Resources

A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern by the World Health Organization, and for those serving in global health missions, it demands attention. Here's what you need to know.   What's Happening with the Congo Ebola Outbreak In mid-May 2026, health authorities confirmed an outbreak of the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola in Ituri Province, northeastern DRC. The virus is believed to have circulated undetected for roughly two months before being identified. It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly outbreaks can escalate in under-resourced settings. As of May 27, 2026: 1,077 suspected cases and 246 suspected deaths have been reported 121 confirmed cases The outbreak has spread to North Kivu, South Kivu, and neighboring Uganda Critically, there is no approved vaccine or treatment for the Bundibugyo strain, making containment efforts entirely dependent on isolation, contact tracing, and community cooperation.   Why This Is Different Previous DRC Ebola outbreaks have been devastating, but most involved strains for which vaccines existed. This outbreak does not. The Bundibugyo strain is rare; the last major outbreak was in 2007, and vaccine developers are now racing to assess candidates. The response is also complicated by: Active armed conflict in eastern DRC, with dozens of militia groups operating in the outbreak zone Community mistrust of health workers, including a treatment center that was burned by residents in Rwampara Severe supply shortages, worsened by international aid cuts that have weakened local health infrastructure Over 920,000 internally displaced people in Ituri Province alone Aid workers on the ground have described a lack of basic supplies. The WHO, UNICEF, WFP, and organizations like Doctors Without Borders are responding, but the scale of need is outpacing current resources. For Healthcare Missionaries: Practical Considerations If you are currently serving in or planning to serve in eastern DRC, Uganda, or surrounding regions, here are key steps to take now: Check your organization's travel advisory. Many sending organizations are reassessing deployments to affected areas. Confirm your organization's current guidance before traveling. Know the symptoms. Ebola presents with sudden fever, severe headache, muscle pain, weakness, fatigue, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and unexplained bleeding. Early isolation is critical. Ensure PPE availability. Standard PPE protocols for Ebola require full coverage: gowns, gloves, face shields, and boots. Do not assume supplies will be available on the ground. Understand burial protocols. A significant source of transmission in this outbreak has been traditional burial practices. Culturally sensitive but firm guidance on safe burials is essential. Prioritize community trust. The burning of a treatment center in Rwampara illustrates what happens when health interventions are imposed without community buy-in. Relationship-based, culturally humble engagement is not optional.  Care for your team. Ebola response is psychologically grueling. Ensure your team has access to mental health support and regular debriefs.   The Bigger Picture Outbreaks like this one expose the fragility of global health infrastructure and the irreplaceable role of long-term, relationship-based mission work. Organizations and individuals who have invested years in community trust are often the most effective responders when crises hit. If you're not currently in the region, this is a moment to pray, give, and amplify. Organizations like Doctors Without Borders, the International Medical Corps, and local church-based health networks are on the ground and need support. We'll continue to monitor the DRC Ebola outbreak and provide updates as they develop.

The practice of healthcare is inherently powerful, and our patients are vulnerable to our power. Though power can be abused, the righteous use of power, for the benefit of the vulnerable, is profoundly Christlike. We will explore the lessons of power which help us understand our roles, including the fundamental nature of professionalism and key kingdom strategies of healthcare missions.

Transforming healthcare delivery in resource-limited contexts around the world calls for compassionate, innovative solutions. Learn how The Luke Commission is bringing healthcare to the most isolated and underserved in Eswatini through a scalable model for advancing health equity.

What is cultural distress? It is a negative response rooted in a cultural conflict where the patient lacks control over their situation. It results in more physiologic effects on the body resulting in allostatic overload. To prevent this, healthcare practitioners must use strategies such as cultural humility to help patients navigate healthcare. Come find the best ways to deliver culturally sensitive care in any setting.

Sacre Coeur Pediatric Center of Excellence by Hope Ignited provides gospel-centered general and specialty pediatric care to over 15,000 children annually in Guinea, west Africa, a predominantly Muslim country. This session will focus on challenges, lessons learned, and the gospel impact we have seen in providing high quality care to pediatric patients in one of the poorest and least developed countries in the world while also training local medical professionals to become experts within their domains.

Develop an understanding of faith, its depth, the growth, and the journey from a mission standpoint and from a personal standpoint. Gain a revelation that God uses all our skills, if we are willing to surrender all to Him. Learn how faith works in the fight against human trafficking. Understand the link between human trafficking and craniofacial birth defects

Does all work glorify God? Is there a dichotomy between mission work and secular work? Join us to learn more about these topics and more as we explore all vocations in light of God’s Kingdom.

If you just lost a baby, this is for you. And if you're a healthcare worker or someone who loves a mother who just miscarried, these Bible verses for a miscarriage are worth sharing with her. A miscarriage is a real loss. It is not a failure and not something you caused. These Bible verses for a miscarriage won't explain what happened, but they will remind you that God sees you, that He is near, and that the child you lost is known to Him.   Key Takeaways Your Grief Is Real: A miscarriage is a genuine loss, and Scripture meets that grief honestly without rushing past it. It Is Not Your Fault: Nothing in God's Word assigns blame to a mother for the loss of her unborn baby. God Is Near to the Brokenhearted: These Bible verses for the loss of an unborn baby consistently point to a God who draws close. Lament Is Welcome: The Psalms show that bringing raw, unfiltered grief to God is not a lack of faith but an expression of it. Hope Is Still True: Even in the deepest loss, Scripture holds out a hope grounded in the character of God.   Bible Verses for a Miscarriage   1. God Is Close to You Right Now (Psalm 34:18) "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." This is one of the most comforting Bible verses for a miscarriage. God is not watching your grief from a distance. He is near to it.   2. You Are Held (Isaiah 41:10) "[F]ear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." God does not shy away from suffering and is not asking you to be strong on your own. He is offering to hold you up.   3. It Is Okay to Bring Your Grief to God (Psalm 62:8) "Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." The word "pour" matters here. Not a composed, tidy prayer. Everything, poured out. God can hold it.   4. He Knew Your Baby (Psalm 139:13–14) "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Your baby was not unknown. God sees the unborn and loves them.   5. Your Sorrow Will Not Last Forever (Psalm 30:5) "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." This verse does not rush grief. It simply tells the truth: the night is real, and so is the morning.   6. God Collects Every Tear (Psalm 56:8) "You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?" God keeps count. He does not miss a single tear. Your grief is not invisible to Him.   7. He Heals the Brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3) "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." Healing is not the same as forgetting. God actively tends to broken hearts the way a physician tends to a wound with care and attention.   8. You Are Not Without Hope (Romans 8:38–39) "For I am sure that neither death nor life...nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Nothing separates you from God's love.   A Word Before You Go Grief after a miscarriage takes time and doesn't follow a schedule. Be patient with yourself. If you are a caregiver walking with someone through this, prayers and resources for caregivers are available to support you.  If you feel called to serve mothers and families in vulnerable moments, short-term mission trip opportunities put you alongside people who need tender care.   Related Questions   What does God say about losing a baby? While there’s not a Bible verse about a miscarriage specifically, Scripture affirms that God knows each child before birth and draws near to those who grieve (Psalm 139:13, Psalm 34:18).   What Psalm is good to read after a miscarriage? Psalm 34 is one of the most comforting Psalms after a miscarriage, especially verse 18: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."   What does the Bible say about miscarried babies in heaven? While Scripture does not address this explicitly, God's character as just and gracious gives every reason to believe that unborn babies are received into His care.   How long does miscarriage grief last? Grief after a miscarriage is personal and does not follow a set timeline, and it is normal for sorrow to resurface at unexpected moments.

A cancer patient is often dealing with more than a diagnosis. They may be scared, lonely, and wrestling with questions that have nothing to do with treatment protocols.  These Bible verses for cancer patients are a practical starting point for any healthcare worker who is looking for words of encouragement to share.   Key Takeaways Scripture Reaches Where Medicine Cannot: Bible verses for cancer patients offer comfort and truth in the emotional and spiritual spaces that clinical care cannot address. God Is Present in Suffering: Many scriptures for cancer patients were written by people in genuine anguish, which makes them honest companions rather than hollow reassurances. The Right Verse at the Right Moment Matters: Different patients need different things, and knowing which scripture fits which moment makes you a more complete caregiver. Prayer and Scripture Work Together: Offering to pray alongside sharing a verse can deepen the comfort and open doors for meaningful conversation about faith and hope. You Don't Need Perfect Words: Scripture already holds them, and your willingness to show up and speak them is often enough.   Why Scripture Matters at the Bedside Suffering raises hard questions that medicine was never designed to answer. Scripture was written by people who sat inside those same questions and found God faithful. It doesn't explain suffering away. It walks into it.   8 Bible Verses for Cancer Patients   1. When the Patient Is Afraid (Psalm 23:4) "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." Few scriptures for cancer patients carry the weight of this one. It introduces a God who walks through darkness rather than around it.   2. When the Patient Feels Alone (Isaiah 41:10) "[F]ear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Five promises in a single verse. Share it with the patient when they feel like they feel alone.   3. When the Patient Is Exhausted (Isaiah 40:31) "[B]ut they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." This Bible verse for cancer patients promises that God will give us what we need if we wait for Him.   4. When the Patient Needs Peace (Philippians 4:6–7) "[D]o not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." The peace described here doesn't depend on circumstances resolving. Pair this verse with an offer to pray with the patient right in that moment.   5. When the Patient Is Grieving (Psalm 34:18) "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Write it down and share it with the patient. It can be a small daily reminder of God’s closeness.   6. When the Patient Needs Courage (Joshua 1:9) "Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." The path ahead is unfamiliar, and the outcome is uncertain. This scripture for cancer patients doesn't promise easy terrain. It promises continual presence.   7. When the Patient Is Facing the End (John 11:25–26) "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.'" For a patient nearing the end of life, this is a direct claim from Christ about what death means for those who believe.    8. When the Patient Wants to Know More (Romans 10:9) "[I]f you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." When a patient wants to know more, knowing how to share the gospel clearly is one of the most valuable things a Christian healthcare worker can do.   Carrying These Verses with You Start with two or three that feel natural and build from there. There are many Bible verses about suffering worth knowing as you care for patients in hard seasons. If you feel called to bring both your medical skills and your faith into settings where that combination matters most, marketplace mission opportunities are worth exploring.   Related Questions   What does God say about people getting cancer? The Bible does not address cancer specifically, but it consistently affirms that God is near to the brokenhearted and that nothing separates His people from His love (Romans 8:38–39).   What is the best verse to comfort someone? Psalm 34:18 is one of the most direct comfort verses in Scripture: "The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."   What Psalm is about courage and strength? Psalm 46:1 is a strong source of courage: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."   What is an encouraging scripture for a sick person? Isaiah 41:10 is an encouraging Bible verse for cancer patients: God promises His presence, strength, help, and support in a single verse.

Fruitful domestic and international medical missions overlap in multiple ways. Both require cross-cultural skills, a willingness to work with limited resources, courage in the face of potentially dangerous situations, and possible disapproval from friends and family. Each is excellent preparation for the other. Many international workers spend furlough time working in American Christian health centers--and vice-versa.

Does the Bible actually say anything clear about abortion? The word never appears in Scripture, which leads some to conclude that the Bible is silent on the topic. But silence on a word is not silence on a subject.  What the Bible does say about life in the womb, about God's intimate knowledge of the unborn, and about the image He stamps on every human being builds a case that is anything but ambiguous.   Key Takeaways The Bible Is Not Silent: Scripture never uses the word "abortion," but it speaks clearly about the sanctity of life in the womb through verses about God's knowledge, image, and care for the unborn. Life Begins at Conception: Multiple scriptures on abortion establish that God knows, forms, and values human life from its earliest moments in the womb. The Unborn Bear God's Image: Genesis 1:27 makes clear that God created humans in His image. God's Knowledge of the Unborn Is Personal: Psalm 139 describes God knitting each person together in the womb with the care and intentionality of a craftsman who knows exactly what He is making. Grace Covers Every Sin: For anyone carrying guilt over past choices, the same God who forms life in the womb is the God who offers full forgiveness through Christ.   8 Bible Verses About Abortion and the Sanctity of Unborn Life   1. Knitted Together by God (Psalm 139:13–14) "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." This is a foundational Bible verse on abortion. The image of God knitting a person together is not poetic filler. It describes deliberate, personal, skilled work. God is actively present in the formation of every human being before anyone else in the world knows they exist.   2. Made in God's Image (Genesis 1:27) "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." This verse is not specifically about the womb, but it is essential to the abortion conversation. If every human being is made in the image of God, and if that image is present from conception as Scripture implies, then every child, born, unborn, or orphaned, carries inherent dignity that cannot be separated from their humanity.   3. A Baby Who Recognized His Lord (Luke 1:41–44) "[W]hen Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit." This is one of the most striking scriptures on abortion in the New Testament. John the Baptist, still unborn, responded to the presence of Jesus, who was also unborn. Elizabeth called Jesus "my Lord" before either child had drawn a first breath. The Bible treats these two unborn children not as potential persons but as real ones.   4. Known Before Birth (Psalm 22:10) "On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother's womb you have been my God." David describes a relationship with God that predates his birth. This Bible verse on abortion establishes that the bond between God and a person does not begin at delivery. It begins in the womb, which means the life in the womb is not a life on hold but a life already known and already in relationship with its Creator.   5. Named in the Womb (Isaiah 49:1) "The Lord called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name." To be named is to be known. To be called is to be assigned a purpose. This scripture on abortion shows that God's intentions for a person are not formed after birth but before it. The unborn child already has a name in the mind of God.   6. Children Are a Gift from God (Psalm 127:3) "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." The Bible does not treat children as a burden or an inconvenience. They are a heritage, a reward, a blessing. This scripture on abortion reframes the entire conversation: the life growing in the womb is not a problem to be solved but a gift from God to be received. That posture changes everything about how we approach the question of unborn life.   7. The Weight of a Life (Genesis 9:6) "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image." This verse establishes the gravity of taking a human life made in God's image. It is one of the clearest scriptures on abortion when read alongside Genesis 1:27 and Psalm 139. If the unborn bear God's image, then this verse speaks directly to the weight of ending that life.   8. Protected Under the Law (Exodus 21:22–25) "When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined…But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life…" The Old Testament law treated harm to an unborn child as a serious legal offense, not a minor matter. The unborn child was protected under the same framework that protected other human lives.   What These Verses Say Together Taken individually, each of these Bible verses about abortion adds a piece to the picture. Taken together, they build a consistent and compelling case: God forms life in the womb, He knows the unborn by name, every unborn child bears His image, and that life deserves protection. If you feel called to serve children through healthcare, pediatric medical mission trips offer a direct way to serve the youngest and most vulnerable in the world.   Related Questions   What does God say about unborn babies? God says He forms each unborn baby in the womb, knows them by name, and sees them as bearing His image from their earliest moments (Genesis 1:27, Psalm 139:13–14, Isaiah 49:1).   Is abortion against the will of God? Yes, because Scripture establishes that God forms life in the womb and that every human being bears His image from conception, ending that life would be murder.   Can you go to heaven if you have an abortion? Yes, God's forgiveness is readily available for those who repent and trust in Christ, as 1 John 1:9 makes clear.   Did Jesus ever say anything about abortion? Jesus did not address abortion directly, but He affirmed the value of children, warning against causing them to sin (Matthew 18:6).

This session will provide an overview on how to choose and prepare for a clinical elective in an international setting.