Lifewind International/ Medical Ambassadors International

Summary

Lifewind International, formerly Medical Ambassadors International is a non-denominational development and missions organization which aims to help overseas communities where access to health care is poorest and where the gospel of Christ is least heard. Lifewind International recruits, trains, and supports national leaders among developing people to take responsibility to reach their own people physically and spiritually. Lifewind International is committed to integrated ministry and trains nationals in basic preventative and curative medical care, as well as training them to evangelize and disciple their neighbors. Physical and spiritual ministry is integrated through the use of volunteer workers called Community Health Evangelists (CHE), a strategy linking evangelism and social action. The goal is to promote healthier families, more self-reliant communities, and stronger churches. Lifewind International was founded in 1980 by Ray Benson. Lifewind International promises that 100% of all gifts go directly to the worldwide ministries of Lifewind International. All fundraising and administrative costs are funded by a generous donor.

This organization is a nonprofit, contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Lifewind International, formerly Medical Ambassadors International is a non-denominational development and missions organization which aims to help overseas communities where access to health care is poorest and where the gospel of Christ is least heard. Lifewind International recruits, trains, and supports national leaders among developing people to take responsibility to reach their own people physically and spiritually. Lifewind International is committed to integrated ministry and trains nationals in basic preventative and curative medical care, as well as training them to evangelize and disciple their neighbors. Physical and spiritual ministry is integrated through the use of volunteer workers called Community Health Evangelists (CHE), a strategy linking evangelism and social action. The goal is to promote healthier families, more self-reliant communities, and stronger churches.

Lifewind International operates a number of programs, including: Community Health Evangelism; Reach the Children of the Third World; SendOne Partners; Agape Children's Ministry; Urban Care Ministry; and, Short-Term Missions. Lifewind International trains national health workers and pastors to become trainers of village health evangelists. These villagers then go back to their own people to treat basic diseases, teach preventative health care, assist with inoculations and present the Gospel.

Lifewind International was founded in 1980 by Dr. Ray Benson. Lifewind International promises that 100% of all gifts go directly to the worldwide ministries of Lifewind International. All fundraising and administrative costs are funded by a generous donor. Medical Ambassadors International has produced a full SF Report which is available at http://www.sf.org. The activities of Medical Ambassadors Canada Association (MACA) and Global Partners Foundation (GPF) are consolidated in Lifewind International's financial statements. MACA and GPF support Lifewind International's worldwide activities by providing funding and are under Lifewind International's control.

This organization is a nonprofit, contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Lifewind International uses the following to communicate its mission:

Under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, Lifewind International recruits, trains, and supports national leaders among developing people to take responsibility to reach their own people physically and spiritually. Committed to an integrated ministry, Lifewind International trains nationals in basic preventative and curative medical care, as well as training them to evangelize and disciple their neighbors. The goal is to promote healthier families, more self-reliant communities, and stronger churches -- new and existing - with a clearly defined ministry and mission.

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Lifewind International has communicated the following program accomplishments:

2003-
Award

Selected by Christianity Today (April 2003) in their Best Christian Place to Work survey as 1st Place winner in the “Small Missions & Parachurch Organizations” category.

Lesson Plan Development

Developed and expanded programs in agriculture, HIV/AIDS prevention, children’s health education. Also added 183 new lesson plans to an existing curriculum of 631 in ministry to children, cross cultural training, emotional health, animal husdandry, eye care, HIV/AIDS, women’s health and pregnancy, and servant leadership.

Worldwide Training Team Accomplishments

Expanded operations to 60 countries, 261 projects, and 1,021 communities. 24 countries are within the 10/40 Window. Held 79 Training of Trainers sessions around the world.

Community Health Worker Accomplishments

• 20,062 people prayed to receive Christ
• 19 churches were planted
• 130,038 home visits were made
• 21,732 individuals were discipled
• 102,354 vaccinations were given
• 23,193 latrines were built

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Lifewind International subscribes to the following statement of faith:

We believe that the Bible, in its entirety in the original writings, is the inspired, inerrant, infallible and authoritative Word of God.

We believe in one God, eternally existent in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious death and the atonement through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His imminent personal return in power and glory.

We believe that, for the salvation of lost and sinful man, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ provides the only grounds for justification.

We believe in the regenerating ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose power the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

We believe in the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life eternal.

We believe in the spiritual unity of the Church, which is the Body of Christ, composed of all who are regenerated through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We believe in the reality of heaven, hell and satan, which gives urgency to Christ's command to reach all of the world with the Gospel.

History [ Back to top ]

Lifewind International was founded by Ray Benson who was a surgeon with a private practice in Billings, Montana. When Ray and his wife, Lou, met Dick Hillis, founder of Overseas Crusade, the vision of this organization appealed to Ray and he began traveling with Dick on Overseas Crusade mission trips.

In 1973, Ray sold his surgery clinic and moved to Vietnam with his family where they served under the auspices of Overseas Crusade. It was at this time that the title, Medical Ambassadors, was adopted by Ray as a counterpart to Overseas Crusade's Sports Ambassadors. After a harrowing, last-moment helicopter evacuation from Vietnam at the close of the war, the Bensons moved to the US and began the ministry of Medical Ambassadors. Their vision at this time was to assist nationals in integrating a spiritual ministry with the physical ministry of health care.

In 1980, Lifewind International became an independent mission with ministries in the Philippines and Latin America. In 1984, ministries were begun in India, soon followed by Nepal and Bangladesh. In 1988, founder Raymond Benson asked Paul Calhoun, MD, to take over the leadership of the mission as executive director. Paul gave up his dermatology practice to become a part of the organization and works fulltime without taking salary or benefits from the mission, choosing to support his family from investments made while practicing medicine.

In 1988, ministries were begun in three African countries. Also in 1988, Lifewind International's central strategy of Community Health Evangelism (CHE) was adopted. In 1990, Stan Rowland, the designer of CHE, joined the Lifewind International staff. In 1992, in response to the maturity of the Philippine organization, MASEA (Medical Ambassadors of Southeast Asia) was incorporated as an indigenous program. In 1993, Medical Ambassadors Canada Association (MACA) was incorporated as a nonprofit organization.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

This ministry has not been rated