Hello Fellow Healthcare Worker, 

Many of us in the healthcare industry have struggled throughout the years of our profession with the frustrating disconnect between our vocation (calling) and our profession, even if for that reason we chose the path of study in healthcare that we did. As a result, some have gravitated towards medical short term missions or even becoming a medical missionary as an outlet to connect the two tensions. 

But what if both can be one? What if there were expressions of these available domestically near to home? We've heard and seen of some in the expressions of free clinics. But what if we saw a whole community built around just that kind of incarnation of the gospel? What if we saw a "village" that "transforms", just that way? A Transformation Village!

Well, that is just the opportunity we have to hear of one month from now and why you are receiving this e-mail. Abraham and Lillian Poon oversee and operate this type of incarnational/missional village that's fusing a holistic gospel through the delivery of healthcare and more at an orphanage in China ( Living Stones Village ) revolving around the areas of "family" homes, education, vocational training & mental health that's set on a campus of gardens, villas, performing arts and sports. They are coming to share and impart their experience in an effort to help our region, Northeast Ohio, raise up this kind of "village" at a place called the Family Minsitry Center (FMC)( http://outreachconnections.org/bsfmc/ ) in the Clark/Fulton neighborhood on the Near West Side of Cleveland (please see below & attachment for details). 

Rev. Abraham (Dr. & author) and Lillian Poon minister throughout North America and internationally. The Poons and their ministry team have conducted schools, conferences, short courses and consultations in North America, Asia, Africa, Europe, South America, and the Middle East.

Abraham is the founder and Senior Pastor of San Jose Christian Alliance Church since 1975. He was the Corporate Vice President of the US Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) from 2000 to 2004. Currently Abraham serves as the President of the Chinese Churches Association of US Christian and Missionary Alliance, member of CCA Executive Committee, and Chairman of the Board for Living Stones Village, an orphanage in Guangxi, China. 

Lillian founded the Alliance Community Counseling Center and practiced as a licensed Marriage, Child, and Family therapist for 20 years before joining Abraham in the ministry locally and globally.

Since 2006, Abraham and Lillian began serving the handicapped fatherless in China through the Living Stones Village as Chairman of the Board and Project Overseer respectively.

Please note: this retreat/workshop is not a call to come listen and somehow support this orphanage. The Poon"s heart in coming to NEO is not that you support them financially or go to China and join them at their orphange over there (the Lord has more than provided for them!). Their heart in coming to NEO is to help us raise this type of Transfomation Village over here, locally, at the FMC! This is a call to all those healthcare workers seasoned or "in-training" that are yearning for something "more" than what their profession could ever offer. May I emphasize that this is a retreat & a workshop; you have the choice of staying overnight or dropping in on one of the sessions throughout the weekend.

in Him,

Edwardo Munoz R.N., B.S.N., M.C.M.
Nurse Case Manager/MetroHealth Christian Fellowship 
MetroHealth Medical Center, & Pastor
LivingStones Communities  

This is the first post on our  blog.  Feel free to check back occasionally for updates!