Resources

There are tens of thousands of bridges all over the world. We cross them to get over to the other side. We often take them for granted and sometimes we marvel at them. The Great Commission of our Lord Jesus to take His Gospel into all the world is meant for everyone, without exception. But most believers hardly know where to start and how to effectively communicate His Truth with the lost. We can do so by building bridges to take the seeker across the abyss and into His light. It’s a whole lot easier than we think. And there are a myriad of ways to do so. In this session, we will learn how to establish a bridge in order to help expand our Lord’s Kingdom here and on earth. https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/bridge-building-for-christs-kingdom

The Great Commission is a call for all Christ followers to make disciples wherever we are. So often, however, we think that this takes place on a short-term trip where we "do" a project for the national or indigenous people. Discipleship requires more time than what a short-term trip offers. We will consider how we might have a long-term impact even on a short-term trip by working with and not just for our indigenous brothers and sisters in Christ. Session recorded on Thursday, November 9th during Session Block #1 at 3:45PM EST ; speaker: Jaime Saint Session webpage: https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/five-principles-for-creating-long-term-sustainable-impact-on-short-term-mission-trips-2

Take a journey exploring the epidemic level of mental health disorders that has made primary care the de facto mental health system globally. Hear how primary care clinicians can overcome the growing lack of access to mental and behavioral health specialty services. Discover how the Waco Guide to Psychopharmacology, a free, tangible, evidence-based, point-of-care tool providing high-quality mental and behavioral health care support, is helping busy primary care clinicians to make impactful treatment decisions. Session recorded on Thursday, November 9th during Session Block #1 at 3:45PM EST ; speaker: Carena Chai https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/making-psychopharmacology-easier-in-the-trenches-yes-theres-an-app-for-that

This session will discuss how short-term global healthcare mission trips can benefit medical students and residents, but also be beneficial to their global hosts. Ways to make these trips ethical, equitable and ecologically responsible will be presented. Mission and academic agencies are paying critical attention to “Global Healthcare Education” experiences. Short-term mission trips in a Christian context may meet this need. How can we make these experiences ethical, equitable, and ecologically responsible? This workshop will look at the ethics of taking teams from HIC to LMIC, the preparation and training required to make these trips valuable to the hosting site and visitors, who initiates the request, the expertise visitors bring, and what needs to be considered to leave something which is beneficial to the hosts. Session recorded on Thursday, November 9th during Session Block #1 at 3:45PM EST ; speakers: John Tarpley; James D. Smith; Maggie https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/making-short-term-global-healthcare-mission-trips-ethical-equitable-and-ecologically-responsible 

Team Dynamics in low resource, high demand, multi-cultural environments is challenging. We will discuss a wide range of coping skills including clear boundaries, sabbath and transparency. We will also discuss how to build team consensus and agreement on the foundational principles related to self-care in a healthcare missions environment. The creation and communication of personal and team boundaries will be discussed with practical application examples shared.   Session recorded on Thursday, November 9th during Session Block #1 at 3:45PM EST ; speakers: Rick; Jim Ritchie https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/team-conflicts-how-to-navigate-and-overcome-challenges-with-team-dynamics-2

Join us as we share our experiences in leading women on cross-cultural short-term trips. Hear about the techniques we have developed to help team members break down barriers, connect with other women, and effectively communication the love of God. This session will focus on the wholistic approach to training and equipping women for short-term trips and the impact they leave on others they meet. Properly preparing teams to minister to the whole person (Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual) helps create lasting changes on and off the field. Session recorded on Thursday, November 9th during Session Block #1 at 3:45PM EST; speaker: Pamella Bukachi and Sarah Boles https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/empowering-women-through-short-term-trips

Although new therapies are being discovered all the time (medical progress), current research shows that many of these advances are ultimately demonstrated to be false in subsequent studies. In order to understand which discoveries are likely to be true progress vs. mere hype, every clinician should understand these basic but surprising aspects of scientific evidence before recommending a new therapy for a patient. We will explore the concepts of the fragility (Fragility Index), flaws (Critical Appraisal), and fallacy (Ioannidis Equation) in this lecture. Session recorded on Thursday, November 9th, 2023 at Session Block 1 at 3:45pm EST; speaker: Burton Lee Session webpage: https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/separating-progress-from-hype-in-medicine-fragility-flaws-fallacy-in-scientific-evidence

This session will review common treatments for soil-transmitted helminths, Chagas disease, HAT, and leishmaniasis. Although these parasitic infections are often acquired outside of the United States, with a recent increase in immigrants and refugees entering the United States, more are being identified as patients present for medical care. The goal of this session is to educate providers and increase awareness of how to identify and treat these parasitic infections. The brief discussion of the treatment of each of these infections will include medications, dosing, side effects, and monitoring. Session recorded on Thursday, November 9th during Session Block #1 at 3:45PM EST ; speaker: Charles Mosler https://www.medicalmissions.com/events/gmhc-2023/sessions/treatment-of-parasitic-diseases

We live in the most amazing days since Jesus walked the earth. The global church is sprinting toward the finish line of the 2000-year Great Commission race, and by God’s grace, our generation may be the one to finish it. In this session, Douglas Cobb of The Finishing Fund will explain the global effort to get the gospel for the first time to the world’s last few unengaged people groups and will present the amazing promise of Matthew 24:14 that the completion of the Great Commission will open the door to the return of Christ. https://bit.ly/gmhc2022_douglascobb_andthentheend

Medical Missions Not all medical missionaries pack their bags and move their lives to a foreign nation. Many strive to fulfill the Great Commission through medical volunteer opportunities. They serve in short-term contexts, providing support to both local residents in need of healing and medical missionaries in need of encouragement. But, as with every missions adventure, you need to know where to start. You need to find an organization that will help you find the right fit for your medical volunteer opportunity.  To help with that, we’ve created a list of ten organizations that support medical volunteer opportunities. Each of these groups shares a relationship with the Global Missions Health Conference and is a trusted missions agency. We’ve also divided the list into domestic opportunities and international opportunities, though some of groups may fit both categories   Domestic opportunities 1. Ethne Health Clinic: While this ministry is centered in Clarkston, Georgia, its name (the Greek word for “nations”) is appropriate. Clarkston has one of the highest concentrations of immigrants and refugees  of any city in America. More than 60 languages are represented. In addition, many Clarkston residents struggle with health care affordability issues. Ethne offers gap-year internships for students, as well as dental and medical volunteer opportunities. 2. Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF): Believing that many health professionals have a heart for serving the underserved, Christian Community Health Fellowship is a network that attempts to connect these individuals. Working with clinics around the nation, CCHF provides missions opportunities for both students and medical volunteers. The goal is to live out the gospel by offering health care to the most vulnerable members of society. 3. CrossRoads Missions: CrossRoads is committed to connecting individuals and churches with missions. That includes medical volunteer opportunities, along with construction and other outreach models. With ministry projects in both cities and rural communities, CrossRoads gives volunteers options for their mission context. In addition, the organization offers international trips if God leads you in that direction.  4. Genesis Family Health: Centered in southwest Kansas, Genesis Family Health operates four separate clinics that minister to a diverse population. In addition to individuals from the area, Genesis serves as the hands and feet of Jesus for immigrants and refugees from around the world. More than 16 people groups are represented, giving Genesis Family Health a great opportunity to share the gospel through physical and spiritual ministry. Services include medical care, dental care, and community outreach. 5. ECHO: The group’s full name—Empowering Church Health Outreach—provides a fit description of its mission and vision. Based in Memphis, Tennessee, ECHO strives to create partnerships between churches and charitable health clinics across the country. So far, more than 60 such clinics have been started and are meeting the needs of vulnerable populations. Medical volunteer opportunities include health care, dentistry, and optometry. Internships are also available.   International Opportunities 6. SIM: Originally known as “Sudan Interior Mission,” the history of SIM reaches back for more than a century. Today, SIM offers medical volunteer opportunities through its network of hospitals around the world.  7. World Medical Missions: A ministry of Samaritan’s Purse, World Medical Missions provides volunteer mission trip opportunities around the world. On these trips, volunteers work alongside established medical missionaries. This provides a valuable missions experience for the short-term participant and support and encouragement for the resident missionary. World Medical Missions exists to encourage medical professionals in every discipline to follow in the footsteps of the Great Physician. 8. Equip International: One unique feature of Equip International is the organization’s commitment to placing missionaries in spots that allow them to work in their strengths. Instead of providing pre-determined medical missions opportunities, Equip works with volunteers to identify how and where their passions and skills will work best. They also offer additional training to prepare volunteers and help them be as effective as possible on the field. 9. e3 Partners Medical: The larger goal of the e3 network is to make sure churches are easily accessible to anyone who needs one. To that end, e3 Partners Medical serves in more than 90 countries across six continents. Volunteer opportunities allow short-term missionaries to serve both the physical and spiritual needs of their patients. Ministries include general health care, dentistry, optometry, and education. But evangelism is a key component to every opportunity. 10. Bethel’s Global Reach: Many times, the best path to evangelism is through meeting an individual’s physical needs. To that end, Bethel’s Global Reach is focused on improving communities, especially in areas that have the greatest needs. Through medical volunteer opportunities and other ministry avenues, Bethel’s Global Reach spreads the gospel through humanitarian ministry for the “least of these.” The Tip of the Iceberg As you might expect, this list of ten organizations providing medical volunteer opportunities is not exhaustive. Many other trustworthy agencies offer similar experiences for short-term missions volunteers. You can continue your research by looking through job boards and sites with partnership lists, such as the one offered by medicalmissions.com. Above all, pray about what God wants for you. As He continues to work in your life, He will show you what kind of medical mission opportunities are available. He will guide you toward His perfect plan for your life and ministry.

Globally, diarrheal disease is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children under five years, accounting for over half a million deaths annually. Diarrhea arises mostly from contaminated food and water sources. Worldwide 2.5 billion people lack proper sanitation, and 780 million lack access to safe drinking water. Diarrhea contributes to the incidence of malnutrition in children as each episode deprives the child of optimal nutrition. In resource-poor communities, children under three years have about three episodes of diarrhea annually.

Medical Missions As Christians, we think a lot about missions. We celebrate missionaries when they experience God’s call and go to fulfill the Great Commission. And we support them through our prayers and our finances while they’re on the field. That’s all important stuff. But what about the missionaries who are coming home, either for a short time or for the rest of their lives? Individual Christians and churches need to invest time and energy exploring missionary reentry resources so we can assist and honor those who have already served. Coming Home Missionaries come home for a lot of reasons. Some have spent years on the field, and they have sensed that God is moving them into a new season in life. That could include retirement or a new domestic ministry opportunity, like pastoring or teaching. Others need to come home for medical or emotional reasons. Issues like burnout and stress are real among career missionaries, and these brothers and sisters need help as they navigate reentry. A few even might be returning because of a moral failure and are seeking spiritual healing. Regardless of the reason, exploring missionary reentry resources is important because coming home can be difficult. Missionaries need time to reorient themselves, to deal with what some have called “reverse culture shock.” Just as they had to adjust to a new culture when they went overseas, they will need to acclimate as they transition back home. That’s where solid resources geared toward missionary reentry can help. Four Options for Reentry Resources If you’re a missionary who is beginning the reentry process, you need to know what’s available for you to make the transition as smooth as possible. If you’re someone who has a heart for helping missionaries make that transition, you also need a sense of the most effective tools for that. Either way, exploring missionary reentry resources will be beneficial. We’ve identified four key options for reentering missionaries. You may want to focus on one, or you may be able to take advantage of multiple offerings. Some of them might even overlap. But these provide a great starting place for exploring missionary reentry resources. Sending Agencies: When it comes to life as a missionary, the right sending agency can make all the difference in the world. The same is true with resources for returning missionaries. When you feel God’s call to move off the field and come back home, your sending agency should be your first call. An experienced agency has worked through hundreds of reentry scenarios, and they can provide help with the initial steps of your transition. Local Churches: From a biblical perspective, churches send missionaries into the field. That’s been the model since Paul and Barnabas were called in Acts 13. So, it makes sense that churches should be the ones who provide open arms for missionaries when they return. As a missionary facing reentry, look for churches that have a plan for ministering to returning missionaries. This can make a huge difference in your adjustment back to life at home. Conferences and Retreats: In the early church, mission trips were followed by times of debriefing. For modern missionaries, that should happen at a deeper level with the sending agency and at simpler levels through church reports. But those opportunities still make not get to the root of a missionary’s reentry issues. As you’re exploring missionary reentry resources, consider various conferences and retreats that might assist in your adjustment period. Along with this, don’t overlook the benefits of enlisting a reliable Christian counselor. Books: As missionaries prepare to move overseas, they often will read books about other the lives of other missionaries and how to adapt to various cultures. You also can find books focused on reentry transitions. Again, your sending agency may be able to recommend some books or brochures that address making the shift from life on the field to life back at home. Making the Move As you’re exploring missionary reentry resources, don’t forget the most important resource at your disposal: God. If you’re a returning missionary, you can recall how you leaned into Him, His Word, and prayer as you started your journey. He is still faithful, and He will walk with you through missionary reentry. Likewise, if you believe God is calling you to assist missionaries during reentry, God will give you the wisdom and discernment you need to establish an effective ministry. Almost every missionary comes home at some point. Taking the time to examine and integrate solid resources for that transition makes sense. Ultimately, the wise use of reentry resources honors the servant and glorifies the Master.