MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – Some US$5 million worth of medical equipment, supplies and health care will be delivered free of charge to the people of Jamaica this week by 80 medical volunteers from the San Diego-based Miles Ahead organization who arrived in Montego Bay on Saturday (April 26).
The medical team of specialist doctors, pediatricians, surgeons and dentists will donate their services to local communities, in close collaboration with Jamaica’s Ministry of Health, at four mobile clinics as 200 more volunteers, in conjunction with local churches and community organizations conduct sports clinics, deaf education workshops, and school assemblies and rebuild local elementary schools.
The volunteers are part of Miles Ahead, an outreach organization founded in 1992 by Pastor Miles McPherson, a former NFL professional football player who has family ties to the island.
Miles Ahead is currently on island as part of Jamaica Broilers Group’s 50th anniversary celebrations and three major family-oriented festivals, under the Best Dressed 50 Fest banner, presented in Mandeville, Montego Bay and Kingston through May 4.
The medical team reports that the clinics are stocked with state-of-the-art equipment and supplies. They will deliver dental care and equipment, pharmaceuticals, eye glasses, orthopedics, and general health care. A unique feature of the outreach is the team’s mobile pathology laboratory, which can test a tissue sample for cancer and return results in 24 hours.
“We’re excited to join with our local partners to serve anyone who needs medical attention. We believe God is the Great Physician, and we love being used by Him to heal,” said Sean Burgess, the project’s medical director.
Miles Ahead volunteers in Jamaica. From left: Surgeon Dr. John Clifford, former NBA player Zach Jones, Internal Medicine Specialist Dr. Paul Wagner and Miles Ahead Medical Director Sean Burgess.
Prior to this weekend’s festivals and crusades, the American medical volunteers will set up four clinics from Tuesday April 29 through Thursday May 1, staffed with physicians, nurses, counselors and other support staff. St. John’s Methodist Church, Flankers Open Bible, and Farm Heights United will host clinics on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. A roving clinic will be at Webster Memorial Church on Tuesday; at Salt Spring Baptist on Wednesday; and at Family Church on the Rock on Thursday. In addition to the medical team, former professional players from both the NBA and NFL have joined the development efforts conducting sports clinics targeting the youth.
Miles McPherson will deliver timely messages at Montego Bay’s Dump up Beach on Friday, May 2 and Saturday, May 3; while Luis Palau will present on the King’s House grounds in Kingston on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4.The Miles Ahead organization has plans for additional outreach activities throughout the Caribbean region.
McPherson, known for encouraging people of faith to “DO Something” (www.therocksandiego.org/dosomething), stands at the forefront of “transformation evangelism” and “ministry mobilization.” In addition to leading the 10,000-strong Rock Church and Academy in San Diego, McPherson is the President of Miles Ahead which has organized events in 18 cities, including Canada and Africa. Besides being an author, McPherson also is an Emmy Award winning producer for the documentary Master Meth, which examines the abuse of crystal methamphetamine.
