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A Brief History
(History Expanded -
To read an extended version that included the creation of CHE click this link.  )
Our Founding
Medical Ambassadors International (MAI) was founded in 1980 by Dr. Raymond Benson. His dream was to minister to the spiritual and physical needs of the poorest of the poor through medical clinics and evangelism.
Dr. Benson's founding philosophy was fivefold:
- The Gospel is first.
- The ministry is directed and performed by nationals.
- The integrated ministry of caring and sharing go hand in hand.
- Dr. Benson said, "We are to help people develop themselves; we are not there to impose our Western ways."
- Fundraising is done best by sharing compassionate human-interest stories of service and need. The Holy Spirit makes the "ask."
A Change Was Needed
In 1988 MAI was
at a crisis point. Demands for medical services were so high that long lines of people waiting for treatment were exhausting our medical personnel. It was difficult to do evangelism, and even harder to do any discipleship. The doctors found that people would get well, but then they would go home and get sick again from the same preventable diseases. The health of the communities was not improving. There had to be a better way to bring change to the lives of the people.
Dr. Benson turned to Dr. Paul Calhoun, a member of MAI's Board of Directors, for help with leadership of the mission. In accepting the challenge of this new position, Dr. Calhoun sold his busy dermatology practice to serve as MAI's Executive Director in the same capacity Dr. Benson had: by taking no salary or benefits from the mission.
A New Method Was Found
Dr. Calhoun realized that a new direction was needed, focusing on disease prevention and community development, integrated with evangelism and discipleship. He discovered a written program description called Community Health Evangelism (CHE, pronounced chay). Stan Rowland, with Campus Crusade in East Africa, had developed a strategy for individual and community development through training that was both physical and spiritual. In 1990 Stan joined MAI as International Director, serving in this position for many years. He now fills the role of coordinator for urban North America, a collaborative movement with Medical Ambassadors International called the Collaborative for Neighborhood Transformation.
Today
In 2005 Dr. Paul Calhoun realized God was prompting him to retire. Dr. Robert Paul joined the team for three years. During his tenure, the Medical Ambassadors International name was changed to LifeWind International, reflecting the mission's change from curative clinics to a broader strategy of community development. The new name intimates the power of God breathing new life into communities. Due to a lagging economy, the mission made deep cuts in staff and budget, beginning 2009 with a balanced budget, a reduced staff, and a new headquarters in Salida, California. In April 2009 Dr. John Payne was named President of Medical Ambassadors International/LifeWind, leaving a leadership role that he and his wife, Madelle, filled in East Africa. John and Madelle presently serve without salary or benefits.
Movement
In 2000, and annually thereafter, Medical Ambassadors began drawing together other organizations using the CHE strategy to share best practices. They called this group the Strategic Alliance.
This spirit of collaboration took a great leap forward in 2008 when Terry Dalrymple issued the call to form the Global CHE Network  . Many organizations responded, and joined this collaborative. This collaborative exists for the purpose of networking different ministry organizations together as equals and serve their interests individually and collectively.
As a result, thousands of communities around the world are being empowered to make improvements that are lasting because they are the community’s own solutions, born of their own ingenuity, dedication, and success. The Global CHE Network is incorporated under the Alliance for Transformational Ministry (ATM), an independent 501 (3)established in 2008. Terry Dalrymple is the Coordinator of the Global CHE Network. The CHE strategy has now grown into an international movement, empowering many organizations and their workers to conduct successful CHE projects.
In 2005, Stan Rowland began creating a new model of CHE called Neighborhood Transformation. This new model was used in urban-poor settings in North America, with the first programs started in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area. Today, Neighborhood Transformation has been initiated in 15 cities across North America. The Collaborative for Neighborhood Transformation is also now incorporated under ATM.
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