September 2026
GMMA September 2026 Monthly Newsletter
View Original Newsletter (opens Mailchimp in a new tab)"In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work." 2 Timothy 2:20-21
God's wondrous work can flourish through one prayerful obedient individual. I just returned from attending an inter-campus gathering with students from two of our chapters. One of those chapters had once been very active, but over the past several years, the number of students gradually declined. Eventually, they no longer had regular meetings, and the chapter became inactive. We continued to pray for God's grace to revive the hearts and the chapter but with little change we thought the chapter may dissolve.
But God was not done, and He hears our prayers. The chapter we thought is no more brought ten members to the gathering. I was surprised and excited to hear their testimony. One student who I shared with about praying and trying to revive the chapter again several years ago did just that! She prayed steadily over a year then made an effort to approach people and shared about reviving the chapter, and God answered her prayers. The chapter is active again, and they reconnected with a great mentor from the past; a Christ-centered professor.
At first, there was no guarantee of success. There was no large group waiting to return, no established meeting schedule, and no obvious momentum. There was simply a willing person seeking God for directions and took my advice seriously into action. She started by gathering people and inviting students to come together for prayer. Little by little, relationships were rebuilt, people began to participate, and a sense of community started to return. It was not an overnight transformation. It took patience, consistency, prayer, and a willingness to continue even when the results were not immediately visible. But two years later, something remarkable happened! God granted great fruits of labor.
This experience reminded me that revival often begins much smaller than we expect. We may think we need many people, abundant resources, or perfect circumstances before we can begin something meaningful. But throughout God's work in GMMA, we repeatedly see that God can use one willing person who is ready to take the first step.
A prayer meeting may seem small. Gathering a few students may seem insignificant. Reaching out to one person may not seem like a major accomplishment. Yet when those small acts are repeated faithfully, they can eventually become something much larger than we imagined. Just like how four students requested to start GMMA chapters on their campuses has expanded to over seventy campuses across US and Canada.
For those of us involved in medical mission work, this is an important reminder. Our calling is not only to participate in mission trips or organized events. We are also called to invest in people, encourage future healthcare professionals, build communities, and help the next generation discover a missional way of life.
I am deeply grateful for this student who was willing to step forward. Her story encouraged me to ask myself—and perhaps all of us—a simple question: What is God asking me to take the first step? We may not know exactly what will happen. We may not see immediate results. But we can pray, gather, encourage, and begin for God is on the move. 
Grateful and Amazed,
David Choi, M.D
Director of Missions
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
"you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." Ephesians 2:19-20
With the beginning of the new academic year, GMMA mentors are busy again making time to visit campus meetings to share, encourage, and guide. Thankfully, past GMMA campus leaders are serving as mentors now after finishing residency programs or even after professional schools! Young professionals who have been part of GMMA family since college knows what to share as they walked their journey ahead of them. It's a beautiful fruit of labor and love. Many we loved and served together ten years ago are now healthcare professionals who make time to serve in different roles have become our partners now. Praise God for His wondrous works in the hearts and minds to those who have accepted Him as their savior. We forget and are so surprised when we meet again, but God knew all along the journey they are on. It's been exciting to see the growing activity of the young professionals group making time to serve and share life together. God has been preparing the next group of mentors and leaders and graced us the forever young group to be the witness increasing our testimonies of His faithfulness. It is so beyond us. We celebrate and rejoice as His family. We recognize Dr. Michelle Lee, who serves as the National Mentor Support Director for serving ten days at Papua Island Indonesia on a medical mission trip along with one of our young professional group members, Esteban Kim, a pharmacist. We look forward to hearing their testimonies. And we congratulate Dr. Connie Oh, who got married to Dr. Sado Kang last weekend. It was the first wedding where we saw the bride and groom performing a duet as a musical offering. They played The Lord's Prayer together. Thank you, Father, for this medical mission family sharing the life journey together. God be glorified through all that You are granting.
We invite all families of GMMA to the event below if the schedule allows. It will be a transformative time. Please pray about it and contact the email address for attendance. 
MISSION UPDATE
Please pray for the preparation for the October mission trip to Uzbekistan. Thank You!
"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33
GMMA's Dr. Michelle Lee and young professional member Esteban Kim served on a medical mission trip to Papua Island. They traveled far by plane and by boat to an island for ten days. It was very challenging physically and environmentally with crowds of patients everyday. Many patients traveled far to be seen by the team. Some patients had difficult prognosis and the team could not provide any significant help, but God encouraged the team as He granted healing miracles. Witnessing the miracles confirmed over and over again that our almighty God is our true healer working through us. This blessed the team as well as the locals strengthening the faith and proclaiming the goodness of God. Healing came not just for the patients but for the team members as well. Dr. Michelle had personal moments of being amazed at God's providence beyond her comprehension overwhelming her with thanksgiving for many things. She was reminded that when we say Yes to God and go, God takes care of things in ways that lead to gratitude and amazement of His intimate love for everyone. All glory and honor to God.
REGIONAL HEALTH REPORTS
EAST COAST
PRAISE REPORT
I have had the blessing of being able to go and see and enjoy the fruit of what our chapter leaders have prepared for their campus. It is really amazing to see just how much these leaders have prepared and their heart for their campus, and I am super excited to see how the Lord will continue to use them not just for this semester, but the whole school year and more to come. They are all doing so well, and I am really proud to see them moving in step with the Lord. 
NEEDS
This is the point of the year where students will be tried by exams and other stresses that come with school and balancing ministry with academics and other commitments. Please pray over each of these students so that they may exemplify Christ in all of their responsibilities and for no burnout in Jesus' name. Also, there is a great need for mentors in the Southeast! Please pray that faithful believers would come to pour into our students and guide them as they dutifully pursue what the Lord has in store for them.
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
The Lord has been moving in the East Coast. I am so blessed by my Chapters and they encourage me in so many ways. It’s amazing to hear about all the ways they exemplify Christ and how their chapters have been growing. We recently gained a few new chapters in the East Coast and I’m excited to see how the Lord will use them to bear fruit!
This week, I am reminded of “Rock of Ages” a hymn that proclaims that God is our rock and refuge. He is our safe place. As we work and face hardships, may we be reminded that our Lord is our rock, and in Him, we find strength and security.
Our Lord is so amazing. what a privilege it is to be invited to co-labor beside Him.
PRAYER REQUESTS
May the Lord sustain us and our respective chapters as the school year starts to pick up. Would we all be kept in good health and be reminded of His goodness in all circumstances. We pray that our personal relationships with Him transform all our other relationships!
WEST COAST
PRAISE REPORT
This month, West Coast welcomed Cal Poly SLO as an official chapter. Stanford has been working on starting a new chapter, with their board including both undergraduates and medical school students. Our monthly meetings with west coast presidents have been a great blessing, and we have been praying together for the start of each chapter’s semester. West Coast RCs led our first national prayer meeting. UOP and UCB had a joint evangelism time with worship and prayer. Praise the Lord for his faithfulness!
NEEDS
Please pray for UCI, UCLA, UCR, UCSD, and UW as they start school at the end of September. Pray that the Lord would gather with ready hearts to GMMA at each school as they prepare for initial outreach and the involvement fair. Please pray for UCI, UCR, and Chapman’s upcoming joint praise and prayer night! Pray for every board member to go deeper with the Lord each day and that He would fill them with the Holy Spirit and with fresh zeal for Him.
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
We have been working with the other regions to finalize our mission trip schedule for the year. Please pray for us as we figure out which chapters will be assigned to certain trips! Praise the Lord that he has grown us in number and in interest to serve him faithfully on mission trips. Matthew 6:33- "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." The Lord has met me wonderfully in seeking him. Conversations are easier, because He puts words in my mouth. When others pass judgement on me, I am not focused on what they say, but rather my eyes are lifted upward to my Heavenly Father, who delights in me. Reading scripture has become wonderful, because I am fellowshipping with Him. I think about Him frequently.
PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for Elise to continue to seek the Lord and be faithful, for Carolyn to hide herself in the Lord, and for Jonathan to have a deeper fear of the Lord.
CANADA
PRAISE REPORT
The Canadian school year has finally begun and so did our chapter meetings! Each of our chapters held successful club fair booths and started the year off strong with their first intro GBMs. It is still early into the year, so not much to report on, although continuous praises to the Lord who provides and sustains our chapters each year.
NEEDS
Our chapters are always in need of financial support whether that be to host local events with members and unbelievers, or to host local outreach missions with the communities and campuses they have been placed in. If you find it in your heart to financially support any of our chapters, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at canada.gmma@gmma7.org.
REGIONAL COORDINATOR
Each year my heart grows more full watching our chapters grow, not because the numbers matter, but because of the community I see being built within this ministry. I see brothers and sisters with a deep desire to serve the Lord and His children come together as one body, to journey through this life together and built each other up. It is truly so encouraging to witness and I am so grateful that the Lord has blessed me with the privilege to partake in this mission of His.
PRAYER REQUESTS
I ask that you may pray for the Canadian chapters and for rising leadership not only within themselves, but also for a new RC to serve our region. As I step into the next chapter the Lord has called me to, I ask that you pray for another leader to rise and to tend to these sheep. I also ask that you can pray for my journey into the dental field and that I can give all the glory to Christ throughout it. God bless!
You can explore all of the GMMA chapters, including information about the leadership, meeting times, contact, Instagram handles and more, on our websitehere.
If you know any healthcare professionals who would gladly serve as mentors for these chapters, please email us at admin@gmma7.org.
Please make sure to use Amazon Smile so that a percentage of your purchase comes back to GMMA/Kamhc incorporated in the form of a donation.
Simply click on this link: smile.amazon.com/ch/26-0268289 and start shopping through smile.amazon.com!
There are many incredible ministries and organizations you can choose to support through Amazon Smile, so we thank you in advance for choosing to support GMMA and partnering with us to help others smile through His kingdom work!
GMMA CONNECTS
Our healthcare community serving together for His glory.
As many are facing new challenges due to changes in education, professional training, and
workplace due to the pandemic, we've created "GMMA Connects" as a space for
networking.
Please share and connect to the inquiries if you can assist in
any way. You can send inquiries tonewsletter@gmma7.org by the 15th of the
month to be listed in this section.
GMMA adapted ECHO prayer app so every GMMA member can pray together at 9 PM every day.
Here is the link for GMMA-Echo Instruction for your information. https://youtu.be/zchhVrmtPSM
CONTACT US!
ADMINISTRATION - admin@gmma7.org
FINANCE - finance@gmma7.org
MISSIONS- missions@gmma7.org
MENTORS - mentors@gmma7.org
CAMPUS CHAPTER RELATED - studentchapters@gmma7.org
EAST COST REGIONAL COORDINATORS - eastcoastgmma@gmma7.org
CENTRAL REGIONAL COORDINATORS - central.gmma@gmma7.org
WEST COAST REGIONAL COORDINATORS - westcoast.gmma@gmma7.org
CANADA COORDINATORS - canada.gmma@gmma7.org
AUSTRALIA COORDINATORS - australia.gmma@gmma7.org
GLOBAL MEDICAL MISSIONS CONFERENCE - gmmaconference@gmma7.org
ADDRESS
- 18549 Hawthorne St
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
Are you interested in serving with GMMA? Utilize the talents and gifts that God has provided you and serve with us! Please contact your area of interest above!
Until next time,
Please share about GMMA and let us all remember to Arise and Shine for His glory.
Global Medical Missions Alliance
(714) 444-3032 | GMMA7.org | gmma7.org@gmail.com
