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One of the men I have mostly deeply admired over the years was Dr. Victor Binkley. Dr. Binkley was a surgeon with the Markle Medical Center near Bluffton IN. He was the son of two Churches of God pastors, Carl and Catherine Binkley, the oldest of many children who have been faithful servants of God. Dr. Binkley would divide his time between his practice in the States and a clinic in Haiti he helped build at Pierre Payen, a small town between Port-au-Prince and Saint Marc. He was the point man in developing this critical service to that nation and the point person in mentoring the development of our Haiti Conference and its more than 40 churches (many of whom also operate schools.)
The medical ministry at Pierre Payen has been a well respected outreach of Project Help-Haiti since the mid 1970's. In 2001 the Churches of God built a new surgical hospital across the street from our 25 year old clinic buildings. A team from my own congregation here in Landisville went down in March 2002 to help finish its construction. Dr. Vic Binkley was the one most responsible for developing and sustaining our work there over the last 35 years and was instrumental in designing and getting our hospital built.
Seven months ago Vic was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was not able to return to his work there during these last 7 months as he was valiantly waged his own medical battle with that cancer. Though still fighting for his own life Vic and his wife Donna wanted to make a trip down here to see how well the work was progressing in helping with the medical relief efforts. They also wanted to help in developing a permanent orthopedic surgery wing there at the hospital. Getting into Haiti is not very easy and Vic's health complicated things even more but through the generosity of a donated corporate jet they were able to return to Haiti are once again last week. Last weekend, however, Dr. Binkley began to weaken significantly and returned to the US.
Yesterday I received this email from Don Dennison, who directs our worldwide missions effort for the Churches of God, General Conference.
"Dr. Victor Binkley went home to be with the Lord this afternoon around 1:15 p.m. He had grown increasingly weaker since returning from Haiti earlier this week. He passed peacefully. Pray for Donna and family members who gather with her this day. May they be comforted by the peace of God which surpasses all understanding.
As you pray for Haiti today, remember those who grieve the loss of their friend and co-worker who poured his life into theirs so that Haiti might be a better place. May his dreams be fulfilled in them."
This video clip is courtesy of News Channel 15 WANE in Fort Wayne IN
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