Dr Andrew Wright is not your ordinary GP. When you walk into his clinic, you immediately get a sense that there’s something different about the place. A sense of community, humility, love and sincerity in the way the practice is run. Just like many other doctors his daily schedule is jam-packed with appointments. We caught up with Andrew (14 January 2014) in between his busy schedule to chat with him about his faith and what he has been up to since graduating from BST…
What started out as a small seed planted in the heart of a child flourished into a deep love for Africa and a desire to pursue medicine.
“As a child, my mother introduced me to The Jungle Doctor, a book by Paul White, missionary doctor to Africa. Reading those books spurred my interest,” Andrew says.
After finishing high school in Tasmania and taking a year off Andrew began his medical degree at the University of Tasmania in 1976, during the ‘Whitlam’ years when tertiary education was free. Growing up in a Christian family Andrew’s faith inspired him to serve others in some meaningful way.
“Through medicine I saw an opportunity to help people, and with that a profession that seemed to fit with my Christian faith.”
The love for helping people grew as he was given the opportunity to go on a mission exposure trip while studying medicine.
“I corresponded with Phil Andrew from Sudan Interior Mission and they invited me to go to Africa.”
Andrew spent three and a half months in Nigeria and Niger putting what he learned in medicine into practice, immersing himself fully in the culture and relishing the opportunity to live out his childhood dream. After returning from Africa, Andrew’s career as a medical practitioner burgeoned and he was highly in demand while working as a country general practitioner in Tasmania for seven years. During this time, he and his wife Anne had three children. Andrew later completed extra training in the areas of paediatrics and obstetrics.
At times Andrew struggled to cope with the demands of being a GP in a country town. Eventually he decided to take a break and pursue theological studies to grow and be challenged in his faith.
Andrew relocated to Brisbane with his family in 1995 and commenced a postgraduate diploma in theology at BST.
“I wanted to be equipped for overseas mission and I felt the need to grow in my knowledge of God’s word.”
Andrew’s wife also joined him, auditing some of the classes. While studying at BST Andrew continued to work part-time as a medical practitioner based at Baywest Medical Centre in Wynnum as well as working sessions at the Mater Children’s Hospital Emergency Department.
“While I continued to work, I enjoyed studying at BST and loved learning more about the scriptures. I really valued the opportunity to gain much more in-depth insight and knowledge of God’s word. The assignments caused me to read more widely and think critically about issues. It helped me to grow in confidence in my faith and provided me with good theological foundations.”
Andrew completed his studies at BST in 1997 and is now actively involved in Christian medical mission.
“We’ve been at Gateway Baptist Church for some time and our church is very mission focused, financially and prayerfully supporting up to 40 missionaries overseas.”
Andrew and Anne Wright are part of a church home group called AA which stands for African Addicts.
“We’re a group of people who have a deep love for Africa and are active supporters of mission work to Africa,” Andrew says.
In 2001, Andrew and Anne went to Kitgum in North Uganda on a medical/dental mission. The war-torn village was deep in poverty and had a great need for medical support. During the first visit Andrew met another Australian, Irene Gleeson. Irene founded the Irene Gleeson Foundation which continues to focus on helping orphaned children, providing them with education, food and building them up spiritually through local church programs.
Seeing the desperate poverty and health needs in Kitgum, Andrew was moved to work collaboratively with Ugandan health professionals to improve access for the people of Northern Uganda to basic medical-care services. From this partnership, Yotkom Uganda was birthed, a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving the health of Northern Ugandans. Yotkom is a faith-based organisation, firmly grounded in Christian values and principles and is managed by a board of Ugandans and Australians. In the native Acholi language of Kitgum, the word “Yotkom” means “health”. Through Yotkom Andrew provides mentoring support for local Ugandan medical practitioners and visits twice a year, often with a small team of other interested Australians.
“We understand the need for community collaboration and while we want to greatly improve access to primary health care, we also believe in enabling Ugandans to be self-sustainable in delivering these services. This means building stronger professional and spiritual foundations.”
Andrew was thrilled to tell us that only recently, Yotkom was able to employ a local part-time pastoral care worker who will be in Kitgum providing chaplaincy support for the medical team and patients.
Since selling his Bayside medical practice two years ago, Andrew has become an employee and consequently has more time to focus on the medical work in Uganda.
When asked what he loves the most about being a doctor, he replied,“it’s the continuity of connection that you have, building rapport with people over the years and being privileged to be part of their lives, which is a real blessing.”
“I love that I can incorporate my faith in what I do. In Africa, I also find there is more freedom in medical work to offer to pray with the sick.”
We asked him what advice he’d give to anyone who feels challenged to serve God in mission.
“Pray about the vision to serve and be flexible about the timing. Believe that it can happen and take the steps to equip yourself. For me that was taking on theological study. It’s about doing all that you can to be ready to take the step when the door of opportunity opens. Be willing to step out in faith and go on an adventure with God.”
One of Andrew’s favourite Bible verses is Micah 6:8, “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and love mercy and walk humbly with your God.”
“For me this Scripture is about heeding God’s call to act justly in your life and work, having an attitude of mercy toward others and living simply in a dependent daily relationship with God.”
If you would like to read more about or support Andrew’s work with Yotkom Uganda, please visit the website www.yotkom.com
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