Christian Veterinary Mission provides concise summaries of their work in 3 sentences or less:
Christian Veterinary Mission supports veterinary professionals seeking to serve God through their work by providing opportunities for short-term and long-term missions, engaging students, and encouraging professionals to incorporate their faith into daily practice. Through veterinary outreach around the world and in local communities, CVM volunteers and staff share their skills, build relationships, and offer the hope of Christ's love. God cultivates unique skills and passions in individuals to enable them to further His kingdom in diverse ways through veterinary medicine.
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The apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Philippi:
“And this I pray that your love may abound more
and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
so that you may approve the things that are excel-
lent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the
day of Christ. “ -Phil 1:9-10
We are blessed to have wide open doors for effective service through which
to share His love through veterinary medicine. Serving both here at home
and around the world, like Emily Arndt (in the photo on the left), one of our
many field staff, is doing in Uganda. We rejoice in all of those who have
been faithful to join us in serving through their support, prayers, encour-
agement, and service.
CVM veterinarians, veterinary students, and veterinary technicians have
served around the world and here at home seeking to care for His creation
and to show His love to pet and livestock owners. We pray that this review
of our calendar year will encourage your faith and encourage you to con-
sider the doors He is opening for you to join His work through CVM.
To His Glory,
Dr. Kit Flowers
Executive Director
Christian Veterinary Mission
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In 2014, through
Christian Veterinary Mission...
people heard the good
news of the gospel.
people accepted Christ
as their Lord and Savior.
people were challenged
to live lives of worship.
people have been involved
in discipleship relationships.
hours were spent training
in animal health.
livestock were treated by
vets, vet techs and students.
51,998
15,873
314,668
6,064
68,850
134,530
6. Dr. Mack Boyd, a veterinarian from Texas,
has served on several short-term trips with
CVM over the years. This past May he served
on a trip that took him all the way to the Hi-
malays. Mack and a team consisting of five
vets, two students, and one family member,
spent two weeks climbing mountains in or-
der to work with nomadic herders to improve
the health of their flocks.
The team prepared physically for weeks prior
to the trip, and were eager to start work fol-
lowing the long flight. Their anticipation was
rewarded when they found themselves set-
tling into the thin air of base camp at 8,600
feet. It was the perfect location for many rea-
sons. The camp and makeshift clinic was nes-
tled deep in a mountain pass, which happened
to be the first resting place for local shepherds
who were leading their herds through the
mountains towards greener pastures.
Mack and the team used six backpack de-
wormers, allowing them to work in pairs and
administer the medicine to around 50 animals
in 20 minutes. They treated a variety of mala-
dies from diarrhea to pneumonia, foot rot, bro-
ken legs, and saddle sores.
Regardless of the clinical outcome, the team al-
ways sought to model Christ’s love through their
work and interactions with the herders. By the
end of the trip, the team had dewormed over
20,000 animals and treated about 3,500 individ-
ual animals. It was physically challenging work,
but enormously appreciated by the herdsmen.
The particular region where the team was
serving is not open to the Christian faith,
making Gospel sharing difficult, if not dan-
gerous. However, the Lord was working in
the hearts of those present and when Mack
Short-term
Missions
Christian Veterinary
Mission short-term mis-
sion volunteers support
communities in need, by
joining with those serving
long-term on the ground
to provide encourage-
ment, veterinary expertise,
training in animal health
care, and the hope that is
found only in Jesus Christ.
Through these short-term
missions, veterinarians, vet
students and vet techni-
cians have the opportunity
to grow their faith, and
make a sustainable impact
for people that need it most.
He has called us to be His witness-
es in Judea and Samaria and to the
ends of the earth, and veterinary
medicine allows us to get there.
By the end of the trip, the team
dewormed over 20,000 animals
and treated about 3,500 animals.
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had an opportunity to answer some questions about Christianity, he
lovingly shared his testimony.
The weather may have been unpleasant, and the mountainous hikes
challenging but doors were opened for the Gospel message that were
otherwise firmly shut. He has called us to be His witnesses in Judea
and Samaria and to the ends of the earth, and veterinary medicine
allows us to get there.
There are many areas of the world that have yet to hear about Christ’s
love, and your skills in veterinary medicine could be the vessel to show
them. Christian Veterinary Mission has short-term trips to countries
around the world, which take place year-round. To find out more, visit
our website at cvmusa.org/Shortterm
Regardless of the clinical outcome, the team al-
ways sought to model Christ’s love through their
work and interactions with the herders.
10. Long-term
Missions
Christian Veterinary Mis-
sion is blessed to be able to
send veterinary profession-
als to serve long-term in
countries around the world.
In sometimes difficult cir-
cumstances, veterinarians
can use their unique skills
to build trusting relation-
ships, leading to opportuni-
ties to share the Gospel –all
the while teaching live-
stock-based cultures how to
better care for their animals
and provide a sustainable
future for their families.
Dr. Shad Wilkerson is a veterinarian from Okla-
homa who has committed to serve with CVM
long-term in Africa. Together with his wife
Amy, and their two children, they are prepar-
ing all they can before they depart. To aid in this
preparation, Shad and Amy ventured to Tanza-
nia, where they participated on a short-term trip
alongside a team of vets and non-vets, with a
goal to share the Gospel and treat animals.
While in country, their service took them deep
into the Maasai bush. They walked miles to
reach the distant villages and were preparing
for a long day of deworming when a teammate
came up to Shad with a problem. It was discov-
ered that these Maasai people did not speak any
Swahili, and there was no translator nearby!
With no clear solution, they stopped to pray and
then, trusting God, they continued their work.
About fifteen minutes later, Shad was walking
through the field when a young Maasai warrior
approached him. He introduced himself and
struck up a conversation, in English. As Shad
stood there listening, the young man began
speaking about how desperately the other Maa-
sai warriors needed to hear about Christ. Shad
was speechless!
Shad asked him, “David, are you busy this week?
Could you help us reach your people for Jesus?”
The young warrior graciously agreed. A short time
later Shad found his teammate and introduced
him to the translator that God had provided for
them in the middle of the Maasai bush.
Later in the week, the team prepared for a day
of treatment in a remote area. When they ar-
rived, people and animals started to appear in
the distance. Before long, herds of hundreds of
sheep, goats, and cattle were upon them. The
team prayed and began their work, treating 100,
The young man began speaking
about how desperately the other
Maasai warriors needed to hear
about Christ.
With no clear solution, they
stopped to pray and then trusting
God, they continued their work.
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13. 200, up to 500 goats. As some were medicating
livestock, others on the team were engaging
the men in conversation. They had been work-
ing for several hours and yet the people and
animals continued to come. The team pulled out
the final bottle of dewormer and began to treat
the last herd of the day. Just as they finished the
bottle, they saw yet another herd approaching.
They explained that they were out of medicine
and that their animals could not be treated. The
herdsmen were quite disappointed, but turned
around to start their long walk back home.
Moments later, as the team was packing, they
opened a box to find two additional bottles of de-
wormer –it was enough to treat the new herd and
then some! Excitedly the herdsmen returned,
bringing their animals in for treatment. While
the treatment was taking place, the Gospel was
presented. By God’s grace, many Maasai came to
know Christ as their livestock were treated.
For the remainder of the trip whenever they had
a need related to reaching people for Christ, the
need was met. As Shad and Amy look forward
to fulfilling their calling, they are encouraged to
see that God is using veterinary professionals to
build his Kingdom around the world.
To hear more stories from our field staff that serve
long-term, visit us at cvmusa.org/Longterm
Whenever the team had a need
related to reaching people for
Christ, the need was met.
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14. Christian Veterinary Mission offers third and
fourth year missions-minded veterinary stu-
dents an opportunity to use their skills cross-
culturally through the Missions Apprenticeship
Program. This unique program allows students
to spend time with professional overseas vet-
erinarians to learn first-hand what it means to
pursue God’s calling to serve long-term through
veterinary medicine.
Elizabeth Wall, a fourth year student, chose to
participate in the Missions Apprenticeship pro-
gram to better understand Christ’s calling on
her life. In previous years, Elizabeth had partic-
ipated in short-term trips to Haiti and Hondu-
ras, and frequently pondered where she fit into
global missions. Was travel just a fun adventure
for her, or could living in another country be a
long-term calling?
Having consistently felt called to study Spanish
and work with the Latino community, Elizabeth
felt led to serve in Bolivia for six weeks, giving
her an opportunity to use her language skills in
veterinary medicine. While there, she worked
with three CVM field staff members and their
families, spending time working with various
local communities in a variety of locations,
from large cities to small villages.
She built relationships with Bolivian veterinary
students, participated in small animal surgery
clinics, and observed and assisted with surger-
ies and diagnostics at the veterinary teaching
hospitals. She taught about livestock disease
and vaccination, worked on a large beef ranch
and was also able to participate in Bible stud-
ies and church services alongside missionaries
from many organizations and countries. During
her trip she gained a stronger understanding of
the Bolivian culture and her own calling.
God has called each of us in different and spe-
cific ways. He cultivates our passions and skills
so that we are uniquely enabled to bring Him
glory. Each of the CVM field staff work in dis-
tinctly different ministries which complement
each other. She realized that diversity of God’s
Student
Ministry
Christian Veterinary
Mission recognizes that
veterinary students are the
next generation of industry
professionals and so we in-
tentionally invest the time
to illustrate how their faith
and their chosen profession
can intersect. From Real
Life / Real Impact week-
ends to short-term mission
trips and Christian Vet-
erinary Fellowship groups
on campus, students are
inspired to pair their faith
with their profession.
God cultivates our passions and
skills so that we are uniquely en-
abled to bring Him glory.
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calling impacts the ministry of each person.
Elizabeth’s time in Bolivia pointed her towards using veterinary medi-
cine as a vehicle for ministry in combination with her communication
skills in Spanish. She hopes to enter practice in the United States in a
region with many Spanish speakers. International missions will continue
to be part of her life in some capacity, as she feels as though she may be
called to repeatedly lead short-term teams to the same location.
Students are the next generation of veterinary professionals, and many
are discerning how their passion for veterinary medicine intersects with
their heart to serve Christ. There are many opportunities for these stu-
dents to explore how God is leading, whether through short-term mis-
sions, serving in their own communities, or in Christian Veterinary Fel-
lowship groups.
Visit our website for more information at cvmusa.org/Students
During her trip she gained a stronger understand-
ing of the Bolivian culture and her own calling. Vet-
erinary medicine is a vehicle for ministry in combi-
nation with her communication skills in Spanish.
18. Dr. Christina Lehner is a veterinarian who has
chosen an unconventional path to use her skills
in veterinary medicine as a vessel for God’s glo-
ry. Focusing on end-of-life care, she is present
at some of the most difficult times of pet own-
ers’ lives, and it’s in these moments she’s able to
demonstrate Christ’s abounding love.
Working at a clinic early in her career, a client
once requested that a vet come to their home.
Their sheepdog, “Grace,” had lived a long life,
and was in poor health. Unable to stand, the fam-
ily knew it would be very difficult and painful
to transport her to the clinic, so they were quite
thankful to have Christina come to them.
During this time Grace seemed calm and re-
laxed, laying on her dog bed, surrounded by her
family. She was simply at home, and Christina
was her special visitor. The family shared their
favorite memories and they celebrated Grace’s
life with tears, stories and even a bit of laughter.
Then, they said good-bye.
Christina was touched by this in so many ways,
and it has greatly impacted her career path since.
This was the peaceful goodbye of a friend and it
was a service done at home. Instead of the anx-
iety-provoking procedures that she had seen in
the clinics, Christina felt a strong sense of God’s
presence in those moments—unlike what she
had ever experienced before as a veterinarian.
Christina pondered this and considered that
God was using her experiences, her skills, and
her heart, to serve families in new and important
ways by helping with this end-of-life struggle.
Once she realized this, it was a whole new start
to her career! This was a way that she could
care for both the animals and give a bit of
peace to their families. It was also a way that
Christina could share her faith by allowing the
Lord to work through her during what is nor-
mally a difficult time.
Through this experience, Christina decided to
start an in-home end-of-life veterinary care
Workplace
Ministry
Christian Veterinary
Mission seeks to encour-
age and equip veterinary
professionals to model
Christ’s love through their
profession. By providing
resources and training op-
portunities that empower
vets and vet techs to use
their veterinary skills for
God’s glory, we seek to
encourage them to live out
their faith in practice, serve
others in their community
and abroad, and grow in
their own faith.
ChristinafeltastrongsenseofGod’s
presence in those moments—unlike
what she had ever experienced be-
fore as a veterinarian.
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19. 7,484
Personal contacts were con-
nected and interacted with at
55 professional meetings in
the United States.
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service, eventually developing this project into
her primary job. She found the best blessings, in
a growing confidence to trust the “Giver of Life”
in all circumstances.
Christina would have never dreamed that her
career would be based on putting animals to
sleep. But she doesn’t see it that way. For her, it’s
more about listening to the Lord and being obe-
dient to His calling. In some of the most sensi-
tive moments of life—when families are saying
goodbye to their pets, and in turn reflecting on
their own mortality—minds open to the amaz-
ing love that God has shown all of us.
Veterinarians have been blessed with the train-
ing, knowledge and technical skills necessary
to care for animals. But how can faith in Christ
be incorporated into daily life and careers and
be used to spread the word of God?
On a daily basis, this may mean simply being
more Christ-like in words and actions. On a
more experiential basis, it may mean serving on
a mission trip to a foreign country that would
benefit from the teaching of a vet, or serving
others domestically or locally. For Christina,
she realized that when she was working with
Grace and her family, she was tapping into the
role for which God had created her.
Christian Veterinary Mission seeks to see vet-
erinary professionals live out their faith in their
profession. Visit our website for more informa-
tion on ways that you can incorporate Christ in
the workplace at cvmusa.org/WMT
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