VOLUME 6, ISSUE 11 for Thursday, JUNE 21, 2018
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Photo Credit: Yohei Nishimura / AP
On the morning of 18 June 2018, an earthquake hit the city of Osaka in Japan. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.9, killed 5 people and injured at least 214. Damage was sustained through several prefectures in the southern area of Honshu, the largest island and most populous island in Japan.On the morning of 18 June 2018, an earthquake hit the city of Osaka in Japan. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 5.9, killed 5 people and injured at least 214. Damage was sustained through several prefectures in the southern area of Honshu, the largest island and most populous island in Japan.
In addition to the casualties, almost 700 people have been evacuated in the aftermath of the quake. Over 100,000 homes were without gas and water in Osaka, and around 170,000 suffered power outages, though these were soon resolved. Through four prefectures, 334 buildings were damaged in the earthquake, most of which were in Osaka. In addition, burst pipes caused flooding in some areas of Takatsuki city.
Please be in prayer for the following:
- The families of the 5 people who were killed, and for the 214 confirmed injured in the quake.
- Those displaced by the aftermath of the earthquake
- The Nazarene churches in the area, as they respond to the needs of those around them and reckon with the toll of the earthquake within their congregations.
Articles and Blogs
Little did Jim realize then that when he and his wife, Kathy, retired at the end of 2017, it would be their son Ben who took over as the surgeon at the hospital.
Dr. Jim Radcliffe served 33 years as a surgeon at Kudjip Nazarene Hospital in the Western Highlands of Papua New Guinea (PNG). When he spoke in churches during his home assignment tours in the United States, he often declared, “I hope to work myself out of a job.”
Little did Jim realize then that when he and his wife, Kathy, retired at the end of 2017, it would be their son Ben who took over as the surgeon at the hospital.
Back when Ben was attending the one-room high school in Kudjip, he had his own ideas about his future. “I wanted to teach history and coach basketball,” he says. “What I didn’t want was to be a missionary or a doctor!”
That changed during his senior year when he took a course on the history of Christian missions. He read about the work of Christian Medical College Vellore, in south India, and heard God’s voice: “If I asked you to do anything, would you do it?”
Ben’s answer was “yes!” He yielded to God’s call to a career in medicine. His idea then was to become a physician who would go overseas from time to time, to relieve missionary doctors.
Two years later, during revival services at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, he felt God’s call again. This time he knew God was calling him back overseas to pursue a career as a missionary doctor.
During his junior year, Ben began dating fellow student Katherine Stevens, who told him she had experienced her call to be a missionary at age twelve. They were both pre-med students. Ben graduated in 2003 and worked on campus for a year until Katherine graduated, and they married in August 2004.
They applied to several medical schools. Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University invited Katherine for an interview. The interviewer asked, “Have any family members studied here?”
“Well, my husband applied here last year, but you didn’t accept him.”
The interviewer studied Ben’s file and said, “Can your husband come for an interview?”
“He’s in the parking lot—but he’s dressed in a T-shirt and jeans.”
“Tell him to come up here.”
They were both accepted—the first married couple in the history of the school.
After obtaining their medical degrees in 2009, Katherine went on to a residency in family medicine, finishing in 2012. Ben completed his surgery residency in 2014 at Ohio State University College of Medicine where his father had studied. Following his graduation, Ben and Katherine returned to PNG to assist for several months at the Kudjip hospital. The medical college held Ben in such high esteem it sent a quarter million dollars worth of medical hardware with him to the hospital.
Next, the couple applied to the Samaritan Purse’s Post Residency Program. The program funds a two-year term of service for Christian physicians and their families called to medical missions. The program has partnerships with medical facilities in many parts of the world—including Kudjip Nazarene Hospital. Ben and Katherine were asked, “Where would you like to go?”
In February 2015, they were on their way to Papua New Guinea, with their two boys, Simeon and Matthias, in tow. “When I said yes to God, I didn’t think I would go back to PNG,” Ben says. “But what a thrill it was to follow God’s leading and spend two years working with Dad.”
Jim says, “Ben’s training was superb. He took charge of most of the surgeries, and I assisted him. He is a first-class surgeon.”
An emergency developed when Katherine found she was pregnant with twins. “We would have been comfortable with the Kudjip staff delivering the babies,” said Ben. “But Katherine had kidney stones and other issues that complicated matters.”
The high-risk situation required a five-month stay in Ohio for the birth of twin girls, Tabea and Naomi. They then completed their two-year appointment and returned to Ohio for further surgery for Katherine.
They applied to several medical schools. Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University invited Katherine for an interview. The interviewer asked, “Have any family members studied here?”
“Well, my husband applied here last year, but you didn’t accept him.”
The interviewer studied Ben’s file and said, “Can your husband come for an interview?”
“He’s in the parking lot—but he’s dressed in a T-shirt and jeans.”
“Tell him to come up here.”
They were both accepted—the first married couple in the history of the school.
After obtaining their medical degrees in 2009, Katherine went on to a residency in family medicine, finishing in 2012. Ben completed his surgery residency in 2014 at Ohio State University College of Medicine where his father had studied. Following his graduation, Ben and Katherine returned to PNG to assist for several months at the Kudjip hospital. The medical college held Ben in such high esteem it sent a quarter million dollars worth of medical hardware with him to the hospital.
Next, the couple applied to the Samaritan Purse’s Post Residency Program. The program funds a two-year term of service for Christian physicians and their families called to medical missions. The program has partnerships with medical facilities in many parts of the world—including Kudjip Nazarene Hospital. Ben and Katherine were asked, “Where would you like to go?”
In February 2015, they were on their way to Papua New Guinea, with their two boys, Simeon and Matthias, in tow. “When I said yes to God, I didn’t think I would go back to PNG,” Ben says. “But what a thrill it was to follow God’s leading and spend two years working with Dad.”
Jim says, “Ben’s training was superb. He took charge of most of the surgeries, and I assisted him. He is a first-class surgeon.”
An emergency developed when Katherine found she was pregnant with twins. “We would have been comfortable with the Kudjip staff delivering the babies,” said Ben. “But Katherine had kidney stones and other issues that complicated matters.”
The high-risk situation required a five-month stay in Ohio for the birth of twin girls, Tabea and Naomi. They then completed their two-year appointment and returned to Ohio for further surgery for Katherine.
Ben and Katherine arrived back in PNG with their four children in February 2018. During their previous short stints in Kudjip, Father and son had worked together as surgeons for nearly three years. Now they are back on the island where Ben is “home.”
“I am sad my parents have moved on,” said Ben. “This is a bittersweet transition, as I won’t get to work with Dad anymore.”
“My medical ministry will benefit from my father’s reputation,” Ben continued. “He helped train PNG medical people. Doors will open to me because of him.”
According to Jim Radcliffe, his son and daughter-in-law serve a hospital that has entered a new era. Katherine, while raising their four young children, is the coordinator of medical volunteers. She handles the scheduling of medical students and residents who come to Kudjip from PNG and around the world to do training rotations, and medical professionals who volunteer at the hospital, such as with the Samaritan’s Purse program.
Ben, like his father, has a vision of working himself out of a job. He influences the lives of dozens of medical personnel who are learning from him. Kudjip Hospital participates in a program that trains Papua New Guinean doctors who work in rural and remote areas and has recently been approved as a training site for doctors specializing in general surgery.
As a doctor, Ben Radcliffe brings healing in the surgical unit. As a follower of Jesus, he lives a life glorifying his Savior.
New torches are passing into many hands. (Originally published in Engage Magazine)
“I am sad my parents have moved on,” said Ben. “This is a bittersweet transition, as I won’t get to work with Dad anymore.”
“My medical ministry will benefit from my father’s reputation,” Ben continued. “He helped train PNG medical people. Doors will open to me because of him.”
According to Jim Radcliffe, his son and daughter-in-law serve a hospital that has entered a new era. Katherine, while raising their four young children, is the coordinator of medical volunteers. She handles the scheduling of medical students and residents who come to Kudjip from PNG and around the world to do training rotations, and medical professionals who volunteer at the hospital, such as with the Samaritan’s Purse program.
Ben, like his father, has a vision of working himself out of a job. He influences the lives of dozens of medical personnel who are learning from him. Kudjip Hospital participates in a program that trains Papua New Guinean doctors who work in rural and remote areas and has recently been approved as a training site for doctors specializing in general surgery.
As a doctor, Ben Radcliffe brings healing in the surgical unit. As a follower of Jesus, he lives a life glorifying his Savior.
New torches are passing into many hands. (Originally published in Engage Magazine)
Read More.
The commitment we hold to God is also a commitment to each other. Not only do we agree to walk with God through all of the challenges and the triumphs, but we agree to walk with each other as well. Sometimes this is less appealing than walking with God because it requires us to trust people who are fallible. May we as Christians commit not only to follow Christ through whatever may happen but to follow alongside one another.
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of God in the right hand and in the left. (2 Corinthians 6:3-7)
This year my wife and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. Naturally, we spent that time thinking about the beginning of our married life. Sometimes I think back to what we were like a decade ago. We really had no idea what the future held. We only knew that we wanted to be together, and that was enough for us. However, as every married person knows, marriage is much more than simply being together. There have been so many ups and downs, so many challenges and victories, so many moments of sadness and of joy. It has been the best ten years of my life, but that doesn’t mean it has been easy.
One reason God gives us family relationships is to teach us about His love and what it means to follow Him. I am reminded of the challenge of marriage when I read 2 Corinthians 6:3-13. Paul lists all of the things that servants of Christ must endure. He mentions troubles, hardship, and toil, but he also mentions kindness, love, and power. It reminds me of the wedding vows my wife and I shared, where we vowed to remember each other in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer.
Many people follow Jesus with a very emotional response. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this, but it can be a harsh awakening when the troubles of this world present themselves. Like in marriage, many find that they misunderstood what the commitment would demand of them. The Corinthian church presented many challenges for Paul, and here one wonders if they were growing disillusioned with the high cost of following Jesus. From verses 11-13, Paul even mentions that the Corinthians have withdrawn from Paul, even though Paul and his associates have committed themselves to minister to the Corinthians.
This seems to come unexpectedly within the passage, but Paul is making a connection here. The commitment we hold to God is also a commitment to each other. Not only do we agree to walk with God through all of the challenges and the triumphs, but we agree to walk with each other as well. Sometimes this is less appealing than walking with God because it requires us to trust people who are fallible. But Paul’s charge in verse 13 is one we should all heed: the hardships and the joys are richer and more bearable when they are shared with others. May we as Christians commit not only to follow Christ through whatever may happen but to follow alongside one another.
Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of God in the right hand and in the left. (2 Corinthians 6:3-7)
This year my wife and I celebrated our tenth wedding anniversary. Naturally, we spent that time thinking about the beginning of our married life. Sometimes I think back to what we were like a decade ago. We really had no idea what the future held. We only knew that we wanted to be together, and that was enough for us. However, as every married person knows, marriage is much more than simply being together. There have been so many ups and downs, so many challenges and victories, so many moments of sadness and of joy. It has been the best ten years of my life, but that doesn’t mean it has been easy.
One reason God gives us family relationships is to teach us about His love and what it means to follow Him. I am reminded of the challenge of marriage when I read 2 Corinthians 6:3-13. Paul lists all of the things that servants of Christ must endure. He mentions troubles, hardship, and toil, but he also mentions kindness, love, and power. It reminds me of the wedding vows my wife and I shared, where we vowed to remember each other in sickness and in health, for richer or poorer.
Many people follow Jesus with a very emotional response. There is nothing necessarily wrong with this, but it can be a harsh awakening when the troubles of this world present themselves. Like in marriage, many find that they misunderstood what the commitment would demand of them. The Corinthian church presented many challenges for Paul, and here one wonders if they were growing disillusioned with the high cost of following Jesus. From verses 11-13, Paul even mentions that the Corinthians have withdrawn from Paul, even though Paul and his associates have committed themselves to minister to the Corinthians.
This seems to come unexpectedly within the passage, but Paul is making a connection here. The commitment we hold to God is also a commitment to each other. Not only do we agree to walk with God through all of the challenges and the triumphs, but we agree to walk with each other as well. Sometimes this is less appealing than walking with God because it requires us to trust people who are fallible. But Paul’s charge in verse 13 is one we should all heed: the hardships and the joys are richer and more bearable when they are shared with others. May we as Christians commit not only to follow Christ through whatever may happen but to follow alongside one another.
Announcements
Dynamic Language Centre is accepting applications for full-time language teachers in their English language center in Penang, Malaysia. The newly renovated center has been in the business for over 15 years. While they teach many languages, children’s and adult English are their main focus. If you are an experienced children’s teacher, enjoy a wide mix of cultures from Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and are looking for a rewarding career- we have an opportunity for you!
Dynamic Language Centre is accepting applications for full-time language teachers in their English language center in Penang, Malaysia.
The newly renovated center has been in the business for over 18 years. While they teach many languages, children’s and adult English are their main focus.
If you are an experienced children’s teacher, enjoy a wide mix of cultures from Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and are looking for a rewarding career- we have an opportunity for you!
Candidates should be:
Teaching Opportunity in Malaysia!
Name *
Email *
Qualifications: *
I verify that: 1) English is my First Language, 2) I have a 4-year university degree, 3) I have had experience teaching children, 4) I am TESOL Certified.Yes, I have the above qualifications.
Additional comments
ATR Newsletter *
May we include you in our weekly Around The Region email newsletter? It is released each Saturday with updated Praise Reports, Prayer Requests, and inspirational stories of God working on the region.Yes please!No thank you.I am already a subscriber.
Verification
Please enter any two digits *Example: 12
Dynamic Language Centre is accepting applications for full-time language teachers in their English language center in Penang, Malaysia.
The newly renovated center has been in the business for over 18 years. While they teach many languages, children’s and adult English are their main focus.
If you are an experienced children’s teacher, enjoy a wide mix of cultures from Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa, and are looking for a rewarding career- we have an opportunity for you!
Candidates should be:
- Native English speakers
- 4-year University degree holders
- Experienced in teaching children
- TESOL certified
Teaching Opportunity in Malaysia!
Name *
Email *
Qualifications: *
I verify that: 1) English is my First Language, 2) I have a 4-year university degree, 3) I have had experience teaching children, 4) I am TESOL Certified.Yes, I have the above qualifications.
Additional comments
ATR Newsletter *
May we include you in our weekly Around The Region email newsletter? It is released each Saturday with updated Praise Reports, Prayer Requests, and inspirational stories of God working on the region.Yes please!No thank you.I am already a subscriber.
Verification
Please enter any two digits *Example: 12
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The Global Church of the Nazarene Asia-Pacific Region
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