This edition of HealthServe marks a number of milestones. It marks the first edition of the New Year, the start of the third year of the magazine under the title of ‘HealthServe’, and the start of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary year of the MMA. Such milestones can often be times for reflecting on the past, re-evaluating the present and looking to the future.

In this edition of HealthServe, I hope that we have found balance between reflection, re-evaluation and looking forward. As you will see, the New Year brought with it the closure of our hostel in North London, Harcourt House, and with it an ending of an era of MMA’s work. In this edition we reflect on the work of the MMA’s hostel down the years, and how it has helped generations of Christian healthcare missionaries as they prepared and trained to work among the nations.

In this edition, we also have a chance to reflect on what is happening at the moment in the whole area of the work of Christian hospitals, and at the future, on the development of new ways of working for Christian health institutions world-wide, in a report on the Healthcare Mission forum last November. Finally, Howard Lyons, the Chairman of MMA HealthServe reflects on our own present situation and the future direction of MMA HealthServe.

Changes are afoot, the most significant of which is that we are looking at a possible merger with the Christian Medical Fellowship early in 2004. This has come about after many years of close working between the two organisations. We have for some years shared between the two organisations the post of CMF Overseas Support Secretary and MMA HealthServe Medical Director, roles currently filled by Dr Peter Armon. We have also produced many pieces of literature jointly down the years, and have run together the Residential Refresher Course for nearly a quarter of a century. We see this coming together as a move of the Holy Spirit - bringing together the strengths of both bodies to add to what we both do already rather than dilute it. I hope to be able to say more in future editions of HealthServe.

In the Jewish calendar, Rosh Hashanah, the New Year, is a time for repentance, sober reflection and rededication of the nation, family and individual to God and His service. The start of this anniversary year for MMA HealthServe is also, I believe, a time for us to listen to God for His direction - not just to look back at the past, nor to dwell overlong on the present, but to be prepared for God to do a new thing with this organisation and its ministry.

So, I pray for all of you that you hear the Lord’s guidance in your own lives and ministries in 2003 and ask that you pray for our plans and vision to be shaped and directed by God’s will in the coming year.

Steve Fouch