Health sciences building named for medical missionaries
SEARCY, Ark. — Harding University’s Center for Health Sciences hasbeen newly named to honor Dr. Henry and Grace Farrar for their
pioneering work in health missions. The decision was made by the board
of trustees at their semiannual meeting in May.
Henry Farrar graduated from Harding in 1948. He earned a medical
degree from University of Tennessee and went on to practice medicine
for 56 years. In 1964, he and Grace moved to Nigeria, West Africa, to
begin Nigerian Christian Hospital with an outpatient clinic in
response to an outcry from missionaries in the area to help the
country’s many suffering people. Their work continues even today — the
110-bed facility serves 30,000 patients each year.
In addition to their work in Nigeria, the Farrars helped start the
Christian Mobile Clinic in Cameroon, West Africa, and also worked at
the Chimala Mission Hospital in Tanzania, East Africa. In 1982 they
served in Shenyang, China, where Henry was visiting professor of
surgery at China Medical University.
Farrar served on the board of trustees at Harding from 1993 until his
death. In life, he received numerous honors and awards for his years
of practice as a physician, medical missionary and gospel preacher. He
died in February after suffering a fall while working at Carthage
(Tenn.) General Hospital. He is survived by his beloved wife of 59
years and their six children.
The Center for Health Sciences was completed on the Harding campus in
fall 2008. The $7.7 million, 35,800-square-foot facility houses the
College of Pharmacy and the Physician Assistant Program. The
University will celebrate the center’s new name at a dedication
ceremony this fall.
