Resources

Introduction to a new comprehensive health care management course which is values-based

Helping refugees as a medical missionary means meeting urgent needs with both skill and compassion. It’s about more than showing up—it’s about showing up wisely, humbly, and equipped to serve. From understanding their journey to responding with appropriate care, there are practical ways to be part of real healing. Whether you're wondering how to help refugees physically, emotionally, or spiritually, your presence can be a steady light in an unstable world.   Key Takeaways Helping refugees begins with understanding their reality—displacement caused by war, persecution, and crisis creates complex medical and emotional needs. Refugees often lack access to essential services like medical care, clean water, and stable housing, which shapes how medical missionaries can serve effectively. Sustainable help matters—short-term fixes don’t replace the impact of consistent, ethical, and culturally informed care rooted in long-term relationships. Listening well and honoring the lived experiences of refugees opens space for the gospel; small acts of compassion can reflect Christ’s love in powerful ways. You don’t have to do it alone—trusted medical missions opportunities provide structured paths to serve both locally and globally in refugee communities.   Understand the Context First Before offering help, you need to understand the story. Refugees aren’t just people without a home; they’re individuals who have fled war, persecution, famine, or other devastating circumstances. Their needs are immediate, but also layered. Learning about the causes of refugee problems in the world helps you see the big picture behind the headlines. Factors like conflict, displacement, and limited access to healthcare shape every part of the refugee experience.   Recognize What Refugees Need Most You can’t meet every need, but you can meet some. The most common needs in refugee populations include: Access to medical care Clean water and sanitation Trauma-informed emotional and spiritual support Nutritional stability Safe housing or shelter Trustworthy human connection Refugee needs often begin with stability—clean water, safety, shelter, and basic healthcare. While not every refugee lives in a formal camp, many do. These spaces are often overcrowded and under-resourced, with limited medical access and little privacy. Conditions like these shape the kind of care that matters most.   Find Ethical, Sustainable Ways to Help One of the most important lessons in how to help refugees well is to avoid short-term thinking. Not every kind of help is actually helpful. Medical care should be trauma-aware, locally informed, and rooted in long-term relationships where possible. Ongoing support can make a difference. Whether you’re offering medical screenings, supporting clinics, or building trust one visit at a time, showing up consistently matters. Sustainable help often looks like serving under local leadership, collaborating with long-term partners, and focusing on dignity-driven care, not just efficiency.   Listen and Share the Gospel As a medical missionary, you bring training—but refugees bring culture, language, and lived experience. One of the most overlooked ways to help refugees is by listening well and honoring their story. Many have endured deep trauma, and the hope of the gospel meets them right there. On a mission to serve refugees in the Middle East, one team took time to hear each person’s story, pray with them, and share the good news of Jesus—all while offering medical care. You can also share the love of the gospel through small acts like patiently helping someone fill out a medical form, sitting with them while they wait, and other small acts of service. These moments reflect Christ’s compassion and show that refugees are seen, valued, and not forgotten.   Look for Trusted Avenues of Service You don’t have to figure it all out on your own. Many medical missions organizations offer vetted pathways to serve in refugee contexts—both in the U.S. and abroad. Your work might include: Volunteering at mobile clinics or refugee health centers Partnering with local churches and community groups Providing trauma-informed care with cultural sensitivity Supporting long-term teams already on the ground If you're wondering where to begin, disaster relief opportunities often include specific openings for helping refugees in urgent or long-term ways.   Related Questions   What do refugees need most? Access to healthcare, safe shelter, trauma support, clean water, and trustworthy human relationships.   How do you get involved with helping refugees? Start by partnering with trusted medical missions organizations or serving with established refugee clinics or outreach programs.   How do you raise awareness of refugees? By sharing their stories, learning about global displacement, and educating your community on how to support refugee care.   What are the problems refugees face? Displacement, trauma, limited access to healthcare and education, legal instability, and cultural barriers.  

Dive into decision support tools and management options for primary care mental health conditions that often stump the primary care clinician.

Your testimony is your story of what God has done in your life, past and present, and sharing it is one of the most powerful ways to point people to Jesus. If you’ve ever wondered how to share your testimony on a mission trip, you’re not alone. Many people feel the weight of getting it “right,” but personal testimonies aren’t about perfect delivery—they’re about showing how the gospel is real, alive, and personal. Key Takeaways A testimony is more than a one-time moment—it reflects both how you came to know Christ and how He continues to work in your life. Sharing your testimony makes the gospel visible by showing how faith is lived, not just believed. Personal stories often build trust across cultures, especially where relational credibility matters more than abstract teaching. A simple structure—before Christ, meeting Christ, and life after—helps keep your testimony clear and centered on Jesus. God uses honest, imperfect stories to plant seeds of faith, even when sharing feels small or uncertain.   What Is a Testimony, Really? A testimony is not just the story of how you became a Christian. It includes that, but it also includes the ongoing story of what God is doing in your life now. Think of it as your lived experience of grace: how Jesus met you, how He’s still working in you, and how the gospel has shaped your everyday life. For Christian missionaries, testimonies can highlight both the moment of salvation and the long journey of walking with Christ in daily life. The Bible is filled with personal testimonies—from the man born blind who simply said, “...I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25), to Paul’s powerful story of radical transformation. Paul’s testimony wasn’t just about his past—it revealed how God called him and the mission he was sent to carry out.   Why Your Testimony Matters When you share your testimony, you’re doing more than telling a story. You’re making the gospel visible. The Word of God moves powerfully when people speak boldly, humbly, and personally about Jesus. Testimonies are especially impactful across cultures. In some places, like honor and shame cultures, your story can build trust in ways abstract teaching can’t. Your vulnerability might be what opens the door to deeper conversations. The gospel isn’t just a message to be preached—it’s a truth to be lived. And your life, with all its mess and beauty, is part of how God reaches others.   How to Structure Your Testimony There’s no one right way to share your testimony, but this simple three-part structure can help:   1. Before What was your life like before you knew Christ or before God moved in this specific area of your life? You don’t need to over-explain or glorify past sin—just give enough context for people to see the contrast.   2. The Turning Point How did God meet you? This might be your salvation moment, along with a time when the Holy Spirit brought breakthrough, conviction, or healing. Focus on Jesus. Make the gospel clear.   3. After What changed? How is God still working in you? This part is ongoing. Share what you’re learning, what you’re still struggling with, and how God is meeting you today through His promises. Keep it simple. You’re not writing a sermon. You’re giving people a window into the grace of God through your life.   Tips for Sharing Your Testimony Here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to share: Know your audience. Think about cultural context and language barriers. Short, clear stories often connect better than long explanations. Avoid Christian jargon. Say “I prayed” instead of “I had a quiet time.” Say “I felt distant from God” instead of “I was in a spiritual dry season.” Practice, but don’t memorize. You want to be familiar with what you’re saying, but it should still sound natural. Be humble. Your testimony is about what Jesus has done—not about your strength or ability to overcome. Be ready to listen. Sharing your story can open doors for others to share theirs. Be quick to listen and slow to speak.   God Uses Imperfect Stories If you’re nervous to share your testimony, you’re not alone. Even Paul, after his dramatic conversion, faced hesitation from others. But God doesn’t need your story to be impressive—He just asks you to be faithful. Your story might connect with someone who needs to know they’re not too far gone, or that God still heals, or that faith is possible in the middle of suffering. Sometimes, sharing your story might feel small. But in God’s hands, even a short testimony can plant seeds that grow for eternity.   Use Your Story Where God Sends You If God has given you a story, and He has, He’s also given you opportunities to share it. Your gifts, your job, and your testimony can all be part of His mission. You don’t have to go on a mission trip to share what God has done in you. Sharing your testimony can happen in your career. And if you want to take your career overseas, then marketplace missions may just be a good fit for you.    Related Questions   What should you not do when sharing your testimony? Avoid exaggeration, unnecessary details, or making yourself the hero of the story.   What is an example of a good testimony? A good testimony clearly points to Jesus, shares a personal encounter with Him, and connects with the listener’s life.   How do you share a testimony in 30 seconds? Focus on your need for a savior and how Jesus fills that need.    How long should a testimony be? Aim for two to three minutes, unless you’re invited to go deeper.

What is a call? How does a person know if God is calling them to mission service? Join in a discussion as these and other questions are addressed.

Low resource settings require much innovation and streamlining resources to meet set goals. With healthcare becoming more commercial and profit driven, missional healthcare in low resource settings faces many challenges. Sustainability is a big question with people finance , and equipment scarce and hard to come by. Missional models of healthcare often run into hurdles of sustainability, longevity and relevance even as healthcare slowly turns into business. In this setting of multifactorial challenges and increasing compliances how can missional healthcare be relevant and sustainable? Many saints of God have committed their lives to fulfil this great commission in some of the most underserved and unreached areas of the world. With the birth of Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) a different model of missional healthcare emerged in India. Over the last 55 years of its existence, EHA has shown that through all the challenges, this may be one of the ways to sustain missional healthcare in areas of need. With increasing divide between the rich and poor, overwhelmed government systems, a ruthless insurance system, and high end corporate healthcare, it is still possible for missional healthcare to provide low cost, high quality, technologically advanced care to people in need while remaining sustainable. We bring lessons from India and our experience with Emmanuel Hospital Association over the last 3 decades.

A mission trip budget is a plan that helps you organize, save, and spend money wisely so you can focus on serving—not stressing. Whether you're heading overseas or staying stateside, knowing how to budget for a mission trip can make all the difference. From plane tickets to power adapters, here’s how to plan ahead and stay on track. Key Takeaways A detailed mission trip budget starts with listing every potential expense, from flights to ministry supplies, and categorizing them as basic, variable, or extra. Researching real-time costs and organizing them into priority buckets helps clarify what’s essential versus what’s optional. Setting a realistic savings timeline based on your total cost ensures you can stay on track financially without stress. Adding a 10 to 15 percent buffer to your mission trip budget helps prepare for the unexpected and avoids last-minute financial surprises. Keeping track of spending and adjusting as needed makes your mission trip budget flexible—and allows you to stay focused on serving, not scrambling. Step 1: List Every Expense You Can Think Of Start broad. The more detailed your list, the more accurate your mission trip budget will be. Common expenses include: Flights Travel insurance Passport/visa fees Vaccinations Lodging Food Transportation in-country Emergency cash Luggage and baggage fees Ministry supplies To get a clearer picture of what to include, it helps to understand the three main types of mission trip expenses: basic (core costs like lodging and transportation), variable (varies by team member, like vaccinations needed or unique transportation needs), and extra (think souvenirs, extra luggage, snacks, etc.). Each plays a role in your final budget. The goal here is to think of everything so you’re not caught off guard.   Step 2: Research and Categorize Your Costs Once you’ve got a list, start plugging in real numbers. Check current flight prices, contact your team leader for estimates, and research vaccine requirements. If you’re not sure where to start, creating a mission trip packing list can help you remember smaller but important costs—like travel-size toiletries or converters. Break expenses into three buckets: basic, variable, and extra, in descending order of priority. All core costs should be accounted for first in detail, followed by your personal variable costs, and then the not-so-essential (but definitely the most exciting) extra costs.     Step 3: Set a Target Budget and Timeline With your numbers in place, add everything up. That’s your target mission trip budget. Next, divide that total by the number of weeks or months until your payment deadline. This gives you a clear savings goal per time period.  If the number feels high, review your expense list again—see where you can adjust, delay, or reduce costs. Prioritize essentials, and be realistic about what fits within your timeline.   Step 4: Build in a Buffer No matter how detailed your plan, unexpected costs will pop up. Maybe your checked bag is overweight. Maybe there’s a last-minute vaccination you didn’t realize you needed. Add 10 to 15 percent to your total mission trip budget as a safety net. If you don’t use it, great! But if you do, you’ll be glad it’s there.   Step 5: Keep Track and Adjust as Needed Once you start saving and spending, keep track of where the money is going. You can use a simple spreadsheet or budgeting app. If something costs more than expected, adjust in another category or cut out non-essentials. Budgeting isn’t static—it’s something you can tweak as your trip gets closer.   Make Space for the Spiritual Side Too A mission trip isn’t just a financial investment. It’s a spiritual one. As you build your budget, take time to prepare your heart as well by reflecting on Scripture.  A mission trip isn’t just a financial investment. It’s a spiritual one. As you build your mission trip budget, staying organized now allows you to stay focused later—on people, not paperwork. And when departure day comes, financial readiness frees you to serve without distraction.   Conclusion Knowing how to budget for a mission trip doesn’t require a finance degree. It just takes a little planning, some realistic expectations, and a willingness to prepare well. By creating a solid mission trip budget, you’re not just covering costs—you’re making space to serve with freedom and focus. If you're thinking about going on a mission trip but don't know where to begin, starting with a short-term mission trip is a nice entry point (and much easier to plan and budget for).   Related Questions   How much does the average mission trip cost? It varies, but most range from $1,000 to $4,000 depending on destination, length, and team structure.   Who pays for church mission trips? Costs are often covered through a mix of personal savings, church support, and outside donors.   How long is a typical mission trip? Most short-term trips last between one and three weeks.   How to get funding for a mission trip? Many raise support through letters, events, or structured fundraising strategies.

This session will examine key considerations for leaders, senders, and international travelers/workers in the areas of duty of care, risk assessment, contingency planning, security, and common pitfalls ("lessons learned") in international mission work.

Medical volunteering abroad can strengthen your med school application but only if it’s done with intention, humility, and clear purpose. Admissions committees want to see genuine service, not just stamps in a passport. If you’re wondering do med schools like abroad medical volunteering, the answer depends on how and why you did it.   Key Takeaways Medical schools evaluate abroad medical volunteering based on reflection, relevance, and ethical responsibility, not just participation. Trips that prioritize cultural humility, global health understanding, and respectful service can demonstrate qualities med schools value. Programs that allow untrained students to perform clinical tasks or ignore local healthcare systems raise red flags for admissions committees. When writing about your experience, focus on how it shaped your understanding of healthcare, service, and your path to medicine. A well-structured, supervised medical trip abroad can strengthen your application, especially when it’s about more than just your résumé.   Volunteering Abroad Isn’t Automatically a Win Medical schools evaluate more than just the experience itself. They’re looking for reflection, relevance, and responsibility. That’s where things like “voluntourism” come in. Voluntourism refers to short-term, often superficial service trips where the volunteer may benefit more than the community they’re trying to help. And it’s part of why some admissions committees view medical trips abroad with skepticism. It helps to ask: Who was actually served? What did I learn that shaped how I see medicine or approach patients? A meaningful trip is one that shifts your perspective, not just pads your résumé.  But that doesn’t mean international service is a bad idea. It just needs to be done well.   What Makes a Medical Trip Abroad Valuable If you’re pursuing medical volunteering in Africa or in other parts of the world for the right reasons, it can reflect what med schools care about: cultural humility, adaptability, and a deeper understanding of healthcare in under-resourced settings. When done well, it shows you’re willing to step into discomfort, serve under leadership, and navigate unfamiliar environments with respect. It also offers firsthand insight into global health disparities—something that can shape how you practice medicine in any context. Med schools don’t want tourists—they want future physicians who are teachable, grounded, and others-focused. A well-supported medical trip abroad can demonstrate all of that.   Red Flags to Avoid Some programs offer opportunities that look good on paper but do more harm than good in practice. These include: Performing clinical tasks you’re not trained or licensed to do Failing to partner with local healthcare providers when possible Treating patients without continuity of care If your trip included any of these, it’s not necessarily disqualifying, but med schools will expect thoughtful reflection. Make sure your experience emphasized learning, listening, and working under supervision. This shows maturity and respect for global health ethics.   How to Talk About It in Your Application When addressing medical trips abroad in your personal statement or interview, focus on: What you learned (about medicine, culture, and yourself) How the experience shaped your desire to become a physician What you now understand better about healthcare disparities Why it wasn’t just a trip—but a moment of transformation Volunteering abroad can, in some cases, change the course of our lives, and if that happens or has happened to you, whether that be in what type of field of medicine you want to pursue, where you want to work, or how you approach serving others, it’s worth sharing.     Make Sure the Program Was Legitimate Some volunteering experiences are better structured than others. It helps if the program was: Connected to a local hospital or clinic Supervised by licensed medical professionals Focused on education, prevention, or support Being part of a well-organized program also equips you to navigate the kinds of real-world challenges—like language barriers, resource limitations, or cultural expectations—that often come with medical volunteer opportunities abroad.   So, Do Med Schools Like Abroad Medical Volunteering? Yes, when it’s done thoughtfully. No, when it’s done recklessly. Med schools care about service, but they also care about safety, ethics, and context. If you can show that your experience taught you something real, stretched your character, and aligned with your desire to serve, it can absolutely strengthen your application. To make that easier, look for short-term medical volunteer opportunities that prioritize sustainable care, training, and collaboration with local providers.   Related Questions   What type of volunteering do med schools like? Ongoing, community-focused service that shows compassion, responsibility, and long-term commitment.   Does volunteering abroad look good on a resume? Yes, if it’s done ethically and with meaningful involvement, not just for optics.   Can you get into med school with no volunteering? Yes. Medical volunteering is typically the “cherry on top” and not usually required or highly emphasized.    How important is volunteering in med school? Very. It’s one of the clearest ways to show that you care about people, not just science.  

How do the lures of self-preservation and self-reliance block Kingdom work? A panel of providers, and a student minister share ways they live out the gospel through healthcare among those experiencing poverty. Though the world defines success by our bank account and possessions, living for Jesus looks different and requires sacrifice that Westerners find difficult to pursue.

Doctors carry both skill and strain, caring for bodies while often carrying invisible burdens. Scripture doesn’t ignore this tension. It offers encouragement, truth, and strength for those called to heal. If you’ve ever searched for a Bible verse for doctors or wondered what the Bible says about doctors, you’re not alone.  Whether you’re in training, deep into your medical career, or just looking for Bible verses for doctors to share with someone you love, these verses speak to the heart of healing.   Key Takeaways Scripture affirms the work of doctors, showing how their healing mirrors the compassion and purpose of Christ’s own ministry. The Bible reminds physicians to commit their work to the Lord, especially when outcomes are uncertain or strength runs low. Verses about perseverance and hope can speak directly to doctors facing burnout, fatigue, or doubt about their calling. God's role as the ultimate healer brings peace to doctors who carry both the responsibility of care and the limits of human ability. Medicine isn’t just a profession—it’s a form of service that, when done in faith, honors God and blesses others deeply.   1. Luke 5:31 “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” Jesus Himself used the work of a physician as a metaphor to explain His mission. This verse reminds doctors that their work mirrors the ministry of Christ—healing the broken.   2. Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” In a field where outcomes aren’t always predictable, this verse grounds doctors in a deeper trust. Not every decision will be clear, but the work can still be committed with purpose.   3. Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Burnout is real. If you’re questioning whether being a doctor is worth it, you’re not alone. This verse offers hope that the labor is not done in vain.   4. Psalm 90:17 “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us...” Every diagnosis, every procedure, every chart—God sees it. This prayer is a reminder that small things matter. Ask Him to steady your hands for the important work before you.   5. James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God...and it will be given him.” Doctors face decisions with real consequences. This verse is a lifeline for those moments; whether on the mission field or off, doctors face many challenges.    6. Jeremiah 17:14 “Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.” This verse reminds us that healing belongs to God first. For doctors, it’s a reminder to treat with excellence—and trust the results to Him.   7. Isaiah 40:29 “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” This is one of those Bible verses for doctors that speaks directly into long nights and hard cases. When your strength runs out, you are not alone.   8. Matthew 25:40 “...as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Every patient matters. Jesus connects love for Him with how we treat those in need. Whether it’s in the mission field or the ER, every act of care echoes eternity.   9. Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing...” Medicine is often a field of unanswered questions. This verse roots the soul in something deeper than results: a hope that heals the healer too.   10. Psalm 103:2–3 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases.” God is the Great Physician. His mercy holds both the spiritual and physical side of healing—something doctors live in tension with daily.   11. Colossians 3:23 “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men…” This verse helps reframe the long shifts and hidden sacrifices. When done for the Lord, no task is wasted—even if no one else sees it.   12. 2 Timothy 1:7 “...for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” In moments of uncertainty or impostor syndrome, this verse is an anchor. Doctors aren’t called to perfection—but to courage, compassion, and wisdom.   More Than a Job—It’s a Calling Being a doctor is difficult, especially if you’re trying to raise a family at the same time. When fatigue sets in or meaning feels distant, Scripture becomes a steady place to stand. Your hands heal. Your words comfort. Your life reflects something more than training—it reflects the One called the Great Physician. If you’re a physician looking for ways to use your gifts where they’re deeply needed, there are long-term medical missions where your skills can meet real need—and your faith can take root in tangible ways.   Related Questions   What is an uplifting quote for doctors? “[L]et us not grow weary of doing good” (Galatians 6:9) reminds doctors that their work matters—even when the results aren’t immediate.   What does the Bible say about doctors? The Bible affirms the value of physicians, and even the gospel writer Luke was known to be a physician (Colossians 4:14).   What does Jesus say about medicine? Jesus used medical imagery to describe His ministry, affirming both physical and spiritual healing (Mark 2:17, Luke 10:9).   Where in the Bible does it talk about the great physician? While the exact phrase isn’t used, Jesus refers to Himself as a physician in Mark 2:17, showing that His role includes healing and restoration.  

Medical education has a potentially powerful role in global health. This breakout will explore some ways that medical education can not only support patient care but also augment research capacity building to better care for critically ill patients in resource-limited countries.