During the course of the last World War many of our fighter pilots and bomber crew suffered horrendous, disfiguring burns and their future seemed bleak in the extreme. The prospects of these men were transformed by the work of a plastic surgeon from New Zealand. The first thing Dr Archibald McIndue did for many of the burns victims was graft on new eyelids to save their sight. Then he used an amazing series of new techniques to repair damaged faces. The pain of treatment was reduced by introducing warm saline baths.

Dr McIndue was more than a pioneering plastic surgeon. He was also a psychologist. His patients had to face up to 100 to 200 painful operations in the course of their treatment. He kept the men all together to build a mutual support group. Dr McIndue also worked to restore morale and give his shattered patients confidence. He made sure that all his nurses were pretty! He also sent the wounded airmen out into the community after explaining to the local population how they should react to them. Dr McIndue even made every effort to find jobs for the men he treated after they left East Grinstead Hospital. He treated the whole man and gave victims of war back their lives.

The Guinea-pig club consists of all those who were treated by Archibald McIndue for war wounds. It has met regularly in memory of the great surgeon for 60 years. The most amazing testimony of one of the members of the club came at the end of the program. An old soldier, still bearing the marks of his suffering, said that if he had his life all over again he would not have it any different. He would be burned and endure the pain and disfigurement for the privilege of being a patient of Dr Archibald McIndue and a member of the Guinea-pig club.

Jesus is the Great Physician. He came to earth to repair damaged lives. He can do nothing for the spiritually fit and healthy. Jesus can do a lot for those who realise that their lives are disfigured by selfishness, arrogance, bitterness, weakness and fear. He treats the whole man and woman and gives new life to those that have faith in him. Millions would testify that Jesus has transformed their lives.

But there is a cost—both a cost to Jesus who laid down his life on our behalf—and a cost to the believer. The Christian is called upon to make sacrifices and live a disciplined life. Every Sunday during the summer I make a small sacrifice and do not play cricket, a game I love, but attend church.

However, like Dr McIndue’s patients, Christians have a support group. We call it the church. It is as important for our morale as the Guinea-pig club was, and is, for the burns victims. We enjoy something more than the camaraderie of a club—the fellowship of kindred minds.

I can do no better than finish with the words of the apostle Paul: I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I many gain Christ and be found in him. Philippians 3 v8 and 9.