During my first term of service with Sudan Interior Mission (1950-1953), I was impressed with the need for a hospital for African patients in Jos, in addition to the Bingham Memorial Nursing Home which had been in operation for some years. This was discussed with Rev. Ray Davis prior to my going on furlough in September 1953. He was interested in the idea and took steps to investigate the feasibility of such a hospital.  The original Council Meeting in Jos at which permission was given for such a mission hospital was in June 1955 while I was on furlough. Copies of enclosed letters reflect the progress made in obtaining from the Government permission to build a hospital and a grant of land for that purpose. 

Groundbreaking for the hospital was on November 13, 1957. This was during the Medical Advisory Meeting and all the doctors in the region were present. They had approved at this meeting the building of the hospital. Construction of the first hospital building was started in December, 1957.  Dedication of the first building was on Sunday, February 15, 1959. This was followed by an Open-House. The building housed the Out-Patient Department, Clinical Laboratory, Pharmacy, X-Ray Department, Operating Room, Sterilizing Room, Surgical Supply Room, Admitting Office, other offices and Waiting Room.  The hospital opened for out-patients on February 23, 1959.

The initial missionary staff consisted of:

Lonnie C. Grant, M.D., Medical Superintendent
Mrs. Lydia Grant, in charge of Registration Department and Records Library
Rev. John Grant, Chaplain
Mrs. Kay Grant, R.N., Nurse
Miss Ida Trapp, R.N., Nurse
Miss Avis Kint, Registered Laboratory Technologist, in charge of Clinical Laboratory
Mr. Henry Kammerer, Pharmacist,
Mrs. Henry Kammerer, Assistant to Pharmacist
Other missionaries who joined the staff later, but worked in the early days of the hospital included:
Dr. E. J. Cummins. Dates uncertain.
Mrs. Marge Cummins. Dates uncertain.
Miss Lucile Williamson. R.N. Early 1960 to Oct. 1960,  Dec. 1961 to Dec. 1965
Miss Lily Penneo, R.N. Oct. 1960 to April 1961. Sept. 1965 to ?
Dr. Larry Sandberg. March 1961 to ?
Mrs. Joyce Sandburg. R.N. March 1961 to ?
Dr. Ken Tracey, Dentist. July 1961 to May 1964
Mrs. Cynthia Tracey. July 1961 to December 1965
Dr. Dion Warren, Surgical Consultant. Dates uncertain.
Miss Thelma Letterman, Registered Laboratory Technologist. Dates uncertain.
Mr. Eugene Coppola, Pharmacist. Dates uncertain.
Miss Verna Becker, R.N. March 3, 1961 to ?
Mrs. Marian Dowdell. Dates uncertain.
Mrs. Margaret Schaffer, R.N.. Dates uncertain.
Mrs. Dorothy Clay, Dates uncertain
Miss Mirian Wethers. Dates uncertain
Miss Doris Dye.  Dates uncertain
Miss Belva Overmiller. Registered Radiographer, in charge of X-Ray Department.  Dates uncertain
Miss Lyda Kreuger, R.N.. Date uncertain
Mrs. Beatrice Rogolsky.  Dates undertain
Mrs. Gladys Tuck, R.N.. Dates uncertain.

No doubt the names of many missionaries who worded at Evangel Hospital in the early days have been omitted.  We were on leave in the U.S. from 1960 to 1962 and from 1966  to 1975.  I have made no attempt to list the names of missionaries who worked there during those periods or after 1975.

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