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Linda Stryker BIOGRAPHY

Miss Linda Stryker, Free Methodist missionary nurse, provides a link between the Free Methodist Church in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the North American FMC and various aid and United Nations organizations. Part of this responsibility includes being coordinator of FM health ministries in the DRC. In spite of the ongoing war, which has caused extreme poverty and the displacement of tens of thousands of people within the country, the Nundu Deaconess Hospital, nursing school and some 35 health centers continue to function to some degree, thanks to courageous efforts of Congolese staff and ongoing support of donors. Also because of the war, more than 10,000 Free Methodist members are still in refugee camps in neighboring Tanzania. Linda facilitates contact between them and their family and friends in the DRC. She also works alongside church leaders in various aspects of training.

In more peaceful times, Linda served as a nurse-midwife and instructor from 1982 to 1990 in DRC. Her work was principally at Nundu Hospital and the associated nurses' training school. In addition to her work in Nundu, Stryker was involved in developing the new rural health program, which emphasized prenatal care and well-baby clinics in the villages.

A recent addition to Linda's responsibilities is the supervision of the child sponsorship program, International Childcare Ministries, which helps over 3000 children in Congo have the opportunity to study as well as know that Christians in other countries care about them in a tangible way and through prayer.

Linda attended Aldersgate College in Saskatchewan. She graduated from Roberts Wesleyan College in New York with a B.S. in nursing and from Indiana Wesleyan University with a M.S. in Community Health. She earned certification as a nurse-midwife from the University of Mississippi.

Free Methodist World Missions is committed to making disciples among the peoples of the world through evangelism, leadership development and compassion ministries/community transformation. The Free Methodist Church has ministry in 62 countries worldwide.