In 1974, as a freshman medical student at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans, I banded together with six other Christian freshmen medical students to navigate the integration of our studies, our future profession as physicians, and our shared faith as followers of Jesus.

I heard about what was then called the Christian Medical and Dental Associations (CMDA) and became a student member. That led to membership as a physician and later to my becoming a lifetime member.

CMDA’s mission is to “Bring the hope and healing of Christ to the world through Christian healthcare professionals.” To do this, CMDA, “educates, encourages, and equips Christian healthcare professionals to glorify God.”

It was CMDA that introduced Dr. William Carr (Bill) Peel and I. We became life-long dear friend and ministry partners and co-developed: (1) The Saline Solution, (2) Going Public with Your Faith: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work, and (3) Workplace Grace: Becoming a Spiritual Influence at Work.

These ministries led directly to the International Saline Process, which has spread around the world, and one of CMDA’s most recent ventures, “Faith Prescriptions, a new video-based teaching program to equip healthcare professionals to share the love of Christ with their patients and colleagues.”

It was CMDA that founded, fostered, and funded each of these efforts. It has been, for me, a fruitful and fun partnership for which I’ll be eternally grateful.

But, far more than what CMDA and I have done together, is the story of how CMDA’s resources, speakers, teachers, and staff have encouraged, equipped, and enabled me to grow as a follower of Jesus.

When reflecting on what Jesus has done in and through me, I distilled my many thoughts and emotions into this response to those who have written:

The purity of Christ, and any purity that has been manifested in and through me, are identical. Christ’s purity is the fountainhead; mine has its entire source in Him as it flows out of Him.

(Adapted from St. Gregory of Nyssa, c. 335–c. 394, from a treatise on Christian Perfection.)

As a prelude to The Fourth Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization, a landmark event that will unite over 10,000 men and women from diverse backgrounds from around the world, to consider gaps and opportunities in global mission. The global church will converge in South Korea for this event September 22-28, 2024. The Lausanne movement, and the First Lausanne Congress, were both inspired by Billy Graham and John Stott.

Anyway, I was recently interviewed by one of their staff, Arne Tielbürger, for an episode of the Lausanne podcast, “God on the Move.” Arne titled our interview, “Faith in Practice: A Journey in Family Medicine and Faith.” Arne wrote:

In this episode of “God on the Move,” seasoned family physician Walt Larimore reflects on how God has sustained him through his more than 40 years of service, which led him to perform over 1500 deliveries.

If you are a Christian seeking to discover stories of how God moves in different parts of the world, then this podcast is for you.

You can listen to the interview here. My prayer is that this story will be a blessing for you.

I was honored to be interviewed by Kim Munson on her podcast “America’s Veteran’s Stories” on Father’s Day (06/14/24). I also posted it here for your July 4^th listening. If you missed it, I hope you and yours will take time to listen to it here, and that you will be inspired by the suffering, sacrifices, and forgotten successes in WWII that bought with blood and lives the freedom we celebrate today.

You’ll learn about the youngest commissioned Army officer in WWII (and one of the most decorated) who fought over 400 days on the “Forgotten Front” in Southern Europe in WWII. You’ll also be astounded by one amazing horse.

It’s a story about my dad, Philip B. Larimore, Jr. The podcast was titled, “At First Light: 2nd Lieutenant Phil Larimore’s Heroic World War II Story.”

4. My Father is remembered at two Colorado Springs establishments

I was happy to learn from friends that a photo honoring my father’s WWII exploits and heroics, as well as my book about him, are featured at a couple of Colorado Spring establishments.

The photo was originally designed by a dear friend, Dan Oldfield, for the WWII Museum at LSU in Baton Rouge. It shows the cover of the book (and two of the book awards), Dad’s Captain’s portrait taken the day he was promoted to Major and awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (the Army’s second highest valor award after the Medal of Honor), as well as some of his medals, specialty awards, and patches.

The two establishments, both in Colorado Springs, are:

• At Mission BBQ, on InterQuest Parkway in Colorado Springs, where the photo is handing on the right just after you enter the front door.

• Also, at The Famous American Barber Shop on Voyager Parkway in Colorado Springs, Lisa, the owner, has hung the same picture of Dad at her station.

My book about him and his WWII adventures, At First Light: A True World War II Story of a Hero, His Bravery, and an Amazing Horse, has recently been updated and released in a new hard cover and a new soft cover editions at Amazon. It’s also available in Kindle, Nook, and Audiobook versions.

Please let friends and family know that they can subscribe for free to the new blog here.