October 10 Today in OPC History

On October 10, 1966, the Compassion of Jesus Hospital in Ghinda had its first inpatient. The hospital had been dedicated earlier that year on February 5. The Rev. Gordon Girod, pastor of Seventh Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the representative of several Reformed churches that had supported the work, delivered the main address at the dedication. At that time, however, the building was not yet completed and the equipment had not been installed. Once the building and equipment were ready in October, the hospital served 40 inpatients and 7,308 outpatients to the end of the year. OPC missionary Clarence Duff's regular practice was to visit the inpatients daily and to share the gospel. Missionary nurses Anna Strikwerda and Yvonne De Blaey also handed out tracts to the inpatients.

Picture: Anna Stirkwerda at the Compassion of Jesus Hospital in Ghinda with mother and newborn baby.