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Oklahoman resigns over 2000 BF&M Pioneer in Medical Missions Leaves NAMB
By Marv Knox,
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (ABP) -- Veteran medical missionary Fred Loper has been named associate executive director of the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship. "This is a fantastic step forward for the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship," said BMDF Executive Director Jim Williams. "He personally has been responsible for helping to start about 200 faith-based health clinics across the United States. . . . It's a fabulous ministry, and he wants to continue with us."
Loper, a physician based in Oklahoma City, has for the past 16 years been a national medical missionary with the Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board. He and his wife, Lavada, were the only medical missionaries appointed by the board.
The Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship is an independent organization involving physicians, dentists and other health-care professionals in mission activity worldwide. Volunteers not only treat patients' physical needs but also tell them about Christ, Williams said.
Loper's addition to the staff is a "strategic move" for BMDF, Williams added. "It is a result of the implementation of a new vision. Over the last three years, we have been planning and implementing changes to become a much more diverse and comprehensive resource for Baptists interested in medical/dental ministries. . . . "Fred Loper is known throughout the Southern Baptist Convention. He is respected by fellow missionaries and association and state missions leaders. We want to provide a platform for him to have an enlarged and fruitful ministry with our Baptist family."
Loper expressed excitement about broadening the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship ministry -- both in scope of projects and personnel. "What's exciting about this is it's a real expansion of the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship vision," he said from Oklahoma City, which will continue to be his base.
While affirming the 25-year history of the organization, Loper noted it has been "narrowly focused on international missions" and has not succeeded in involving ethnic health-care professionals, such as Chinese-, Filipino- and Hispanic-Americans.
"Many guys begin (their missions experience) with overseas trips" coordinated by the BMDF, he said. "After one or two or three trips, they come home and say, 'Gee, we could do that here.'" A key component of his job will be helping them to do just that -- start medical/dental clinics in poor regions and inner-city neighborhoods where people don't have access to solid, affordable health care.
"Lots of physicians have an interest in doing this. It's a way to reach people," Loper said. For example, he recently visited with Baptist doctors in New Mexico, exploring their options for starting health clinics. Loper's job will be "coordinating, collaborating, empowering" physicians, dentists and other healing professionals so they can minister to people in need, not only overseas but in their own states and communities. Loper said he left the North American Mission Board for the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship for several reasons.
"The tip of the iceberg was the 2000 'Baptist Faith and Message' statement," he said. "In good conscience, I didn't feel I could sign it the way they wanted me to." The mission board recently required all its previously appointed national missionaries to affirm the confession of faith. Some Baptists have rejected the statement, saying it functions like a creed, thus violating Baptist tradition, and distorts key doctrines.
But Loper said the "Baptist Faith and Message" played only a partial role in the couple's decision. "We have felt a restlessness from God for a number of years," he said. "God has been preparing us to do something new. This is the time in Baptist life for organizations that have a particular calling to missions to be involved. We're doing missions in a new way. God is in the midst of it all."
The BMDF shares Loper's excitement about adding him as its first full-time physician staff member, said the organization's president, Victor Robards, a physician from Tulsa, Okla. "He brings many years of experience in helping churches and other groups establish faith-based Christian medical and dental clinics," Robards said. "The resources and mentoring of BMDF will enhance this ministry."
Loper will continue to work "directly with Southern Baptist mission boards, state conventions, associations and churches," Williams said. "He will join with the BMDF staff and members in strengthening BMDF's role in helping build a strong global missions network."
Start-up funding for Loper's new position is provided by grants from the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Mainstream Baptists of Oklahoma, Williams said. Some of the money comes from the BGCT's missionary-transition fund, to which Mainstream Baptists of Oklahoma contributes. The fund was established for SBC missionaries who could not in good conscience continue in their appointments because of the SBC mission boards' requirements that they affirm the 2000 "Baptist Faith and Message."
Financial support also is provided by the two state organizations' partnership missions funds, Williams said. Leaders of the groups expressed pleasure with Loper's appointment. "The Baptist General Convention of Texas is happy to be a partner in this project," said Charles Wade, executive director of the BGCT. "Our churches are committed to ministry to hurting people as we share the good news of Jesus Christ."
Bruce Prescott, coordinator for Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists, said, "Mainstream Oklahoma Baptists are delighted to assist the Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship in replacing the funding Dr. Loper needs to continue his vital and important ministry."
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