Welcome to Global Health Ministries' homepage! This site is intended to serve as a resource for Lutheran health care work overseas. Please feel free to explore and learn more about how YOU can make a meaningful difference throughout the world. If you have a specific question about Global Health Ministries, please e-mail us at ghmoffice@cs.com. Click here to read our Policy Statement on Donor Information.

Breaking News: Midwife Kit changed to Newborn Kit
Midwife kits have been a GHM signature project for many years. The kits have been shipped to many countries where they have provided clean and useful supplies to midwives, birth attendants, new moms and babies. Over the years, we have asked questions on how best to improve these kits from our partners overseas. Suggestions have varied from country to country, but after much discussion and prayer, we found common agreement on the following changes: remove the razor blades, cord ties, and gloves, and change the name. Read more in an exclusive B-line edition in the July-August Newsletter. Click here for the new Newborn Kit brochure.

Save the Date!
The GHM Fall Conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, MN. The title of the conference is "GHM and You: Making a Difference in the World", and will feature a number of exciting workshops, speakers, stories, and more. Great opportunity to learn, share, network, and fellowship as we continue this ministry of healing and hope for the world's poor and sick through Lutheran health care programs around the world. Please save this date and look for additional information on this upcoming conference! Click here for more information and online registration.

Shipping Campaign
Last year was a record for Global Health Ministries with over 65 unique shipments of medical supplies, equipment, furnishings, and mission-related items to partners in over 22 countries. Fifteen of these were container shipments (20’ & 40’), while the balance were suitcases for travelers or pallets to other organizations; a total of 63,818 cubic feet, 740,067 pounds, and a fair market value of $3,280,377. A remarkable achievement indeed and we give thanks to God for the dedication of our faithful volunteers, partners, congregations, companion synods, and all who support this vital ministry of healing and hope for so many around the world. Thank you and praise be to God! And this year promises to equal, if not surpass, this record with twenty-four container shipments requested by our partners, and the many suitcases and pallets that will be requested by medical teams and partner organizations throughout the year. The warehouse is humming with activity and excitement as volunteers sort, inspect, fold, repair, recycle, box, inventory, stage, and prepare for these shipments. However, our shipping program can only continue with generous support from YOU! We need to rally in support of GHM’s shipping program if we are to continue with this level of support for our brothers and sisters overseas and respond their requests.Please consider a generous gift in support of General Shipping (Project: 99-S0000) or sponsoring a specific shipment. Call the GHM office for more details. Thank you!

Campaign for Hospice Kits Continues
When news of the spreading HIV/AIDS pandemic began to break years ago, Global Health Ministries provided seed money to start-up one of the first in-home hospice programs in Africa. Later, mission hospital physicians and nurses were consulted to develop a hospice kit. An invitation was sent to GHM supporters around the nation to prepare and send the new kit, and the response was outstanding. Today, ELCA missionary Dr. Kristopher Hartwig leads an effort by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania to expand hospice programming to all twenty ELCT hospitals. He has requested 5000 hospice kits from GHM to support services to the growing numbers cared for by this program. Please support the campaign by sending hospice kits for our shipments, or by contributing the $5.00/kit it costs to send the kit and finance medications and training. GHM Project #79PC-S0003.

For more information about the contents of the kit and its preparation, click here.
For a detailed presentation on Dr. Hartwig's challenging and inspiring program, click here.
To view a short film about the program and those served, click here.
To review the annual report of the program, click here.

Meet the Challenge, Help Change the World
You know these are difficult economic times for many in America. You also know the healthcare needs in developing nations remain urgent. But did you know that incredibly generous donations of supplies and equipment continue to flow into the GHM warehouse?

Requests for assistance have also been received, so far enough to fill 20 containers to be sent to 8 countries. Supplies are flowing in, requests have been received, volunteers stand ready to sort and pack. We lack one thing. Shipping costs will come to $267,000. Funds promised thus far are $60,500. (Download Brochure)

In order to help the hands that heal, we must secure an additional $206,500 by October to ensure the supplies and equipment we have received can be shipped to the caregivers and hospitals who are awaiting their arrival. Please consider a gift to help us meet the challenge, help us change the world.
Rev. Lamont M. Koerner, Associate for Fund Development

Charity Navigator Award

For the seventh consecutive year, Global Health Ministries has received a 4-star rating from Charity Naviagator, America's largest independent evaluator of charities. Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your organization excels, as compared to other charities in America, in successfully managing the finances of your organization in an efficient and effective manner.This consistency in your rating is an exceptional feat, especially given the economic challenges many charities have had to face in the last year. To learn more about Charity Navigator and GHM's profile, please click here.

Anosy Villages Integrated Actions (AVIA) Development Program
The Lutheran Church in Madagascar operates one of the largest health care systems supported by Global Health Ministries: 8 hospitals, 22 health centers and 14 clinics. GHM finances numerous project and all shipments of medical supplies and equipment to Madagascar in collaboration with SOA (Salfa Overseas Assistance), with total annual grants and allocations averaging nearly $130,000 over each of the last five years for such projects as Rural Clinic Support, SEFAM (School of Nursing), Continuing Education and Residencies, Pharmacotherapy services for the mentally ill, purchase of equipment and vehicles. Click here to learn more.

GHM Videos Online
GHM videos are now online! Helping the Hands that Heal, When you Volunteer, and We Can Give Hope.

Attention Thrivent Memmbers
The Thrivent GivingPlus Program has ended as of 2009 and a new program will start in the Spring of 2010. As information becomes available, we will keep you posted. Thank you!

If you are looking for brochures for the hands-on projects, please click on the following links: rolled bandages, midwife kits, hospice kits, baby blankets, and baby cap instructions.