INTRODUCING THE TEAM: DR. CAL KIERUM
The Congo Vision Trip team consists of three members: Senior Pastor Martin Schlomer, Elder Board chair Cal Kierum, and Women's Ministry Coordinator Linda McCoy. We have asked each to submit a photo and write an introductory blog about who they are and why they are planning on traveling to the Congo next summer. Cal's is the final submission of the three.
My name is Cal Kierum. I am a pediatrician in Puyallup, Washington. I have been married to Stacie for 18 years. We have three children -- Caitlin, Caleb, and Kirsten. I believe God has called me to go to the Congo.Prior to December 2005, I was aware of the statistics regarding the AIDS crisis in Africa. While it had registered intellectually, it had not broken my heart. Then, I was invited to attend an AIDS program with World Vision. As I heard the speakers then went through the exhibit, I became convicted of my own callousness to the people affected by this crisis.
I believe the Lord laid heavily on my heart, in particular, the sense of isolation our Christian brothers and sisters in Africa must feel as they suffer through this while we in the West seemingly ignore it. I began to believe that He had called me to go and see what He was doing in Africa.
As I prayed and investigated further, I was thrilled to find out that the Evangelical Free Church had a mission in the Congo with an emphasis on AIDS, through TouchGlobal (formerly Compassion Ministries). I found that I really resonated with their focus of ministering the love of Christ to orphans and widows through the local church. I was also thrilled to find that others in my church family felt called to go to the Congo in the Lord’s name. And, of course, I would not have considered going without the support of my wife and children. I can only assume that this has been the Lord’s timing since I had no aspirations to mission work at this stage in my life prior to this.
My heart is to minister to the children, many of whom have lost one or both parents to HIV. Some of these children have themselves contracted HIV, through no fault of their own. Some are now functionally the “parent” of the family, providing care for younger siblings or dying parents. My own life experience allows me to empathize with that in a small way.
I am looking forward to getting to know our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Congo. They have been at the forefront of seeing this crisis as an opportunity to live out the Gospel. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing how the Lord is moving in this situation. I also look forward to how He will change those who go to the Congo.
I will probably do some medical work while there. One need that I have been made aware of is for continuing education for the physicians and nurses at the Free Church hospital in Tandala. I am sure that both the nurses and doctors who give up so much to work there and the primitive conditions that they work under will challenge me. I would also hope to look for opportunities to couple medical care with Christian witness and counseling.
My prayer requests are first for peace and safety for my family while I am gone. Second, I pray for finances for this trip for our group. Of course, prayer for our group’s safety is important although we all trust that the safest place that we can be is in God’s will. Finally, prayers that God would use this trip not only to transform those of us who go but that He would transform our congregation so that we can better minister His love to others, whether that be in the Congo or here on South Hill.
Cal Kierum
1 John 3: 17-18
I believe the Lord laid heavily on my heart, in particular, the sense of isolation our Christian brothers and sisters in Africa must feel as they suffer through this while we in the West seemingly ignore it. I began to believe that He had called me to go and see what He was doing in Africa.
As I prayed and investigated further, I was thrilled to find out that the Evangelical Free Church had a mission in the Congo with an emphasis on AIDS, through TouchGlobal (formerly Compassion Ministries). I found that I really resonated with their focus of ministering the love of Christ to orphans and widows through the local church. I was also thrilled to find that others in my church family felt called to go to the Congo in the Lord’s name. And, of course, I would not have considered going without the support of my wife and children. I can only assume that this has been the Lord’s timing since I had no aspirations to mission work at this stage in my life prior to this.
My heart is to minister to the children, many of whom have lost one or both parents to HIV. Some of these children have themselves contracted HIV, through no fault of their own. Some are now functionally the “parent” of the family, providing care for younger siblings or dying parents. My own life experience allows me to empathize with that in a small way.
I am looking forward to getting to know our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Congo. They have been at the forefront of seeing this crisis as an opportunity to live out the Gospel. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing how the Lord is moving in this situation. I also look forward to how He will change those who go to the Congo.
I will probably do some medical work while there. One need that I have been made aware of is for continuing education for the physicians and nurses at the Free Church hospital in Tandala. I am sure that both the nurses and doctors who give up so much to work there and the primitive conditions that they work under will challenge me. I would also hope to look for opportunities to couple medical care with Christian witness and counseling.
My prayer requests are first for peace and safety for my family while I am gone. Second, I pray for finances for this trip for our group. Of course, prayer for our group’s safety is important although we all trust that the safest place that we can be is in God’s will. Finally, prayers that God would use this trip not only to transform those of us who go but that He would transform our congregation so that we can better minister His love to others, whether that be in the Congo or here on South Hill.
Cal Kierum
1 John 3: 17-18
posted by Larry Short at 9:39 PM
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