The History of CMMA

Founder - C. Earle Carpenter and wife, Judy

CMMA was formed in 1982 at the request of local physicians and dentists who were concerned about the growing number of personal "casualties" among their professional peers. These casualties were men and women who burned out, got divorced, attempted or succeeded in committing suicide, became addicted to alcohol or other drugs, had moral problems, etc.

Realizing that many problems in later practice began during the tough student years, the ministry began with its focus on medical students and quickly expanded to include dental and optometry students. The ministry was begun in 1982 by Earle and Judy Carpenter, natives of Birmingham.

From the beginning there was an emphasis on Jesus Christ as the one who has the answer to all of life's problems. Earle & Judy prepared many for marriage through pre-marriage counseling and this is still a service offered today by various members of the CMMA staff. 

CMMA has grown since 1982 to where we now have 23 full- and part-time ministry staff, an Executive Board composed of 11 physicians and dentists, and a Board of Advisors of 13 dentists and physicians. In addition, about 150 people attend our various weekly meetings. 

Several years ago, a group of dentists and physicians in Mobile used us as their model and formed the Christian Medical Ministry of South Alabama (CMMSA). In addition, there are groups meeting regularly in Tuscaloosa, Montgomery and Cullman which are composed of many folks once involved in Birmingham as students. 
 
One graduate of the ministry has said, "Christian Medical Ministry helped me survive a devastating personal crisis during my residency."

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