Scalpel At The Cross

Scalpel At The Cross Scalpel At The Cross is a ministry of medical and surgical care to the Peruvian people and to the missionaries who serve them. www.scalpelatthecross.org

The goal of Scalpel At The Cross is to support and amplify on-going Christian ministries within the country of Peru. The addition of this orthopaedic medical ministry offers much needed aid to an area with a long history of poverty and injustice. The specific location of the Scalpel At The Cross medical ministry is the city of Pucallpa, which lies in the Department of Ucayali near the western bord

er of Brazil. This burgeoning town is now home to nearly 300,000 Peruvians. In contrast to Lima, which does have modern, colonial areas, this jungle town is a continuous maze of cramped, subsistence housing and dusty, open-air markets. Very little substantial industry exists in Pucallpa today. Most people are laboring to earn a living by subsistence farming, artisan craftwork or as small shop owners or mototaxi drivers. For these reasons, many medical needs are currently not being met. By offering much needed orthopaedic consultation and surgical care, Scalpel At The Cross hopes to improve the lives of these individuals and touch their hearts for Christ.

06/03/2026

Earlier this year, Drs. Cody and Luz Sessions shared Geraldine's story with their church in Bemidji, Minnesota.

Geraldine, a pharmacist and daughter of farmers, suffered a devastating fall from a fruit tree that left her with a fractured femur. She underwent surgery in an attempt to restore function to her leg, but the procedure failed. By that point, her family had spent everything they had trying to help her recover. For almost 9 months, Geraldine was confined to a wheelchair.

When Dr. Sessions met Geraldine, he had the opportunity to provide surgery at no cost. Her family was stunned. Having exhausted their financial resources, they had even considered selling the family farm.

As they wrestled with why someone would offer such care for free, Dr. Sessions was able to share that what Scalpel provides is only a glimpse of the love Jesus has shown each of us. Meeting patients where they are and caring without expectation often creates a sacred space, one that opens the door to vulnerability, trust, and a deeper understanding of God's love.Through the efforts of the Scalpel team, Geraldine received the operation she needed, giving her the opportunity to walk again.

Many people spend everything they have searching for healing, restoration, and answers, only to arrive at a place of surrender where they encounter Jesus's love. In Him, we find a healing that extends beyond the body and reaches the deepest parts of the human heart.

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05/27/2026

In 2004, Scalpel At The Cross began with a simple calling: to be a lighthouse for Christ through a medical ministry in the Peruvian Amazon region of South America.

In places like Pucallpa, traumatic injuries, limited resources, and fragile healthcare systems leave many without access to orthopaedic care, rehabilitation, and long-term support.

Through surgical campaigns, rehabilitation, education, discipleship, and the growing Miracle Campus, Scalpel aims to build lasting impact alongside local leaders that extends far beyond mission trips.

Over the past two decades, God has grown this mission into far more than we could have imagined:

• 48 surgical campaigns
• 720 volunteer team members
• 905 lives impacted through life-changing orthopaedic care
• $14.6 million in medical care provided

The Miracle Campus will serve as a lasting foundation for the mission: a place of healing, education, restoration, and opportunity in the Peruvian Amazon for generations to come. Thank you to every volunteer, supporter, prayer warrior, and Miracle Worker whose generosity, sacrifice, and faith continue to fuel this mission.

05/25/2026

Dr. Clay Nelson and his wife Meggie, high school sweethearts, parents of Carter and Adley, and longtime members of the Scalpel family, recently spent an unforgettable season serving together in Pucallpa, Peru.

Clay, an orthopaedic hand and upper extremity surgeon from Oklahoma City, first joined Scalpel At The Cross as a resident surgeon, an experience that left a lasting impact on both his life and faith. This past January, the Nelson family felt called to go beyond a traditional short-term trip, sensing a deeper desire to invest in a mission that has become profoundly meaningful to their family.

Together, they spent the entire month of January serving in Pucallpa, embracing people, relationships, and Christ-centered community that Scalpel At The Cross has cultivated over the years.

In the latest edition of Scalpel’s Edge, Meggie reflects on their extended stay and the lasting impact it had on their family:
“Laughter dissolved into tears and tears back into laughter, and by the time our month came to a close, we were blessed beyond measure.”

We are deeply grateful for the Nelson family and their tremendous commitment to the mission, not only through serving on campaigns, but through embracing this work as part of their God-given identity as a family.

Read more in the latest edition of Scalpel’s Edge.

Clinic day is where Scalpel At The Cross prayerfully and diligently identifies the patients we believe we can best serve...
05/22/2026

Clinic day is where Scalpel At The Cross prayerfully and diligently identifies the patients we believe we can best serve based on their surgical needs and the expertise of each campaign team. It is the foundation of every surgical mission: a day where patients are carefully evaluated, imaging and X-rays are reviewed, treatment plans are discussed, and operative needs are discerned.

Yet clinic day is about far more than selecting cases for surgery. It is an opportunity to truly know patients — to hear stories, understand journeys, and walk alongside others with compassion. It is where the human side of medicine shines brightly, as caregivers and patients embrace one another as brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of background, language, or circumstance.

Volunteers arrive ready to serve in whatever capacity is needed: translating conversations, documenting patient histories, helping families navigate the process, praying over patients, and caring for children with joy and tenderness.

Throughout the day, members of Mil Palmeras Church fill the clinic with worship music, testimonies, and the hope of the Gospel as families wait to be seen. Patients move from medical evaluations into moments of prayer and conversation with the Spiritual Impact Team, where many hear about the love of Christ for the very first time.

In the evening, the team regroups to review every patient identified as a potential surgical candidate, collaborating together to determine the best plan of care and prepare for the demanding days of surgery ahead.

Clinic day is exhausting, emotional, and often overwhelming because the needs are so great. Yet it remains one of the most beautiful reflections of Christ’s love, pouring itself out completely to meet people where they are.

This is your friendly reminder that the Kingdom of God often moves through small moments we almost miss...A translator p...
05/20/2026

This is your friendly reminder that the Kingdom of God often moves through small moments we almost miss...

A translator praying with a patient.
A volunteer cleaning instruments late at night.
A surgeon showing up day after day through exhaustion.
A birthday celebrated in a hospital room.
A simple smile reminding someone they are seen.

Throughout every campaign, we are reminded that small acts of faith carry eternal significance.

These moments may seem small. However, in God’s hands, they become seeds planted for eternity, restoring bones, renewing hearts, and advancing His Kingdom far beyond what we can see.

What once began as a concept has now flourished into a living organism growing before our very eyes. Together, we are he...
05/18/2026

What once began as a concept has now flourished into a living organism growing before our very eyes. Together, we are helping shine the light of Christ in Pucallpa, Peru through compassionate care.

By joining our Miracle Workers monthly giving community, you become part of that mission. When generosity is ingrained into your rhythm, it becomes a piece of your God given identity.

Your recurring gift helps provide free surgical care, rehabilitation, and life-changing opportunities for those who need it most, always pointing hearts toward the one true Miracle Worker.

Visit scalpelatthecross.org to become a monthly donor today starting at just $25.

Like orthopaedic recovery, growth takes time.However, when we pause to zoom out, we see progress, resilience, and the fa...
05/16/2026

Like orthopaedic recovery, growth takes time.

However, when we pause to zoom out, we see progress, resilience, and the faithfulness of God through every step.

In his latest reflection for the Scalpel’s Edge newsletter, Peter A. Cole, MD (Founder and President of Scalpel At The Cross) shared how the journey of building the Miracle Campus has been marked by patience, perseverance, and trusting God little by little.

The road has continuously included waiting, setbacks, and challenges, yet God has continued to strengthen the foundation for something far greater than we could have imagined.

“A tree of life is growing on the Miracle Campus indeed.”

Read the latest edition of Scalpel’s Edge here:
https://scalpelatthecross.org/news/

What started as a young boy serving at Christ Journey Church eventually became something much bigger.For Lucca Golfari, ...
05/13/2026

What started as a young boy serving at Christ Journey Church eventually became something much bigger.

For Lucca Golfari, saying “yes” to helping in kids ministry and serving in the tech booth became the first ripple in a story God was writing long before he could see it. That ripple led him to mission trips through Christ Journey, then ultimately to Scalpel At The Cross and the Peruvian Amazon, where he discovered a calling to serve others through medicine and missions.

What makes this story so powerful is how one act of service created another. A church mission trip sparked compassion. A family connection opened a door. A trip to Pucallpa lit a fire. And before long, Lucca was sharing the mission at school, inviting others into the story, and rallying his youth group to collect shoes for patients recovering from surgery in Peru.

His words say it best:

“A hopeful reminder that just one drop can create a waterfall.”

You never know how one yes, one invitation, or one moment of serving can ripple into changed lives for generations to come.

05/10/2026

To the mothers who lead, serve, sacrifice, pray, nurture, encourage, and show up day after day — thank you.

Whether at home, in the clinic, across the world, or quietly supporting those you love, your compassion reflects the hands and heart of Christ more than you know.

Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Scalpel At The Cross. 🌸





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