---

Description

---

MISSION
In response to the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ and keeping with our Baptist heritage the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation is committed to the continuation of a healthy community For more than 100 years the Georgia Baptist Health Care System has offered a ministry of healing to those in need That ministry continues as we work to offer a wholesome quality of life to the citizens of Georgia and other communities served through needed health care ministries and to research and develop new health care services that make a positive and measurable difference in the lives of those we serve

VISION
The Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation is a supporting organization that primarily provides financial support to the health care ministry of the Georgia Baptist Convention within the state of Georgia Secondarily the Ministry Foundation will assist Georgia communities and others we serve with worthwhile health care related programs

The Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation holds charitable assets from which funds are expended in the form of grants supporting heath care needs that benefit organizations and individuals within Georgia and other communities served

---

History

---

GBHCMF enjoys a long history of serving the physical and spiritual needs of the community This compassionate initiative began over 100 years ago with the formation of the Tabernacle Baptist Infirmary in Atlanta when in 1901 physician Leonard Gaston Broughton was called as Pastor to the Tabernacle Baptist Church in downtown Atlanta On Thanksgiving Day in that same year Dr Broughton opened the Tabernacle Infirmary with three beds At the new Pastors request the Tabernacle church soon employed Georgia Barrett to do the missionary work among the downandouts When Dr Broughton was asked how he planned to build a hospital he responded With sick people and the command of Christ to heal the sick In 1913 the Georgia Baptist Convention purchased the Infirmary and named it Georgia Baptist Hospital

In 1915 the Tabernacle Infirmary was rechartered as Georgia Baptist Hospital which moved in 1926 to East Avenue and Boulevard Georgias first cancer clinic was established in 1934 on the hospitals campus and by 1944 there were 250 physicians on staff supported by 188 employees

The first coronary care unit was opened in Atlanta on the fourth floor of the North Tower and in 1970 Georgia Baptist founded the Southeasts first and the countrys third Cardiac Rehabilitation Program In 1974 a tenstory patient tower was completed which included 523 patient beds plus 43 infant beds At the most active point in the Health Care System history six hospitals and four skilled nursing facilities joined Level One emergency trauma coronary surgical and neonatal intensive care fitness facilities and assisted living residences to offer a full continuum of care

That heartbeat and mission continue to reverberate through the efforts of the Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation With the endowment established after the sale of the hospitals and physical assets owned by the Georgia Baptist Health Care System GBHCMF supports programs that strengthen the health of people and their communities

GBHCMF encourages constant collaboration of community partners including business government other grant makers charities and individual citizens Programs funded by GBHCMF endorse themes of selfhelp independence and individual responsibility Careful consideration is given to the GBHCMF mission when investing in community programs GBHCMF remains committed to the ideal of Christian service With our partners our ongoing efforts ensure the delivery of qualified and compassionate care Our ministry is multifaceted but our mission is as unique as it was in 1901 when the Georgia Baptist Health Care System had its phenomenal beginning