About Predisan: History, People, Sponsoring Churches

CLICK HERE FOR A PDF OF PREDISAN'S 501(c)3 DOCUMENTATION

Predisan's History

Predisan began 23 years ago in Catacamas, Honduras, with one family.

Today, it provides more than 38,000 medical and educational contacts

each year to the people of Honduras, a desperately poor nation.

The first question about Predisan is always the same: “What does ‘Predisan’ mean?”

The answer is easy: The name comes from two Spanish words: predicar (to preach) and sanar (to heal). These words are used together in the Bible in Luke 9:2, when Jesus sends his disciples out “... to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.” So, Predisan means “to preach and to heal,” which has been the mission’s purpose since its founding more than two decades ago.

PREDISAN’s mission is to be a catalyst in the holistic transformation of people’s lives according to God’s redemptive plan for His creation.
Predisan began in 1986 when Dr. Robert Clark, his wife, Doris, and their two children — Robert Jr. and Kendra — moved from Atlanta to Catacamas, Honduras, Central America. Their goal was to teach basic health care principles and techniques to community health volunteers in Catacamas and the surrounding mountain villages. Right, In an early photo, the late Dr. Robert Clark, Doris Clark, and their two children, Kendra and Robert Jr.

Almost from the beginning their work was overseen and sponsored by the Northlake (formerly Decatur) church, Atlanta. In 1987, the Good Samaritan Clinic was established and began seeing patients on a limited basis. It later developed into a full-time medical facility.

Although Dr. Clark died in 1994, founding missionary Doris Clark continues as a revered counselor and adviser concerning Predisan's work. She served for more than two decades with Dr. Amanda Madrid, Predisan consultant and a well-known physician and Honduran public health leader. Right, In an early photo, the late Dr. Robert Clark, Dr. Amanda Madrid and nurse Marta Nuney attend a patient.

Both have mentored Martha Rivera (below), Predisan's new executive director, installed in 2007.

Martha is a longtime Predisan employee who became a Christian through her Predisan association. She graduated from college from Johnson State College, Johnson, Vt., while studying on an USAID grant. She received a Master's in finance from Madrid Politec University, Madrid, Spain.

Today, Predisan’s positive reputation is countrywide, its mission is large and diverse, and its opportunities to serve a desperately poor country seem to have no limit. Its one North American missionary, Kyle Huhtanen, works with more than 70 Honduran employees — including physicians, a dentist and psychologists.

In 2009, Predisan provided educational services and medical care more than 38,000 times, and brought spiritual teaching and hope through the work of its chaplains, the Predisan staff and Predisan activities with a spiritual component.

Predisan's work spans nine locations — the large, beautiful Predisan Family Health Center and Good Samaritan Clinic in central Catacamas, two clinics in rural suburbs of Catacamas, five clinics in remote mountain villages, and the CEREPA addiction treatment center in Catacamas. The clinics serve an area population of 70,000 people. Predisan is expanding its work with new educational and public health initiatives in schools and rural and mountain communities. Below, The exterior of the Predisan Family Health Center, Catacamas.

In addition to its work in Catacamas, Predisan is responsible for medical services in Sector Three — a geographic area assigned by The Honduran Secretary of Health.

Sector Three encompasses more than three dozen small mountain villages served by the seven rural and mountain clinics. Predisan’s volunteer program creates an exchange of experiences with professionals, medical brigades and students. Volunteers come primarily from North American churches, colleges and medical schools — bringing fresh ideas and expertise to expand Predisan's outreach.