MedicalMissions.com Podcast

Understanding Health, Disease, Suffering

This session addresses the difficult question: “If God
is good and wants us to be healthy, why do we get sick and die?” I tell the story of my wife who went “safely home” in spite of medicine, much prayer, and inner healing, and the new lessons about life and disease I have learned from this.

What Makes Christian Missions Trips Christian?

This session will explore the distinctive characteristics of Christian medical missions compared to humanitarian missions. It will look at biblical guidelines for ministering in Jesus’ name and examine practical applications for those engaged in Christian medical missions.

Community Health Model Village – What is Possible

The Community Health Model Village is also known as the Total Health Village or the ‘THV-50-40-10(R)’. This model of healthcare looks at not only providing healthcare for those who are sick, but focuses a great deal on prevention of disease (through focus on water, sanitation, vaccination, deworming) and also on holistic well being (food security, livelihood security, education and skill building). The strategy involves modern participatory techniques for carrying out needs assessment, gap an...

The implications of a community's worldview for community health and development

Could poverty and underdevelopment in the material realm have a metaphysical rather than a physical root? The answer
is yes! In this session, we will explore the concept of worldview and examine its implications for the health and development of people, communities, and cultures. We will also examine ten specific principles from Scripture that relate to health and healthcare that hold the potential to bring dramatic, positive, sustainable change to people and communities.

The implications of a community's worldview and long term missions in Africa

The implications of a community's worldview and long term missions in Africa -- Could poverty and underdevelopment in the material realm have a metaphysical rather than a physical root? The answer
is yes! In this session, we will explore the concept of worldview and examine its implications for the health and development of people, communities, and cultures. We will also examine ten specific principles from Scripture that relate to health and healthcare that hold the potential to bring drama...

Cross Cultural Spiritual Ministry

Cross-cultural Spiritual Ministry in Healthcare. How does one address spiritual needs in cross-cultural healthcare ministry? There are important principals and presuppositions we must understand if we are to effectively address spiritual needs and dimensions of people and communities. You cannot reach competency in wholistic healthcare missions simply in one or two hours. What is the goal of this session? To challenge you through stories, lessons learned, mistakes made and discussion to purs...

Nuts and Bolts of an International Medical Missions Rotation

The nuts and bolts for students of an international health-care short term mission rotation. Choosing, preparing for, and successful completion of a short-term mission opportunity. This is for nursing, pre-professional, medical, dental, pharmacy, public health and other allied health-care students and post-graduate residents. Purpose: Acquaint the professional student with (1) Blessings, advantages and benefits of an international rotation especially in a mission setting. (2) Preparing ones...

Global, Local, Short Term, Long Term: Biblical Models for Being “Missional”

The New Testament gives not one but several models for doing missions. New Testament models of missions are far more flexible and less narrowly defined than the way we typically think of missions. The usual conception of a missionary as one who follows a “call” to go abroad is just one facet of missions. In this session we will explore the Biblical patterns and trajectories of what it means to do missions—at home and abroad, and discover what the Bible has to say to us about being “mission...

How dental and medical training can empower indigenous believers

Teaching nationals can expand your impact. Our session will explore avenues to produce success in missions, both at home and abroad. We will speak on dentistry producing explosive church planting in Sierra Leone, the process of training nationals on a short term trip including the effects it has on the dentist/trainer, and how dentistry has equipped nationals in Nigeria for long-term service. We will also hear about the initial presentation of our medical module in Haiti and Sudan.

Spiritual Survival Tips for Short Term Medical Mission Teams

Usually the focus of short-term medical missions is to meet the needs of the population visited. This presentation will shed some light on Spiritual survival tips needed for the team members. Addressing their Spiritual need will equip each member of the medical mission team to become more efficient in reaching target population medically and Spiritually.

The health consequences of human trafficking

Human trafficking has grave consequences on the health of victims and includes a wide variety of health issues. This talk is designed to inform health care professionals on what these issues are, and how they may specifically work with a trafficked person, given the trauma that a victim may experience. Health care may be one of the few intersection points where a trafficked person meets someone in the public sphere and a few indicators for identifying someone who may be trafficked will also b...

Finding Appropriate Medical Resources

The search for medical equipment and supplies for your mission project seems to be a never ending challenge. We often settle for whatever we can find and have low expectations. God has high standards and the ability to provide if we seek Him for these resources. This session will provide information on how to evaluate medical projects, determine what specific equipment is needed, and how to find the resources to meet those needs.

Introduction to International Human Trafficking

While not a new problem, human trafficking is now a globally acknowledged issue of our times. Even so, many people do not have a solid grasp of what exactly it is, how it happens, and what the core issues are in order to counter it. An overview of human trafficking internationally, including to/from the USA as well as outside the States is presented here. Some specific examples of how human trafficking may intersect the life and work of health care professionals are given, but more depth on t...

Educational Loans do not have to Dictate the Terms of Your Medical Mission Service

A Biblical view of money and material things will help you to keep student loan borrowing to a minimum so that you can serve where God has called you-- without delay.

Transferring Sills in Short Term Dental Missions

Jesus asked us to imitate Him. With Jesus as our model we will present teaching approaches that will empower nationals to serve their community. By presenting teaching methods tested and proven successful with dentistry, we propose to apply them to other areas of medicine to allow believers to meet the healthcare needs in their communities.

Best Practices and Medical Missions

Objectives: (1) Describe the six key indigenous partner groups needed for effective medical missions (2) Discuss three common challenge areas for medical missions: Missiologic Point of View, Curative Care Perspective, Surgical Care (3) Explore WHO guidelines relevent to the use of oral medications in medical missions

Preparation for surgery as a career in medical missions

This session with consist of a brief presentation followed by a panel discussion during an open question and answer period. Becoming a surgeon on the mission field, especially if one is interested in teaching, is a process which is more complex and takes more preparation than expected. The session is designed for medical students, surgical residents and those wishing to leave their practice to join the ranks of career missionaries.

Interactive Forum on Sustainability of Christian Medical Institutions

Glenn Schwartz will speak about the issue of healthy sustainability in the Christian movement. He gives historical insights into how the dependency syndrome in cross-cultural missions develops and, more importantly, how it can be overcome. This presentation will also include several short case studies about mission-established hospitals and how they moved toward local sustainability. His primary emphasis is "two-fold: One is that unhealthy dependency can be avoided from the beginning in cr...

Healing and the Middle Way: Medical Mission in a Buddhist Worldview

Buddhists in East Asia largely believe in one of the dominant Buddhist traditions, animism and ancestor worship. They believe in karma, the moral law of cause and effect which demands that every soul suffer for its past “sins;” so there is no value in alleviating suffering. While very few Buddhists have come to Christ through the direct preaching of the gospel, some have responded to the compassion shown by medical missionaries since the early 19th century. This session features the plight of...

The Medical Mission Trip - Past, Present & Future

Medical missions is constantly changing. The enterprise of medical missions has brought health and opened the doors for the gospel in countless countries. This rich history continues today. In Africa, forty to seventy percent of health services are still provided by church and mission facilities. How do we build on the achievements of yesteryears and achieve success in the years to come? How can you fit in? Before 1850, there were fewer that fifteen medical missionaries. The average life ...

Residency Training Programs at Mission Hospitals: Obstacles, Challenges, and Blessings

Is it possible to do true academic style residency training at mission hospitals in developing countries? Does the lack of resources and scarcity of mentors result in inferior training and therefore inadequately trained graduates? What governmental or regulatory bodies are involved in non-university based training programs in the developing world? Do short term visiting faculty really make a difference? How can spiritual discipleship be woven into medical and surgical residency training?...

Avoiding and Overcoming Unhealthy Dependency in Cross-Cultural Healthcare

Glenn Schwartz will speak about the issue of healthy sustainability in the Christian movement. He gives historical insights into how the dependency syndrome in cross-cultural missions develops and, more importantly, how it can be overcome. This presentation will also include several short case studies about mission-established hospitals and how they moved toward local sustainability. His primary emphasis is two-fold: One is that unhealthy dependency can be avoided from the beginning in cr...

Master's Preparation for Global Health Missions

This presentation will challenge participants to focus on where the Master is at work in their lives and inviting them to join Him in global health missions. The motives for global health missions in the context of the needs and expectations of those to be served will be examined. Participants will be encouraged to reflect upon the health and well being of their body, mind and spirit through a series of guided questions. A process for gathering and engaging a partnership team for accountabili...

Measuring Effectiveness of Local Health Engagement

Short-term health-related missions have been criticized for inadequate long-term impact on local health indicators, and on the actual team participants. Costs for short-term medical missions appear excessive to some, given the limited impact on spiritual and physical needs. This session will examine the criticism and present proposed measures of effectiveness that can be used by short-term and long-term trip planners and strategists so as to support improved planning and execution of short-...

HIV/AIDS Case Studies 2010

HIV/AIDS remains a tremendous challenge with medical, emotional, economic and social problems. Using case presentations and an interactive format, this workshop will explore HIV/AIDS care and treatment issues particularly from the speaker’s experience in Africa

Best Practices in Short Term Missionary Nursing

This session will look at a Nursing Process approach to address global health problems at the community level. We will look specifically at nursing led cross-cultural health fairs as safe and effective model of short-term healthcare missions. An overview of the literature that supports this short-term mission model will also be reviewed.

Playing God and other Ethical Issues in Missionary Medicine

Facing unlimited needs and limited resources of personnel, equipment and supplies, medical missionaries daily have to "play God." What Biblical and ethical guidelines and practices can guide you through these and other ethical minefields that almost no one talks about? What changes are mandatory to your American thinking if you are going to survive and flourish?

Mid-Levels: a Perfect Fit for the Developing World

The presentation will feature the personal experience of a physician assistant who has provided healthcare in the developing world most recently in Latin America, India and Africa. The advantages of the training and healthcare provision capabilities of the mid-level, the obstacles to healthcare provision in the developing world and the means by which those obstacles can be overcome will be discussed. The importance of national partners in the medical mission field for follow up and if possi...

Why Won’t “They” Listen?

Why don’t they see that what they are doing is wrong! Why don’t they understand my explanation? Why won’t they look at me when I talk to them? Why won’t they make a decision…after all, any decision is better than no decision at all! Why won’t the listen! Learn why these and other “misunderstandings” result in “mis-communications” in the world of cross-cultural ministry and how we can overcome them.

Medical Missions - Past, Present & Future

Medical missions is constantly changing. The enterprise of medical missions has brought health and opened the doors for the gospel in countless countries. This rich history continues today. In Africa, forty to seventy percent of health services are still provided by church and mission facilities. How do we build on the achievements of yesteryears and achieve success in the years to come? How can you fit in? Before 1850, there were fewer that fifteen medical missionaries. The average life ...

Preparing to Be a Missionary Overseas

Is missions on your mind? Learn to get from where you are to where God wants you to be, well prepared spiritually, emotionally, relationally and professionally for what God has designed you to be.

Operating Responsible Short-term Healthcare Missions

This session will review case presentations that demonstrate the potential for harm associated with healthcare missions. We will look at methods by which such problems can be avoided. The potential for harm related to short-term medical missions does exist, and in a much more real way than most of us care to acknowledge. It is only through the careful examination of such problems can we develop health mission strategies that mitigate harm, and improve community health.

Short Term Mission Boot Camp - Learning to Do It Well

With stories laced with humor learn the principles and practices of a great short term mission experience whether you are going for the first or your fortieth time. You, your patients and the building of God's kingdom will be better for it!

Who am I, Oh Lord, that You Have Brought Me This Far

I Am Not Fair Trade: A Look At Human Trafficking In The Health Care System

Health care settings offer multiple opportunities for victims of human trafficking to be identified and/or rescued. In this session a brief overview of the phenomenon of human trafficking will be provided. Participants will receive training on victim identification and will be taught concrete steps on what to do if human trafficking is suspected.

WHO/UNICEF Child Health Standards for Developing Communities

This session will overview WHO/UNICEF child health Standards as they apply to both short and long-term health missions. We will look at some of the relevant literature and review health indicators to be assessed in both long and short term health missions. We will also look at how to use the data collected from the use of relevant indicators to establish community disease and malnutrition prevalence and specific community health programming targets.

Use of CHE in North America

This session will introduce people to how CHE is being used in North America in seeing urban underserved neighborhoods.

The Disaster Paradigm© and a Review of Priorities in Disaster Relief

This session will focus on important priorities, challenges and risks encountered in disaster relief. A brief introduction to the Disaster Paradigm© based on the AMA’s Disaster Life Support Courses will be reviewed.

Participatory Approaches in Community

Caring For the Whole Person? Is it Possible?

Medical science is beginning to recognize that considering the emotional makeup of patients is important in extending care. Psychology is making concession that health is more a sense of emotional and physical well being, but neglects the Spiritual component of who we are. This session will offer a practical application in caring for the “Whole Person”- emotionally, physically and spiritually. Hear examples of how Whole Person Care has impacted the lives of countless patients as seen in a bus...

Sustainability of Healthcare Missions in the 21st Century - Reflections from the Field

What really IS sustainability? Are any health care institutions truly sustainable, in either the developed or the developing world? A refreshing look at an age-old missionary dilemma

Learning from Each Other About CHE

This session will bring people together that have been doing CHE or starting to use CHE as a wholistic community development tool. Therefore most of the presentation will come from the people in the seminar sharing their experiences including their success and failures.

Community PEACE - Development with a Purpose

Uniqueness and distinctness of Community PEACE as holistic developmental strategy with transformational outcomes

Standards of Excellence and Disaster Relief

Disaster response provides tremendous opportunities for compassion ministry and short-term mission teams. The 7 Standards of Excellence in Short-Term Mission will be reviewed in the context of disaster relief. These standards help to insure appropriate focus on long term relief and recovery, participation and empowerment of national workers, and prevention of dependence and paternalism.

Medicine that Empowers Communities

This session will be both philosophical and practical and will be shared from the perspective of one who has served as a bridge between the professional medical practitioner and some of the world’s poorest communities. Insights will come from practical examples and case studies of professional clinicians who have played a role in effectively empowering community development and those that haven’t, all within the context of understanding how we respond to the needs of the world is just as impo...

Science, Religion and Healthcare

(1) What is the conflict between Science and Religion all about? (2) What are the differences between Evidence Based Medicine, Market Based Medicine and Complimentary and Alternative Medicine? (3) What are the differences between Religiosity and Spirituality? (4) What is the Faith Factor and how strong is the relationship to increased health benefits? (5) What do the Intercessory Prayer Studies show? (6) Divine Healing, Gifts of Healings, and Faith Healing—What are the differences? (7) Spir...

What Makes Christian Health Care Christian

Christians are called to live out the gospel through every area of our lives, including our work in healthcare. This workshop will look at the role that Christians should play in expressing Christ’s kingdom through healthcare. We will examine successful established domestic Christian medical mission models and lessons from the ministry of Christ to identify what makes Christian medicine unique.

Continuity in a Community Health and Development Project in Uganda - 25 Years and Counting

This session will discuss an effective community-based health and development/discipleship ministry in Eastern Uganda that began in the mid 1980s and is still active. This project has had remarkable sustainability and reasonable costs. Anecdotal and statistical information will be presented about the program activities in terms of both community and staff impact. The role of encouragement as a reciprocal empowerment strategy will be highlighted

Transforming Neighborhoods from the Inside Out

This session will introduce people to how CHE is being used in North America in seeing urban underserved neighborhoods become transformed from the inside out using the assets that are found in the neighborhood by

Stories from the Field 1

An assortment of personal stories shared by Steve Saint from his time in Equator and other places around the world. Steve will share insights into how to engage indigenous people groups with resources for developing communities and how best to work with them to instill dignity and ownership.