Dennis, Madeline K.

1909 - 2001
Medical missionary
Methodist
Sarawak

Madeline Kelso Dennis was born in Delaware, USA. In 1930, she graduated from Asbury College, Kentucky and later married her classmate, Rev Louise Dennis. The couple shared the same vision to serve as overseas missionaries.

As both Madeline's father and grandfather were pastors, they were pleased and supportive when she wanted to be a missionary in China. However, Rev Louise's parents were not in favour of their decision because of the distance from the US. However, they later relented. 

Rev and Mrs Dennis set out for Nan Pin, China in 1939. They left China in 1950 because of the political changes. In 1951, they were assigned to Sibu in Sarawak where Rev Dennis became a district superintendent.

In 1952, the Sarawak government responded to the call by the Methodist Church regarding the medical needs of the local communities. So in June that year, a medical clinic and a maternity and child welfare clinic were set up in Sungai Teku and in the town centre, respectively. Madeline had oversight of the maternity clinic and child welfare clinic at the ground floor of Masland Methodist Church Youth Centre in Island Road (the present-day Methodist Book Room).

She represented the hygiene section (overseeing prevention of diseases and hygiene) during the 1st Provisional Annual Conference. Her report stated that provision of health service on the first floor of the Youth Centre began in June 1952 and that it was one of the projects by the Methodist Church, in collaboration with the District Council, Rural District Council and the Central Government Health Department.

The centre was first called “Women and babies medical teaching centre”, later renamed “Maternity and Child Welfare Clinic”. She was assisted by Pearl Lee. In the same period, three clinics were also set up at longhouses and another three at the Chinese-domiciled areas, providing mobile medical services. However, one of the clinics in the Chinese area was closed a year later. During the first year, 772 pregnant women and over 400 babies were examined or treated.

In her report at the 2nd Provisional Annual Conference from December 2-3, 1953, Madeline noted that the number of mothers and babies seeking treatment had increased and they had to increase their manpower to make more home visits. During the second half of the year, they made 200 home visits. Despite the busy schedule, they continued to visit the longhouses at Penasu, Malasan, and Sungai Aup, treating women and babies. Many villagers also requested Madeline to share the gospel with them. Madeline then requested that someone be sent to the longhouses to share the gospel.

The centre also conducted training for midwives and taught the public about family planning. She and her team also vaccinated children against diphtheria and whooping cough and conducted physical hygiene courses at Bukit Lan Farm.

In 1954, they engaged Mdm Lau Hung Hee from Johor Bahru General Hospital to work at the centre as well as two assistants, Mr Lee Chew King and Ting Teck Seng. Every month, the Sibu Lau King Howe Hospital also sent two midwifery students to the centre for training.

At the end of that year, the centre moved to the ground floor of the old police station. From January to October, 3,279 babies and 6,335 pregnant mothers were given check-ups at the centre, 4,772 persons received vaccinations and 106 women received counseling on healthy homes. The team also made 1,476 home visits.

Madeline also requested the government to set up mobile medical teams to visit and provide medical services, twice a week, to the Iban longhouses along the Lower Rejang River. Over the next four years, she also served the longhouses in Upper Rejang.

In 1956, Madeline and her husband, Rev Dennis, were assigned to work in Singapore for two years. They also worked in Petaling Jaya in Selangor for another two years. In 1961, they were sent to work in Sitiawan, Perak. Rev Dennis was later involved in a serious road accident and went through a protracted recovery. He passed away in October 1985 in the US after a fall.

In 1986, Madeline, then 76 years old, went to Fujian, China, and taught in the local theological school for two years. In 1988, she returned to Sibu to visit old friends and taught for a year in MTS.

She passed away on December 16, 2001 in the Methodist Country House.[1] Together, the couple had served the Chinese in China, Singapore, Sarawak and Malaya for 23 years. 

 

Notes

  1. ^ https://www.newspapers.com/clip/60463230/obituary-for-madeline-kelso-dennis/
    access on 7/4/2022

© SCAC. This article from Missionaries to Sarawak: Footprints in the Land of Hornbills is reproduced with permission of the Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference, The Methodist Church in Malaysia, with editing for clarity and brevity. 

[Missionaries to Sarawak: Footprints in the Land of Hornbills 1 and 2 are compiled by Wong Meng Lei (also chief editor), edited by Tumi Ngae, and translated by Christina Tiong, K.T. Chew, and Chang Yi. Book 2 translators are Christina Tiong, K.T. Chew, Chang Yi and Ting Kong Sing.]