentic servant-leader who lives out the motto of the hospital: “Not to be served, but to serve.” I also give thanks for the vision and generosity of Franklin Graham and his worldwide ministries of compassion through Samaritan’s Purse and World Medical Missions. And I thank God for Becky’s more than 3 decades of service to mission hospitals around the world through the deployment of American physicians. Finally, I thank God for my partnership with my brother, Ed, throughout all of my adult life. Without his constant support, encouragement and networking, NDI would never have had the impact it has had locally and globally. I hope you will be blessed and encouraged as you view this pictorial report of our recent time of travel and ministry in India.
The Lok Hospital was the first place of medical ministry by Dr. Stephen Alfred. This facility will now be primarily used for spiritual, medical and social ministry to HIV patients.
This was Becky’s second trip to India and Ed’s first. Here they enjoyed their first ride in the traditional 3-Wheel Taxi that tests your faith in God!
Before the dedication of the new Bethany Hospital, we all visited the older Lok Hospital. Here Becky, Ed and Faythe Furman, pause for a picture. Faythe is the widow of Dr. Lowell Furman, co-founder of World Medical Missions. Together they traveled and ministered in scores of mission hospitals around the world.
Faythe and Becky pause at the crib of a premie in the neo-natal unit.
One of the many premature babies whose lives are saved at the Hospital.
A vision becomes a reality through the “power of partnership.”
It is impossible to miss the philosophy of the Bethany Hospital as you enter the doors. These words of the Lord Jesus set the tone for all of the spiritual and medical ministry.
Dr. Alfred’s wife, Claire, Becky, Dr. Alfred and Ed together after the ribbon cutting and unveiling of the plaque honoring Becky.
Becky and Faythe in one of the new surgical units in her honor.
Becky & Ed relax a few moments at the Reception Desk of the Bethany Hospital. In India, medicine has become “big business” driven by commercial interests more than compassion. What a refreshing alternative the Bethany Hospital is!
Becky enjoys a hug from one of the joyous Christian staff.
Here one of the Hospital Staff shares his faith with a visitor at the dedication.
Ed, Claire, Becky, Dr. Alfred and Faythe enjoy a moment of fellowship and thanksgiving together at the dedication.
After our several days in Mumbai for the Bethany Hospital dedication, we traveled to Chennai to visit our partner there, Bishop Ezra Sargunam. Here Ed and Becky are given the traditional Indian greeting of leis of flowers and shawls of honor.
One of my very first projects with Bishop Ezra, and the Evangelical Church of India (ECI), was to build a church in honor of my parents, along with a “Happy Home” for orphans and needy children. Ed, Becky and I stand in front of the picture of our parents in India in 1939 before we were even born! So we thank God that He allowed us to fulfill what He first put in their hearts as missionaries. This church was dedicated in 1991 through the prayers and partnership of people like you.
Here we enjoyed a time with the beautiful children in the Happy Home, which continues to be supported through NDI. There are 55 children in this home now and over 700 in the Christian School on the premises.
Ed shares some words of encouragement with the children who had just sung songs and recited Bible verses for us.
As I always do, I enjoy visiting the dorms for the boys and girls at this ECI Happy Home—who sleep on triple-decker beds!
Becky pauses with some of the boys who had just performed for us since it was “Children’s Day” in India.
After our visit at the church and Happy Home, we enjoyed a visit with Bishop Sundar Singh (standing) and Bishop Ezra Sargunam (seated). ECI has now planted over 3,000 churches and 3,000 home churches and continues to plant an average of 3 churches a week in some corner of India!
Before leaving Chennai, I took Ed and Becky to visit the historic “Church of St. Thomas,” since tradition tells us that he first brought the Gospel to India before the end of the First Century and was martyred in Chennai, formerly known as Madras.
Airplane delays are common in India, so Ed catches a nap on the floor of the Chennai Airport—missionary style!
Because our flight from Chennai was delayed several hours, we arrived late in Coimbatore where we were met by my long time friend and partner, Murli Menon. In Indian tradition, he honored us with fragrant leis made from sandal wood.
After the drive from the airport to Murli and Usha’s new home and Guest House, we enjoyed a fantastic fellowship meal—a prelude to our American Thanksgiving feast!
Murli shows Ed and Becky the new classroom blocks at his Bible College that are being built in my honor through NDI under the leadership of my son, Joseph. We plan to return in March, 2011 for the dedication of this beautiful facility and would love to have you join us!
Murli shares his own testimony and miraculous story of this campus which is only 3 years old. We have been in partnership with him in this project from the beginning. It is one of the most beautiful spots in India, nestled in a former coconut plantation and surrounded by a mountainous Wildlife Reserve! What a joy and privilege to be involved in partnerships and projects like this—a true reason for Thanksgiving!
Ed and Becky pause outside the first Girl’s Home for precious little girls that Murli and Usha saved from female infanticide. This beautiful building was funded by Samaritan’s Purse, Germany.
Usha and Becky enjoy a few minutes of reading with several of these beautiful little gals!
You are looking at 16 living miracles since each one was rescued literally from the “jaws of death” as infants before they were killed by their poor parents who could not afford to raise them and pay for their future dowry in marriage. Just like millions of babies are murdered in America annually through abortion, the same killing of innocent infants happens after birth in India through female infanticide. So, as you enjoy Thanksgiving this week, I hope you will especially give thanks for the physical and spiritual salvation of these beautiful little girls who have been saved and adopted by Murli and Usha. Jesus still says: “Let the little children come unto Me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).
I am primarily an evangelist and teacher who travels around the world in apostolic ministry as God leads and enables me. In addition to preaching and teaching the Bible, I mentor our key partners to be more strategic and impactful for the Gospel in their countries and cultures, just as they continue to mentor me. I am relationally focused rather than program or project focused in ministry relationships and partnerships. 
