|
By Dwayne Buhler
 | |
| Dr. Karen Henriksen with a patient in Angola. |
THINGS have come full circle for Dr. Karen Henriksen,
one of the plenary speakers at Vancouver’s upcoming Missions Fest.
Twenty-two years ago, she attended the conference as a
young professional with a desire to make a difference with her life. This
year she returns to tell the story of her life and medical ministry
in Angola.
Henriksen was born in Lachine, Quebec. At the age of
16, she came to faith in Christ. She studied at McMaster University in
Montreal, and moved to B.C. in 1981 to set up a private practice in White
Rock. Her move was preceded by the tragic death of her husband in 1979.
Henriksen worked at the Peace Arch Hospital and was a
founding member of the Peace Arch Hospice Society. She was an active
member at Community Bible Church in Crescent Beach, and served on the
missions board. Thoughts of becoming a medical missionary began when she
heard a talk by an Africa Evangelical Fellowship missionary about reaching
unsaved people.
Wondering if God was leading her to missions, she
attended Missions Fest in 1985 and heard Ralph Winter speak on reaching the
forgotten people of the world.
The following June she joined Africa Evangelical
Fellowship to be involved in primary health care amongst an unreached
people group.
Continue article >>
|
Henriksen left Canada in 1989, after completing
linguistic training at Trinity Western University and taking a tropical
medicine course in Liverpool, England. She first served in hospitals in
Gabon, and then Zambia.
Since 1991, she has lived and worked among the Ovamuila
people of southern Angola. She is based at the Rio da Huila Hospital, 40
kilometres from the provincial capital, Lubango. She provides general
medical care, treating patients with malaria and tuberculosis.
Recently, the scourge of HIV/AIDS has afflicted the
war-torn nation, and much of her attention is given to diagnosis and
treatment of this disease.
As director of the hospital, she leads a team comprised
of 35 national workers.
But it is the work of discipleship and Bible study
which motivates Henriksen to continue to serve in this forgotten country.
Evangelism in the area around the clinic has resulted in several new
congregations. She helps to disciple and encourage new believers among the
Ovamuila people.
A Muila translation team is working on a Bible study
book – the fourth in a series – to help train new believers to
evangelize and disciple others. The local Muila church is now a part of
outreach to other tribal groups in the area.
Missions Fest 2008 will be held January 25 – 27
at Canada Place.
missionsfestvancouver.ca
December 2007
|
