Resources

Best Practices in Short-term Medical MissionsIn recent years there has been a tsunami of short-term healthcare volunteers going into the developing world; both faith-based and humanitarian. Recent estimates tell us that 29% of students enrolled in medical schools participate in some type of short-term global health project prior to graduation. Dental, nursing, and allied health schools are also beginning to follow suit. Yet, few churches or educational institutions have any knowledge of what constitutes best practices in global health. This workshop will review the six guidelines for best practices in global health as they appear in the book “When Healthcare Hurts: An Evidence Based Guide to Best Practices in Global Health Initiatives”. It will also review the four primary areas of global health best practices which include the following. 1. Patient Safety2. Healthcare System Integration and Collaboration3. Facilitation of Health Development 4. Community Empowerment

Women’s Cycle of Life is training by andfor women, developed and designed bynurses especially trained in maternal andpublic health and following the CommunityHealth Evangelism strategy to bring bothhope and health to women everywhere!The training (previously calledCHEPS) was first piloted inHaiti in 1999. Since then, WCLtraining has taken place onevery continent around theglobe.WCL materials are simple,action oriented and deliveredusing a participatory teachingmethod that empowerswomen to adopt practicesthat improve their health and prevent disease.The method of teaching brings both spiritualand physical truths to women, improving theirhealth, the health of their families, and thehealth of their community.The Community Health Evangelism dissemination strategy ensures that theprogram is sustainable and multipliable. InEthiopia, for example, 17 women att endedone WCL seminar in 2009 and 23 new trainersatt ended the next one in April 2010. As of June2010, these women had taught at least onelesson to 1678 other women.WCL has grown into a curriculum whichdeals directly with women’s health issuesand addresses gender inequality from theperspective that we are created by God andcreated equally. Teachings from the Bible areused, showing that both men and women arewonderfully made in God’s sight. The lessonsare basic and simple to teach, making themeasily transferable.This breakout session will provide a demonstration of a Women's Cycle of Life lesson, samples of women's seminar topic lists, and several strategies for utilizing the curriculum to meet the needs of differing communities.

This is a NEW EMERGING model of empowering the local church to care for the most vulnerable. Globally there has been a growing realization that the church (called civil society in government and UN circles) in its manifold expressions has been under-utilized in developing countries in community development in general and specifically in the fight against HIV and AIDS, especially with the drastic reduction of bilateral aid for HIV and AIDS related projects in developing countries. In addition, the less than successful results of the majority of educational programs promoting prevention has led to the understanding that a corrective pedagogy may be necessary since the content of the material that presented in the various events are sound. In this presentation, the mobilization of the church/civil society in a community in South Africa as well as one in Rwanda which resulted in highly clinical effectiveness will be presented. The Rwanda project has grown from regional to national in scope and focuses on the mobilization of the church/civil society for prevention and care for those infected and affected by the AIDS pandemic with special emphasis on appropriate pedagogical principles. The model, also known as the “Clinical Church” will be presented. Meaningful segments of data that will be discussed includes: Biomedical - Knowledge concerning HIV/AIDS of the stakeholders; Cultural assumptions - Knowledge of and belief in HIV/AIDS related myths among the stakeholders; Responses (affective) - Affective responses of the stakeholders to the AIDS pandemic; analyses of the pedagogical methodology of the trainers in this community as perceived by the major stakeholders. A detailed descriptive analysis of the pedagogical strategy and context of a pilot project in Rwanda, which includes private and public sector cooperation as well as government participation, will be used to demonstrate the role of the pastor and the church in community based healthcare.

Global health does not stand still. The needs remain high, the priorities change, the field gets ever more complex. Deciding what's the most important way to contribute is a big challenge, whether we are students or experienced professionals or somewhere in between.And discerning our own gifts and how we can be of most use to God is most important of allWe will explore global health trends and the opportunites for people of faith aginst this background. I hope we will have an interactive session

Medical mission or what I prefer to call Health Care Mission remains a crucial issue for 21st century Christians.Yes, we need to be fully involved in medical missions but just as important, be effective as people of faith in secular environments where we can be agents of change and transformation.In this breakout session we will try to discern together how medical missions can help to become more grounded in the needs, realities and paradigms of today and not fight todays battles with yesterdays toolsWe will be concerating on primary health and community health perspectives

Health networks are becoming increasingly essential in global health. By working together through intentional groupings of those with similar interests and objectives, we can have a greater impact, and work more effectively with government and donorsMost important of all we can mazimize our value to God's Kingdom by demonstrating harmony, unity and joint purposeThis session considers health networks in general with particular reference to an emerging and expanding network- Community Health Global Network

This session will look at ways in which team leaders and programme managers can help to encourage their team members to maximize their motivation and to work as effectively as possible. It will consider spiritual, psychological and physical components.It will look at top tips in how to encourage day-to day motivation and encouragement

Effective Ministry Partnership Development is the key to raising resources for life and ministry. We’ll address how correct thinking, biblical principles and practical principles are the key. This session will explain “why people give,” “how to effectively gain their support and involvement,” “ways to grow your list of prospects” and “what the basis is for successful long-term financial partnership.” Anyone wanting to increase the involvement of others in the ministry and increase their financial partnership should attend this session.

Without a robust biblical theology of suffering, medical missionaries will neither persevere nor bear spiritual fruit.Utilizing examples from the Bible and church history, this session will introduce the inevitability of hardships, their divine purposes, and principles for enduring and flourishing through them.

The "missionary-call" can be a source of high anxiety and soul-searching for those who think God is leading them to the mission field. But what do we mean, and more importantly, what does the Bible really have to say about the call to missions? And what do we think of when we use the word "missionary"? Does our view match what we find in the Bible? In this session we will explore some of the misconceptions of what it means to be "called to missions," and take a look at how the Bible has more to say about God's guidance rather than the traditional idea of a "call." Hopefully we can set aside some of the anxiety and focus on how God has given us the opportunity to spread the news of his grace in Christ according to the various gifts he has given to each of us.

Why should you do an international rotation while in training? Do you know? What are the advantages to you for your training and future? Can God really use you as a student? How do you prepare for His working through you? How to find the place(s) to do an overseas rotation? How do you get the clinical and procedural experience you desire? What do you need to take? Where can you find the money? How can you be sure your school will give you credit? What should you do ahead of time so your life will be forever changed? How can you impact other lives in the greatest way? Come join me for practical answers to these and many other nut and bolt questions that will get you started down the path to a meaningful, life-changing overseas rotation!

We would all like to believe that as we reach out to share our medical expertise and the love and the compassion of Christ we will be safe, but is there any place in which we can be safe today? Security as we know is it is not the absence of danger, but the presence of the Lord. Being good stewards of the great blessings given to us of volunteers serving the least, the lost and the last is our obligation. We need to be prepared and have trained leaders to know what to do when the unthinkable happens. We will discuss how to approach these situations from the sandpoint of evaluation of risks, minimizing exposure, training for the eventuality of the most common conditions that could be encountered and preparation for the unthinkable. Unfortunately there is evil in the world and if one looks at the statistics: in 2009 there were 278 reported victims of 139 serious security incidents compared with 1999 when there were 65 victims involved in 34 such incidents. This trend continues to go up in all areas from kidnappings, road attacks, mob violence, ambushes, robberies, to suicide bombings. This situation hightens our responsibility and be wise and prepared even as we trust the Lord for our provision and protection. To God be the glory.