嘉義基督教醫院；六十歲生日快樂！從領受耶穌基督的異象出發，戴德森醫師來到台灣這一個他從前沒到過的嘉南平原，一心一意把自己奉獻在台灣這個土地，用他的醫療照顧專長，彰顯耶穌基督無限的愛。
       我擔任嘉基院長雖然只有兩個月，但是看到了也聽到了無數愛的故事發生在我們醫院裏，一張張老照片、一支支老影帶，不論是院長醫生及同工合力抬著開完刀的病患從一樓上二樓病房；Uncle倪傑先生與護理人員合力抬著小兒麻痺病童的輪椅上車帶他們出去玩、在山地部落裡大家下車合力推著陷在泥濘中的醫療車、八七水災後大批病患在移動診療車旁等著看病、八八風災我們同工在強風中搭著直升機去部落做醫療救護支援、坐著人力流籠、溜索跨過急流、爬過坍崩的土石流險地深入部落探望村民的救護人員、或者在老人居家服務人員那一份細膩…在在都述說著耶穌的愛—「願意多走一里路的愛」。
       嘉義基督教醫院目前是一個區域級的教學醫院，有著高品質的醫療服務團隊。和其他醫院不同的是，我們的團隊更多了信仰的支持。我們都知道人有盡頭，醫療照顧也有極限，面對生老病死，院牧同仁的禱告和關懷，就是一股莫大支持的力量。嘉基同時也是一個全人、全心、全程的整合性醫療照顧，從健康促進、預防保健、急慢性醫療、社區與居家服務，甚至走入山地，都可以看見同仁們努力的身影。
       企劃室的洪錫隆主任曾經跟我說過，他在一個福音機構辦的「馬禮遜入華宣教二百年」歷史圖片巡迴展中看到台灣很多的教會醫院，但「嘉義基督教醫院」卻沒有紀錄及圖片在該展覽中。他很難過；問了主辦單位，主辦單位說：「因為沒有找到任何的歷史資料可供參考呀啊！」其實嘉基醫院是有豐富歷史的，而且嘉基醫院絕對在二次大戰戰後台灣醫療宣教史占有一席地位，因為上帝都有在這奉主名設立的醫院中有著很多恩典的軌跡。戰後上帝呼召不同時代的不同人來，從戴德森醫師夫婦全家、美國、芬蘭、歐洲各國的宣教醫師、宣教護理及志工參與在這「海外宣教~踏在愛的第一里路」、一直延續交棒給本土的歷任院長及很多不同職類的專業人員來到這裡，他們經歷了上帝的帶領，產生值得被記念的故事。
       感謝主！帶領「蔡淑娟小姐博士門企劃策展團隊」、還有我們嘉基這次的六十周年紀念系列活動的籌備小組和企劃室同仁等執行夥伴們，不眠不休的執行這個嘉基最重要的歷史紀錄任務。完成這一本「踏在愛的第二里路｜嘉義基督教醫院六十年愛的傳承」。在短短時間內完成了這個不可能的任務。更藉由現代網路平台科技的運用，透過手機QR Code手機聯結上網路平台、讓這本紀念專書成為「一本活的書」，讓上帝在嘉基的恩典痕跡可以不斷述說紀錄下去。
       感謝上帝給嘉基醫院諸般的祝福，感謝歷年嘉基董事長、歷屆院長、醫護社服行政人員、院牧同仁、退休員工及社區教會的牧者給嘉基的付出、禱告及守望。「詩篇127:1若不是耶和華建造房屋，建造的人就枉然勞力；若不是耶和華看守城池，看守的人就枉然儆醒」。盼望在閱讀這紀念專書時；可以繼續為嘉義基督教醫院守望、感謝及代禱。最後，分享卓志錠牧師一段話：「在忙碌的醫療的環境當中，我們都很容易因為忙碌而忘記當初我們為什麼在這個地方，但是這個地方其實是六十年前戴醫師他順從了上帝的帶領跟引導來到這個地方，透過醫療是要分享上帝的愛」，盼望經過六十年後，我們仍然不忘記那起初的愛心，用我們的專業，踏在愛的第二里路。 

        一九五八年美國基督教信義會的宣教士戴德森醫師，成立嘉義基督教醫院，以醫療宣教行遍雲嘉偏遠地區，到今年是第六十年了，一甲子的扎根，嘉基已是雲嘉地區最大的教學醫院，包含一千零七十七張的病床，超過三千人的員工，提供超過四十科的專科服務，平均每日超過四千一百一十人次的門診量。藉著不斷提升的醫療設備與技術，嘉基讓雲嘉民眾都能享受到高品質的醫療服務。
在台灣基督教的宣教及福音傳開是從馬雅各、馬偕等宣教士的醫療傳道開始，這種跨文化的宣教，一開始面臨許多的挑戰及攻擊，但到現在，基督教醫院用醫療宣教來見證上帝的愛，已經被一般人理解、接受與尊重。嘉基一步一腳印的耕耘，使得醫院的歷史也成為嘉義地區醫療史中最重要的參與者及見證者。
       多年來嘉基醫院許多基督徒的醫療人員、國外的宣教護士及傳教士，以努力「做上帝忠心的管家」的職志，「用心」、讓雲嘉民眾都能享受到高品質的醫療服務。「用愛」來照顧院內及院外偏鄉社區病患，並進而傳達美好的福音。而醫院內更多非基督徒的醫護人員，也在充滿「愛」的環境，除貢獻醫療專業外，更是用「真心」對待患者，使得醫院中傳頌著許多愛的故事。數十年來嘉基醫院無圍牆全人照護的工作結合社區教會的力量，除關懷院內及院外病患外，也關心院內所有的同仁，院內常可看到充滿歡樂及活力的教友身影。而隨著嘉基醫院的成長與茁壯，從 一九九六年開始，嘉基醫院已有能力組成醫療宣道隊赴寮國短宣，並於一九九六年成立宣教部，致力於海內外醫療宣教。一九九六、一九九七年再成立「暹邏園（泰勞服務中心）」及嘉基「菲勞福音中心」，除關懷旅居台灣的外籍移工、配偶及留學生外，更是多次組織醫療團隊至中國大陸、菲律賓、泰國、越南、緬甸等地進行海外義診服務，將愛在海外蔓延。
       如同早期外籍醫師來台灣貧困落後的地區進行醫療宣教，台灣教會及基督教醫院也開始有能力回饋並進行海外偏遠地區跨文化的宣教。為減少跨文化宣教將面臨的障礙，讓更多人可以投入宣教工作，嘉基在二○一四年成立台灣第一個「醫療宣教學院」，學院內有為醫療人員設計的傳福音訓練，也有為一般基督徒規劃基本的醫療訓練，是醫療、宣教與教學的結合，因此嘉基醫院成為台灣教會參與跨文化宣教提供裝備訓練的基地及實習操練的場域。不忘以基督之愛創院的初心，嘉基人因愛看見需求而發展成目前的醫療規模，而時時刻刻面對外部挑戰的嘉基醫院，在歷任院長及主管的掌舵下，穩健的駛往醫學中心的航道，面對未來，全體醫院事工以六十年的基石，將繼續努力在醫療照顧、經營管理、病人的安全，社區服務與教學研究上有更多的提升，讓嘉基成為醫學中心的盼望水到渠成。
       這次嘉基在六十周年的院慶中，除了一系列的慶祝活動外，更期望能有一個屬於全院同仁及紀念的專書，讓大家可以回顧過去、看到現在及展望未來。筆者因為一○六年嘉義市文化局的「愛在諸羅：嘉義醫療故事展」的策展，有幸認識嘉基這個充滿「愛」與「關懷」的醫院，因此受託規劃本專書時，便想到以「策展」的方式呈現，除從「愛的故事」策展理念出發，讓專書有限的文字及篇幅承載嘉基六十年愛的記憶外，並且藉助成熟的QR Code（二維掃描）的方式，讓無限的網路平台中，連結嘉基人的影像、文件及老照片等，看到嘉基大家庭的每一份子在不同的工作中，踏在「愛的第二里路」無私奉獻的過去與進行式中的現在。
       期望這本書的誕生，讓大家感受到「心中有愛，才能看到需要」的嘉基，並伴隨過往的歷史場景的呈現，讓大家看到因「愛」克服萬難並產生巨大力量的嘉基。隨著資料的採集的增加，六十年的足跡，「踏」在鍵盤上，讓我感動之餘，也看到基督教信仰「信、望、愛」的內涵，並明白基督徒醫護人員以見證上帝的愛來愛鄰舍、弱勢與貧窮的人的真諦。。 

 

 Chia-Yi Christian Hospital (CYCH) was established in 1958 by Dr. Marcy Leroy Ditmanson, a missionary from Evangelical Lutheran Church in the United State who conducted his missionary work through medical services in the remote areas in Yunlin-Chiayi region. CYCH becomes the largest educational hospital in the region with a total of 1,077 sickbeds and over 3,000 employees after six decades of hard work. The hospital provides over 40 specialist services with an average of over 4,110 appointments every day. The constant improvements and upgrading of the medical equipment and technology in CYCH enable the hospital to offer high-quality medical services to the public in Yunlin-Chiayi area.   

Dr. James Laidlaw Maxwell and Dr. George Leslie Macay were two of the influencers for the rise of Gospel Christianity and missionary work in Taiwan through their passionate medical missionary works. While ample of challenges were faced during the initial stage of the works due to cultural differences, Christian Hospital has currently been widely accepted and respected by the public after the witness of God's love through giving medical services. The contribution of CYCH over the past decades serves as a significant role in the history of the medical field in Chiayi.

Believing in being the "Servants of the Lord", many Christian medical teams, foreign missionary nurses and evangelists devote themselves in providing the highest quality of medical care for patients at the remote areas of Chiayi region. During their period of service, they constantly spread the Gospel messages and love of God, which also contribute to the warmth of the hospital. The constant heart-warming environment of the hospital further enables the medical officers, both the Christian and the non-Christian medical personnel, to deliver better service to the patients. The care towards people goes beyond the boundary of the hospital. Bringing together the neighbourhood churches, CYCH does not only show concern for the patients but also ensure the welfare of the medical staffs. It is a common scene to have energetic church members in the hospital to spread their love and care. 

The constant growth and expansion of CYCH enable the hospital to outreach to the underprivileged in other countries. CYCH initiated its first overseas medical expenditure to Laos in 1992. In 1996, Department of Missions was set up to promote domestic and overseas medical missionary initiatives. The team conducted outreach to countries such as Mainland China, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, to provide medical care and to spread the love of God. In 1996 and 1997, Suan Siam Thai Gospel Center and Amazing Grace Church Filipino Gospel Center were established to show the solicitude to foreign workers and spouses working in Taiwan. 

Learning from the past which the western doctors provided medical missions in less developed areas in Taiwan, the Churches and Christian hospitals in Taiwan begin to carry out their own cross-cultural missionary work overseas once they have the capability. To mitigate the challenges during these overseas expenditures and to empower more people to engage in the missionary work, the first School for Medical Mission, a non-profit organization, was established in 2014. The school provides Gospel training for medical staffs and basic medical training for general Christians. It becomes the platform and training ground for cross-cultural missionary work through its three pillars - medical services, missionary work and education.

The love of God empowers the development and expansion of CYCH to its scale today.  Under the leadership of the past presidents and managers, the hospital overcomes all the challenges faced and progress steadily towards a medical centre. CYCH continues to strive to provide quality medical care and effective hospital management with its foundation of six decades of experience. The constant upgrade in the education and research field are also measures of the hospital to yearn the state as a medical centre.
In the celebration of 60th anniversary of CYCH, there is an anticipation of a publication to reminisce the stories and history of CYCH. As the curator of "Love in Tirosen: History of Medicine in Chiayi", an exhibition by Chiayi City Cultural Affairs Bureau in 2017, I am honoured to be invited as the author for Second Mile of Love. With the curatorial concept of "The Stories of Love" to record the sixty years of remembrance, the publication of Second Mile of Love includes the physical publication and the digital curation. The QR code in this book connects the readers to the digital medium which contains a wilder collection of old photos, documents and videos. The online platform constantly showcases the dedication of past and present CYCH family in their respective job scope and their selfless contribution along the second mile of love.

It is my personal hope for readers to understand the belief of CYCH - "one can only see the needs of people when there is love". Through the presentation of historical events, one can witness how CYCH overcomes the challenges over the years through its belief of love. In my journey of information collection, I am not only touched by the long history of CYCH and further understand the belief of "Faith, Hope and Love" in Christianity. The dedication of Christian medical personnel in loving the individuals and the underprivileged is inspiring and is also a reflection of the love of God towards everyone.