Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society
| Formation | 30 November 1841 |
|---|---|
| Legal status | Charity |
| Purpose | Medical Missionary Aid |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, Scotland |
|
Region served
|
U.K., India, Nepal, Malawi |
|
CEO
|
James M Wells |
|
Main organ
|
Board of Trustees |
|
Budget
|
£818,394 (2011) |
| Website | http://www.emms.org [1] |
EMMS International is a non-denominational christian Non-governmental Organization (NGO) that provides medical aid to countries around the world and operates field offices in the UK, Malawi, India, Israel, and Nepal. Based in Scotland, its vision is "health for today, hope for tomorrow."
In 1841, The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society International (EMMS) was founded as the Edinburgh Association for Sending Medical Aid to Foreign Countries. In 1843, it was renamed as The Edinburgh Medical Missionary Society. During the 19th century it provided supplies to missionaries like Dr James Johnston who set out from Jamaica with six Afro-Caribbeans to investigate the "Dark Continent". Johnston wrote an account of his travels comparing the romance created by missionaries and organisations seeking funding and the realities of visiting Africa.
In 2002, the organization split into two charities: the EMMS International and EMMS Nazareth which operates under the name of The Nazareth Trust. The Nazareth Trust owns and runs The Nazareth Hospital founded by EMMS missionary Kaloost Vartan. In 2010, the EMMS International supported 35 hospitals, clinics, and health projects. It specializes in the funding of construction of facilities, new equipment, staff training, and community health initiatives. In Malawi, it supports eight projects, including four hospitals, one college of nursing, one maternity unit, and two clinics. In 2011, the overall income of the organization was £818,394 and the expenditures were £945,327.
The values that EMMS International seeks to express are faithfulness, empowerment, encouragement, and accountability. Its core values are derived from the Presbyterian Christian faith. The members of the organization are acting as a response to their religious belief in Jesus Christ and God. Through prayer and donations, the organization declares that it strives to help and serve others. This Christian calling is found in the posting of news items and blog posts on the EMMS International website that begin with phrases such as "Praise God" and "Pray."
EMMS International’s Christian values are faithfulness, empowerment, encouragement, and accountability. It seeks to spread Christianity through medical missions to those in need and works with Christian organizations overseas in India, Nepal, and Malawi. However, it does not provide Christian literature to its overseas partners. In order to follow Christianity and keep Jesus Christ in focus, the EMMS asks for constant prayer for guidance and protection. EMMS International states that "the importance of prayer to a missionary organization should never be under-estimated." EMMS International suggests that members and people concerned with the success of the organisation pray on a daily basis. There is an official EMMS International prayer that asks for a continued focus on Jesus Christ and the light that He is to the world. The EMMS staff has weekly Bible meetings in which staff members read the Bible, pray, and meditate on the Bible.
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