Missionary Health Institute

As MHI seeks to move care forward, we face new challenges - how to harness rapidly evolving internet technologies, how to stay relevant with the changing dynamics of missions, how to expand our reach without diverging from our founding premise. Ken Gamble, MD
Past President, Missionary Health Institute

On the heels of the pandemic, and in the face of global insecurity, our missionaries’ mental, psychological and spiritual health are our top priorities, and in prayer we know that God will provide the means to continue. Dr. Karen Stel, MD
President, Missionary Health Institute

Our History:
1936
1959
1968
2001
2006
2016

Behind the Scenes

80 Years of MHI

Let's look back on the history of Missionary Health Institute as it celebrates its eightieth anniversary.

80 Years of MHI
The Stories Behind MHI's Work
80 Years of MHI

Let's look back on the history of Missionary Health Institute as it celebrates its eightieth anniversary.
The Story Behind MHI's Work

"MHI should not be an option for missionaries going overseas"

"The first thing I felt when I walked into MHI was: I can slow down here, and it's ok!"

Additional Services

Treatment – Identified physical, psychosocial and spiritual concerns.
Training – Adult learning, pre-departure, and re-entry workshops.
Crisis Response – Advise and coordinate effective health-crises management.

Why MHI?

Since 1930 our essence has been intentional care for missionaries. The work is not limited to a medical examination, a travel consultation, or a counselling session. Missionary Health Institute's expert psychologists, travel medicine specialists, and family doctors provide integrated care. We are an evidence based, multidisciplinary organization – unique in North America. Our strategy: to instil self-care essentials, empowering missionaries and their families.

Why We Do It

In the 19th century, an absence of missionary healthcare prompted the pragmatic to pack their belongings in coffins. The malaria and other tropical diseases that made Africa "white man's grave" for mission pioneers are still lethal threats.

Medical capabilities have burgeoned since David Livingston. But even the best medicines cannot remedy the stresses of leaving your country and your people, thrust into foreign world. Cross-cultural endeavours call for a continuity of care – for the whole being of a missionary. And for over 75 years, Missionary Health Institute has been providing missionaries with the individualized medical & psychosocial support they need to flourish.

2023 | A Time of Transition

As North York General Hospital expands its footprint, Missionary Health Institute and International Medical Services have made a permanent move from 4000 Leslie St. to 220 Duncan Mill Rd. We are endeavoring to maintain our close ties with NYGH, being able to access specialist care out of our strong history of collaboration. MHI’s leadership is transitioning from Dr. Kenneth Gamble to Dr. Karen Stel this year; colleagues for over twenty years, we continue to work together to expand our medical care team and tirelessly work to support missionary health at home and abroad.

Our esteemed psychologist Dr. Duncan Westwood is retiring by the end of 2023. We covet your prayers for our psychology services, from pre-field screening to debriefing and the journey between. On the heels of the covid pandemic, and in the face of war globally, missionary mental health is our top priority, and we trust that God will provide the means to do this. We have a designated physical space which could accommodate a beautiful psychological service, projecting it will need $200,000 per annum. Will you partner with us to this end, allowing our care to be comprehensive in scope physically, psychologically, emotionally, and spiritually?

Like our founder, Miss Kirby, the Lord uses the “little people” in the background to effect great change. So we continue to labour to “present everyone perfect in Christ”, including all of the individuals and families who seek our service (from Colossians 1:28).

Support Us

Our work would not be possible without your generosity. Please see our 2024 update letter for a more comprehensive update on our current needs at MHI. Here are the highlights:

Personnel development: Pray for personnel. We need medical doctors and nurses who align with our vision in the service of our international workers (IWs).
Psychology service: Pray for direction for our psychology service. We are looking to develop a psychology office working in tandem with our medical office, where IW individuals and families will be at ease debriefing and receiving counsel, as needed, throughout their journey.
Financial needs: Pray for the financial means to accomplish our work – that pledges from SOs as well as individual donors would allow us to assume even more pre- and post-field care, and a psychology service equal to no other. Specifically, we have office space in mind to transform into this service which would take up to $200,000 annually to carry. For a time, such as this, what the Lord has begun He will complete, and I have utmost confidence that He truly will supply ALL of our needs “from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

MHI is a registered Canadian charity. All donations over $10 will be issued a tax receipt.

Contact Us

Missionary Health Institute
510-220 Duncan Mill Rd.
Toronto, ON M3B 3J5
P:(416) 446-0762
E: contactus@missionaryhealth.ca

Donate

1936

1959

1968

2001

2006

2016

Behind the Scenes

80 Years of MHI

The Story Behind MHI's Work

80 Years of MHI

The Story Behind MHI's Work

Additional Services

Why MHI?

Why We Do It

2023 | A Time of Transition

Support Us

Contact Us

Donate