John White is The Leprosy Mission’s new Area Coordinator for Wales. Here he writes to introduce himself and the work he represents.
Officially, someone in the world is diagnosed with leprosy at least every two minutes. That’s 800 new patients every day, or nearly 300,000 every year. But with the real possibility of many cases going undetected, the number of new infections could be – and probably is – much higher.
The Leprosy Mission has been helping leprosy sufferers for over 130 years, and every year it improves the lives of around a million affected individuals. Today’s multidrug therapy stops the otherwise inevitable decline into increasing loss of sensation, paralysis, muscle wastage, and deformity. At the same time, surgical techniques, many pioneered by TLM, restore stiffened hands and unseeing eyes, while artificial limbs restore mobility (and dignity). And then there are the psychological, social, and economic issues surrounding leprosy that TLM is doing much to improve. Our aim is not just to treat disease but to transform lives.
Through its Area Coordinators for Wales, TLM has had a personal presence in the principality for many years, and established many close and lasting relationships with churches across the country. We see this as a partnership in God’s work, as churches and TLM work together to bring his kingdom to individuals and situations that need his loving intervention. Of course, not least in all of this is the offer of spiritual healing through faith in Jesus Christ.
We deeply value and nurture the network of support across Wales that now exists, but we also want that network to be forward-looking and growing (like TLM itself), with as many churches as possible sharing in this life-changing work. If you or your church do not have an involvement with TLM at present, please do get in touch with me. The details are: John White, The Leprosy Mission, 29 Cilonen Road, Three Crosses, Swansea, SA4 3PH.
Tel 01792 872438, email johnw@tlmew.org.uk. Either I or one of TLM’s volunteer speakers will be only too happy to visit your church and do a presentation, either midweek or on a Sunday, or help in any other way we can.