SMA was started in 1992 by a group of Christian medical students from UWA. It has now expanded to include other students from all health-related courses, including dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy, and podiatry.
What does "SMA" stand for?
The original group of students chose the name "SMA" to represent the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from the Book of Daniel in the Bible. In chapter 3, they were sent to die in a fiery furnace by King Nebuchadnezzar as punishment for refusing to worship an image of another god. But God sent an angel to release them from their ties and protect them from the heat of the furnace, allowing them to live!
The 5 Primary Purposes of SMA
The purposes of SMA in practical terms are:
1. Worship
2. Ministry - to serve and meet the needs of those around us
3. Fellowship - with each other, with Christian professionals, and with other Christian groups
4. Discipleship - encouraging and supporting one another
5. Evangelism
To find out more about our affiliated group, the Western Australian branch of the Christian Medical and Dental Fellowship of Australia (CMDFA), go to http://www.cmdfa.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64:western-australia&catid=23:western-australia&Itemid=24 or check out last year's SMA blog: sma-info.blogspot.com
